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Posted 12/12/2006 4:38 AM (GMT 0)

I've just been diagnosed with diabetes a week ago, and was put on Metformin immediately. I think it is low dosage, 500 mg 2X a day, but I cut the pill in half, so I only get 250 mg per dose.

I also have high BP and on Atacand 1X a day, 16mg. I have a BP meter at home, so I usually check my bp, usually runs around 130/80 but yesterday, it was really really low. 1st reading was 98/62, then 96/64, lastly 96/62.  I phoned my dr this morning, as he said, yes, it is unusually low. I told him I feel fine, no dizziness, nothing, so he said to wait it out until tomorrow when I have an appt to see him for the 1st time since being diagnosed.

My question is this,  if anyone that is taking Metformin, do you know if  Metformin lowers BP? And if it does, maybe I would be able to lower the dosage of the Atacand. That question is on the huge list of ? I'm taking to the dr tomorrow :-)

Posted 12/12/2006 5:51 AM (GMT 0)
MINE HAS BEEN LOYER TOO BUT I FIGURED IT WAS THE NEW HEART MEDS I GOT    HMMMMM
Posted 12/12/2006 7:18 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Rose,

There have been study after study about type 2 diabetics, metformin and blood pressure and the thread that runs through all these studies is that Metformin doesn't affect your BP.  Something else is probably going on with your BP.

scool Warren
Posted 12/12/2006 8:21 PM (GMT 0)
Rose,
Why are you taking 1/2 the prescribed dose of metformin?
Posted 12/13/2006 5:02 AM (GMT 0)
I don't know. Thats what my dr has prescribed, and I didn't question it. First time on a diabetic med, so I wouldn't have ever thought that would be unusual. Is it unusual? Maybe my diabetes is not at an elevated level. I dunno confused

I saw my dr today (1st time since being diagnosed) and I have more questions that I forgot to ask him. So maybe if I throw them someone's way, I might get some kind of answer...so here goes...

He never mentioned anything about checking my sugar levels during the day. Does that mean that the disease is not progressed enough to do that?

Speaking of progression, I did lose 3 lbs in the last 7 days and have walked, walked, walked. I got a pat on the back for that! Yay! So, if, oops sorry, not if....when I continue to lose weight and keep on hoofing it, can diabetes be reversed, or be at some point where I don't need meds, and not be considered a diabetic anymore?  Or is it once a diabetic, always a diabetic? I can only dream, eh?

Ok, enough questions for now ...I'll be back  tongue

Posted 12/13/2006 8:30 PM (GMT 0)
Congratulations on your weight loss! You are right on track!

Yes, diabetes can be controlled with diet and exercise when it is in the early stages and people do get to the point where they do not need meds for a while. No, you cannot 'reverse' diabetes and become undiabetic. Your body has always had the tendency to become diabetic and if you lived 100 years ago the physical labor of daily living would probably have kept your sugars in check. Scrubbing clothes on a washboard and sweeping with a broom, ironing, hanging laundry to dry outside, stairs, scrubbing and cooking with heavy pots and pans, tending a kitchen garden, walking or riding a horse... all these things that were part of daily life used calories and helped keep blood sugar level. Diabetes is the byproduct of our modern labor saving devices so now we have to go to a gym to get exercise...

Yes, you should go out and get a blood sugar meter and test at least once a day in the morning before eating or taking any meds (or smoking if you do that). I bought a meter called a Prestige IQ that is about the size of a deck of cards. It uses strips that are about 30ยข each and regular AA batteries. I have no insurance so this was a no brainer for me. I bought 300 strips for $100 and the meter was free.

I'm going to preach a little here and tell you that your doctor isn't in charge of your blood sugar, you are, so whatever you do, you do it for YOU. We sometimes need to get a bit aggressive with our doctors about food classes, testing, lab results and all that. If you show enthusiasm for learning all you can about this disease you will give your doctor reason to help you manage your health care with him paying attention to you. So many patients ignore their doctor's warnings that they sometimes just go thru the motions with us.

When you go to have blood drawn, make sure you have the form marked for copy sent to patient. If you don't know how to do this ask the receptionist at the lab. These are your lab results and belong to you. Now is the time to learn what they mean and keep them in a folder to track your progress.

Losing weight is difficult because our bodies (as opposed to 'normals') will convert food to fat before it will use it for immediate glucose needs. That's where the exercise comes in. It forces the body to burn calories and either pull them from available glucose or grab some fats. Your body wants to save the fat in case there is a famine. You come from a long line of people who survived in times of low food supplies and now your body is ready for the next starvation... It doesn't know we have grocery stores... (LOL!)

