Mr Angry!

So, imagine my surprise when I get a letter from my doctor this morning telling me 'your blood sugars are running really too low - about 5-8mmol/l would be better (90-144 mg/dl). Not only that, but 'most diabetics over 40 are advised a statin, so I enclose a prescription for this'.

I'm about to start turning a vivid shade of green just before my chest swells and my shirt buttons ping around the room like embroidered tracer bullets.

I was shocked at first, now I'm Mr Angry. I think we'll have a meeting.

Moral support, please!

All the best,

fergusc

ps you did say 50%, didn't you Jeannie?

Hi Fergusc,

It sounds like you've done great!   I think some doctors don't really treat the individual, but only the numbers... this happened to me with a cardiologist several years back. Of course, I trusted him, and took his word for it that we needed to keep increasing the dosage on my statins. He never SHOWED me the test results, until my liver enzymes were so high that he HAD to mention it. At that point, I had his secretary give me copies of ALL my past blood tests and took them to my primary care doc, who totally FREAKED and took me off of the statins. My primary care doc didn't think 12x normal liver readings were good, but the cardio doc's reply to this was "you won't die from liver problems, but you will from cholesterol". Read the last two posts on the link from a past thread and see what happened to me and another person:

https://www.healingwell.com/community/default.aspx?f=20&m=833710

If your cholesterol readings are good, why go on statins? (I'm not sure what your numbers mean, but I assume they are ok). If you DO go on statins, make sure YOU and your doc keep a close eye on your liver enzyme readings. Also, my (ex) cardio doc encouraged me to drink red wine every day for my cholesterol... that's not a good idea on statins.... just thought I would warn you about that if you plan to take the Rx.

Well enough of my soap box... CONGRATS  on your lowered sugar readings and GOOD JOB sticking with it!!!!!

Ruth,

I just noticed your post after I hit submit... My two cents.... statins are highly overprescribed. Of course the people here on HW all take control of their own health issues, and are unlikely to let this happen like I did... I don't do THAT anymore! It was really a lesson learned for me, I always ask for copies of my test results now! Talk to your doc about it, but if your cholesterol is in range, I would take something natural. My doc has put me on fish oil capsules... I don't know the results yet, but those can't hurt.

Bear

You're a tower of strength you lot. This guy is my GP which I'm starting to think might stand for gratuitous prescriptions.

Dr B's book would make an ideal gift Ruth, if I thought he might read it or that it might stand a celluloid dog chasing an asbestos cat through hell's chance of getting him to question his crazy beliefs. I also tried to discuss Bernstein's book with the head of our specialist hospital clinic last year but he'd never even heard of it. This is a Professor specialising in diabetes!

A couple of points on the statins though: I thought it was the total cholesterol/HDL ratio that medics used to assess their suitability. Anything over 4.5 made you a candidate for statins but my ratio is 1.6! My GP seems to be saying that because I'm a diabetic over 40 I should be on them anyway, despite no history of heart disease in my family. But the evidence that raised cholesterol raises the risk of coronary heart disease at all is so weak it's almost ridiculous.

So, let's see - my GP wants me to have higher blood sugars, and to take more prescription drugs that I don't need. At least I live in the UK so I don't actually have to pay good money for his advice!

All the best,

fergusc

fergusc

I'd be doing the happy dance if somebody told me that my BG levels were too low! congrats!

There is a study - I think the DCCT - that seems to be the current Holy Grail for the treatment of diabetes. Doctors are strongly urged to follow its recommendations. It recommends that all type 2's be put on metformin, an ACE inhibitor, and a statin- since we are so prone to heart (statin) and kidney disease (ACE inhibitor). My doctor told me that I needed to be treated as if I already had a heart attack and was a canditate for dialysis.

The retinologist who had just performed a dye scan of my eye told me that I had the circulatory response time of a healthy 15-year old- so I asked (my diabetes doc) her how likely she would be to prescribe the statin for a 15 year old. Of course, she said she wouldn't- so I declined the offer of statins. My blood pressure is already low- and I didn't see the point in taking a drug (that might or might not preserve my kidneys) which is likely to make me pass out. It was bad enough that I had to eat all the time to keep myself from going too low from the sulfonylureas.

I told her I'd be happy to sign a statement explaining that I understood the risk, but I was refusing to take the drugs- until there was good indication that I actually needed them.

sandy

Thanks for that, Kris - all very interesting and useful.

I shall be having a heart to heart (sorry, that's such a poor pun!) with my GP tomorrow to see how he can justify such a daft position. I often look forward to these opportunities to talk through the issues with these guys but I'm not so sure my enthusiasm is fully reciprocated. It wouldn't be the first time such a conversation left me feeling that I know at least as much about the issue as those giving the advice. But the growing realisation creeping on their faces is often fun to watch!

All the best,

fergusc