Re: dr appt

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 12/15/2003 10:53:50 AM Eastern Standard Time,

geegee1958@... writes:

I

know many of you have had success with dropping diabetes medications.

Were your doctors responsive to your requests? Did they offer

reasons, why or why not? What were your A1C's and for how long were

they low?

Hi Gail,

In December 2000, my A1c was 7.5. I told my doctor that I wanted off meds at

some point. She told me she did not think it would happen, that I would

probably have to increase meds.

I was getting lows in January, so my doctor told me to cut my meds in half.

I continued getting lows, so two weeks later she discontinued the meds. She

also discontinued one of the blood pressure meds. When I went back in June

2001, my A1c was 5.7. She then discontinued my other blood pressure med.

I have been off diabetes meds for almost 3 years and have not changed my way

of eating from when I was on meds. I eat what I want in moderation.

Eunice

[Guest guest]

> Hi Gail,

> Last year when I wanted off my glucophage) I was

> taking 500mg once a day) after taking it for a year. I

> took with me to my app, a diary of testing fbg s

> mostly and she said .. Lets try taking u off.. if u

> bgs r still in a good range at ur next visit u can

> stay off unless there is a significant increase and so

> far so good..

> Deb

> Hi Deb,

thanks for your response. My doctor doesn't want to see my log book-

in fact he doesn't believe self monitoring is necessary, and I really

had to fight with him to prescribe the meter for me in the first

place. So any testing I do, it's only for my own info, he isn't

interested. Yet he seems to think his " good care " is the reason for

my success in lowing my A1C. I guess it time to do some research and

find a new doctor. I wish I could find a PCP who I know has

experience with diabetic patients and has up to date info, but I

don't really know how to find this out. What do you do, call a

perspective doctor candidate, and ask about their percentage of

diabetic patients? I would go to a endocrinologist but my insurance

requires a referral from your PCP, so I can't do that unless my PCP

sends me to one. And if my current doctor doesn't believe in

monitors, it's a sure bet he won't refer me to a specialist.

gail

and congrats about getting off the medication!!

[Guest guest]

low?

> Hi Gail,

> In December 2000, my A1c was 7.5. I told my doctor that I wanted

off meds at

> some point. She told me she did not think it would happen, that I

would

> probably have to increase meds.

>

>I have been off diabetes meds for almost 3 years and have not

changed my way

> of eating from when I was on meds. I eat what I want in moderation.

>

> Eunice-

Thanks for sharing your story. I know that doctors need to be honest

and realistic when advising their patient's of the

possibility/probability of reducing or eliminating medications. But

I must admit I was disappointed that it could not happen for me now.

I had thought my bloodwork alone would justify it, but apparently

not. I guess having obvious lows is more the " standard " for reducing

diabetes drugs rather than just a low A1C? I have only felt dizzy

once due to a low blood sugar level, and it was in the middle of the

night, and I had gotten up to go to the bathroom, and I actually

fell. It is possible I have had other lows, and was just not aware

of them, or they've happened at night when I was sleeping. Oh well, I

guess this is still a goal for me to shoot for in the future,

gail

[Guest guest]

> Hey Gail,

> I call the woman I see a Dr but in reality she is a

> FNP(family nurse practioner) She is VERY

> knowledgeable. I wonder if a diabetes society or a

> support group or possibly a hospital in or near u that

> u can call to find out if there a physician or nurse

> practioner etc that they could refer u to.

> Hope this helps.

> Deb

> >Thanks Deb, great idea! I have an appointment on January 14 at

the local medical center's Diabetes Center - I took a three day class

there last January, shortly after diagnosis, and this is my one year

follow up session. I will ask them about referring me to a physician

or nurse practioner. Thanks again for the idea, I never even thought

of this avenue,

gail

[Guest guest]

Gail the most specialized in dealing with diabetes are

endocrinologists. They know the details of diabetes with which they

can help fine tune your program. Other doctors might be good and

knowledgeable, but endos are specific to diabetes and other diseases

of the endocrine system.

My cousin with type 2 since 22 yrs old sees an endo and says she

would never go back, that she has been able to help my cousin in

ways her regular doc never did.

HTH,

Debi

> I had a doctor's appointment this last week, and have mixed

feelings

> about my my discussion with him (he's a internist). I was

diagnosed

> 13 months ago, with an AC of 12.5, and had been on 1 blood

pressure

> med when diagnosed. He added a second blood pressure med,

Avandia,

> and Pravachol.

> Well, at this appt last week, blood pressure was low, so he

dropped

> one med and cut the dosage of the other in half, which is great.

My

> A1c is down to 4.8, and has been below 6.0 for 9 of the last 13

> months, so I was hoping he would agree to dropping the Avandia.

He

> refuses- he says " why mess with success " , and will only drop it if

I

> become dizzy or weak, " and you are ready to fall on the floor " . I

> know many of you have had success with dropping diabetes

medications.

> Were your doctors responsive to your requests? Did they offer

> reasons, why or why not? What were your A1C's and for how long

were

> they low? It seems to me that 9 months of 6.0 or less, and down

to

> 4.8 surely shows a consistent trend. So not only am I

disappointed

> in not getting the medication dropped, I am annoyed at his

reasoning

> that a person would need to fall on the floor before they

demonstrate

> a need to have their meds reduced. Or maybe it's just his tacky

> wording, but I'd appreciate feedback from folks who have worked

with

> their doctors to elimate meds. Maybe I need to find a new PCP,

> gail