Keep on doing what you are doing exercise and food wise, get a meter, start a journal of foods eaten, exercises done and blood sugar results. Soon you will see a correlation between the three and be able to manipulate one to affect the other.

Also, when you have questions for your doctor you can write them down and take them all in at one time or you can do what I do. Call the office and ask to speak to the nurse. She most likely will be able to answer your questions and if she can't she can ask doctor and get back to you. No sense in waiting 6 weeks to get an answer to something you can get over the phone. That way you can start getting positive results right away. Hang in there girlfriend! You are doing super!
Posted 12/14/2006 12:56 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you Jeannie, for your words of support.

This morning at work, I did what you suggested, even though you hadn't posted yet. tongue

I spoke to the nurse and asked why my meds are so low (in repsonse to your question) She said because I am a new diabetic, the Dr. is still evaluating my condition and will adjust the meds if needed, probably in a month or so. But she said not to worry about the low strength at this time.

Also, I queried about why I am not checking my sugar levels during the day. Now this procedure may not be the same as in the USA but this is how it goes in Canada...I am not a "certified" diabetic (although at times I seem certifiable LOL) . I have to go to a Diabetic Clinic at the hospital, take a 4-5 hour clinic and there they have a dietician to help with the diet and nurses that show newbies on how to check the sugar levels and how often. I would imagine there is more to it, but thats all about I remember her saying.  My appointment with the clinic was 1st scheduled for the middle of March as there is a long wait list to get in. My Dr was right when he said diabetes is at an epidemic rate! And he blew a gasket when he found out how long I'd have to wait, so he got his office  to get me in at a hospital in another city which is only about 1/2 hr away.  I now have an appointment for the 2nd week in Jan.

His nurse also said that yes, if I "behave" myself and look after my body, meds can be discontinued but I will always have to check sugar levels everyday for ever and ever. I;m determined that I will lose those extra 30 lbs and will stop meds. But on the other hand, I was hoping for better news about the daily testing. In my own little "perfect" world, I imagine myself as completely healed of this disease after I lose weight and diabetes would just be an ugly  memory. But I guess that will not happen. :(

I'm going to say something that has been in my mind since last week. Now I know its not going to be something you would like to hear a diabetic say, but hey, I've only been a diabetic for a week, and things just don't seem real yet, and I am sad & mad at the same time!. Anyway, here goes...I keep thinking this disease is hopeless.... it will never go away, will be with me every single day of my life  and as I age, it will get worse...at least thats what I read on one site on the net. I can't imagine 20 or so years down the road, still having this crappy disease, watching, watching, always watching what I eat and I am d*** mad!  I want a chocolate bar! I want to eat and have fun at Christmas time, have few drinks, and hell, even get drunk so I can forget for a couple hours that I am diabetic! 

Man, I hate the way I sound, wallowing in such self pity! That isn't like me.  Hopefully in time, I can adjust to this, but darn it, right now, mentally, I feel like crap

Posted 12/14/2006 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
Man, I just re-read my post. Didn't mean to be so long winded or so pessimistic.

I'll get better, I promise :)
Posted 12/14/2006 3:10 AM (GMT 0)
And I want to be at that party with you ....
Posted 12/14/2006 4:18 AM (GMT 0)
I went to that party for about four years after I was diagnosed. I have the eye glasses and kidney disease to show for it... I'm on insulin now...

I'm sorry that I can't make this all better for you but part of diabetes is accepting yourself as you are and being the best you can be. It also means learning all you can about this for the sake of your children and grandchildren since many of them are destined for diabetes, too. Our bodies are simply not meant to ride in cars and elevators. They are designed to walk and work, sweat and toil. We weren't meant to eat super refined carbohydrates with all of the bran and germ removed. We shouldn't have huge amounts of meat and butter. We should be living on lots more veggies and fruits and less manufactured foods.

If we had to farm and harvest the grain products we eat, the energy expended to produce the food would be about equal to the intake. If we had to raise animals for meat we would need to care for them, feed them, clean the barn or coop and work for the protein produced we wouldn't eat as much. Our bodies were designed to hang on to our nutrients because food used to be a lot harder to come by.

So now we need to learn to live with less and do more physically. We make choices every day that will affect how the end of our lives will play out. I knew a woman who was as ornery as the day is long. She was diagnosed with diabetes about the same time as I was. She just told the doctor to give her pills and that was it. She wouldn't learn about her disease, and when her sugars got out of control she refused to start on insulin. Demanded that they give it to her in a pill... which is impossible because it's a protein and your body will digest it before it could do anything. Anyway... she is now dead. Had a stroke... She went blind first... She spent the whole time she had diabetes being angry. She never came to terms with it.

