I have to share my experience with my mother’s new doctor (and some awesome news). BTW this is the fourth doctor we’ve had in the last three years as they all keep quitting and we keep getting passed along to the next resident in line.
Quick history: My mother was diagnosed with T2D several years ago. She had severe alcohol and sugar addiction, which also contributed to her developing dementia, which led to me caring for her. Over the years I have taken more and more control over her health, first getting her off the alcohol. In 2017 I was finally able to get her food intake under control and began limiting her sugar intake. Earlier this year she was taken off two diabetic meds (Glipizide and Pioglitazone) and currently only takes Metformin for the diabetes. In April 2018 she moved in with me and I was able to get her eating LCHF. She’s since lost 20 pounds, her hypothyroidism has stabilized and she’s resolved all of her vitamin deficiencies. Awesome progress!
Fast forward to our appointment this week. First, the doctor asks if anyone’s ever talked to us about going on a statin “because most diabetics over age 50 are on a statin.” No looking at lipid panel (which, btw is normal), just sees that a) patient is over 50 and b) patient is diabetic. Unbelievable. Fortunately doctor quickly says “we can talk about it next time,” so I pick my jaw up off the floor and don’t make an issue of it…I will just come armed with science when we return… if we return, because the story doesn’t end there.
Doctor calls me next day to report mom’s test results…Now, at one point in time my mother’s A1c was 16.8 (for real, not a typo…see pic below)…so I was ECSTATIC to hear that her A1c came back this week at 5.4! I’m thrilled! Doctor should be thrilled, too…right? “OMG…how did you do it? That’s amazing!!” No. Doctor tells me this is a very low result for a diabetic and she is concerned. Hmmm, I ponder…No insulin, no blood glucose lowering meds…so what’s the concern? She cannot elaborate other than just repeat it’s just low for a diabetic. In the end doc decides to cut Metformin dose in half and see us back in six months. I read these crazy stories so often, but honestly never thought I’d see it firsthand.
Anyway, I wanted to share what I know is totally exciting news with others who could understand and appreciate the significance. I’m so grateful to have a resource like this one to keep me sane when doctors (and others) talk crazy at me. Thanks for this site!
