Connect
← Return to When is an endocrinologist necessary over a Primary Care Physician?
Discussion
When is an endocrinologist necessary over a Primary Care Physician?
Diabetes & Endocrine System | Last Active: Sep 12, 2017 | Replies (34)Comment receiving replies
Retired Teacher, you may be able to control things with diet and exercise. I did at first (now many years ago. ) and your numbers are low still. You look like you are maybe on the border between prediabetic and diabetic.
You might want to exercise 20 min twice a day. Have a sensible diet --mediterranean type maybe, and stay away from most sweets and soda.
But also, you do not need to be afraid of metformin if you ever find you need it --. I am not sure what you are reading... but metformin has very few side effects if any. I think it is the one safe diabetes drug.
I don't think you need an endo at this point. An endo is good when the diabetes is more serious and difficult to control.
You should have a glucometer and test strips so you can keep track of your glucose level.
Best wishes!
Replies to "Retired Teacher, you may be able to control things with diet and exercise. I did at..."
Well, metformin is a moot point for you right now, as you do not need it. I surely do not get side effects from it... though years ago, when I was first diagnosed I was afraid of it as well. I have actually even read "good" things about it now. Did you know that metformin has anti-cancer and anti-aging properties?
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28258677
As far as exercise, I think at our age (I am quite senior myself), just activity is good... I do go to a gym that has classes for older people, and I really enjoy their "yoga on a chair". I should go more than I do.
I enjoy reading ur post, I'm on metformin were also on glipizide with it but the doctor took me off glipizide bec it was working against my kidneys,
I'm glad that you brought up "chair yoga." There are a lot of chair exercise programs available for us these days. There are even on DVDs that you can order that have chair exercises. They can be done at home and any movement is helpful in dealing with diabetes as well as the arthritic problems related to aging.
Teresa
Connect
Thanks, @lucie. I am going to one more appointment with the endo. and then I think I'll leave it to my PCP. I've only been to the endo two times, and he looked at my numbers and looked at me as if he was wondering why I was taking his time. I wondered that too. He doesn't call me prediabetic, but a controlled diabetic.
There is bad press on TV ads as well as articles on the internet and people on this forum have reported really bad side effects from Metformin. Again, we're all different, but I am not willing to risk it. I've already explained the exercise and my situation. I am a senior, senior citizen, and strenuous exercise is not on my schedule. I'm doing the best I can with what information I have researched over the last 16 months.
retiredteacher