Being angry and sad about the loss of freedom is something we all go thru. There is a website that explains the feelings of loss and acceptance that may help you understand this. It does get better with time, honest.
Posted 12/14/2006 7:25 AM (GMT 0)
Jeannie, you must be my guardian angel!

Since I found out about my diabetes, you are one of the few people that has given me more insight into this disease than I can ever imagine, or more incentive to correct my overindulging lifestyle. Even if I whine, complain, show self pity, be angry, I know my situation could be worse and in time, will accept it as part of my daily life.

I did read the website about losing & acceptance and it sure hit home. I hope it won't take too long to get to the acceptance stage.

And I am determined that I will control this disease.  I don't want to lose my vision, I don't want kidney problems, I don't want to lose my legs (how could I possibly golf then?) :-)   And I want to live at least another 25 years!

On the lighter side, at least I should be looking pretty good and

slim for my oldest daughter's wedding next summer!

 

Posted 12/14/2006 1:23 PM (GMT 0)
There ya go Rose ... your daughter will be proud of you in that size 5 dress.  In time you will find that it is not that hard watching what you eat.  The hard part is watching what others eat.  And stay away from the dessert table.  yeah   Good luck to you.

Rose118 said...
Jeannie, you must be my guardian angel!

Since I found this site, you are one of the few people that has given me more insight into this disease than I can ever imagine, or more incentive to correct my overindulging lifestyle. Even if I whine, complain, show self pity, be angry, I know my situation could be worse and in time, will accept it as part of my daily life.

I did read the website about losing & acceptance and it sure hit home. I hope it won't take too long to get to the acceptance stage.

And I am determined that I will control this disease.  I don't want to lose my vision, I don't want kidney problems, I don't want to lose my legs (how could I possibly golf then?) :-)   And I want to live at least another 25 years!

On the lighter side, at least I should be looking pretty good and

slim for my oldest daughter's wedding next summer!

 

Posted 12/14/2006 4:43 PM (GMT 0)
Flap, flap! .... Flap, flap.... sad ... Nope. No wings here.... I guess I'm not an angel, just a stubborn lady who didn't listen to reason and learned my lessons the hard way. Sharing is the only way I can get rid of my guilt.
Posted 12/14/2006 5:50 PM (GMT 0)
Hmmmmmmm ... interesting stuff. I just read the stages of loss link and, wow! There I am teetering back and forth between anger and despair. I think I'm in the "blame game" stage. I blame myself for poor food choices, I blame my former husband for walking out on us ten years ago and striking a blow to our family, I blame my adoptive parents for not paying attention forty years ago when my first glucose tolerance test came back that I was severely hypoglycemic ....

On and on and on.

I ordered the books recommended and look forward to arming myself with better self talk. In the meantime I can say with certainty that running on the treadmill for a hour every night DOES help as an outlet!

Thanks -
Posted 12/14/2006 6:12 PM (GMT 0)
LOL! I swim for my exercise because I have fibromyalgia and it's less painful than running. You are doing so well Ruth if you are accepting and changing.

By the way, the tests you had 40 years ago wouldn't be acceptable today. I was running 125-135 fasting blood sugars 30 years ago and the lab tests then said it was 'high-normal'. Heck! I have probably had this disease for over 35 years but it wasn't until the cut off numbers were lowered that I was diagnosed. Either way, it doesn't matter. I got this from my dad's family who got it from his mom.

Something you should know is that it sometimes goes Mother to son, Father to daughter so your sons should be on the same healthy veggie, whole grain, olive oil, chicken breast, good food plan that you are on. Even choices for pizza can be healthy. Ham instead of pepperoni, olives for monounsaturated fats, fresh tomatoes... Get them to start researching food choices along with you. Also, I shop at a farmers market because it has tons of veggies and fruits in appealing cases as well as inexpensive cheeses and good breads. If they are included in the shopping for these items it might make them more likely to eat the foods they chose. Just a thought.
Posted 12/14/2006 6:22 PM (GMT 0)
Oh, I'm changing. But I am SUCH a crank about it. LOL.

And I have talked to my sons ... when they eat what *I* cook I know they are getting healthy food, but their teenaged fast food habits may be their undoing!!!

Oy.

Ok. Deep breath. No guilt. THEY are responsible for THEIR choices just as I am for mine.

Did that just come out of my mouth????
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