Once the diagnosis of diabetes has been made, it is a “stable” diagnosis.
Dear Dr. Roach: My mom was feeling awful and went to the doctor. The doctor did lab work and concluded that my mom’s A1C was 8.5% — and that she was diabetic. My mom told her doctor that she had been eating a lot of sweets every day. The doctor put her on metformin, but my mom said that the medicine made her feel worse.
Well, my mom is a dessert-aholic and still eats whatever she wants, just in moderation, but she is not scheduled to go back to the doctor. I tried to explain to her that when she eats a lot of sugar or starch, her glucose level can still skyrocket and cause damage to her kidneys and other organs. I told her it is very unhealthy for her glucose levels to go up and down, but she just repeats what her doctor said about no longer being diabetic and just having to watch what she eats.
Her doctor may be absolutely correct that with a careful diet , she may remain well-controlled without medicine, but I strongly disagree about not having her back for regular checkups. Although metformin is often the first medicine we use for people with Type 2 diabetes, especially those who are overweight, it is not the only treatment. Other oral medications are also effective at keeping blood sugar levels down. Some of these also help with weight loss and protecting the heart and kidneys. Side effects vary, and we are usually able to find a well-tolerated medicine when needed.
Philippines Latest News, Philippines Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Your Good Health: Patient concerned that statins increase the risk of dementiaWhile statins reduce overall dementia due to beneficial effects on blood vessels, some people may experience memory loss with certain statins, which seems to be reversible by changing to a different one.
Read more »
Your Good Health: Patient with paradoxical vocal cord motion seeks new remedyIf you know the trigger for symptoms, avoid them. Also specialized speech-language therapy can help.
Read more »
Your Good Health: Patient seems unsure of ALS diagnosisNo treatments for ALS that can stop the progression of this fatal disease.
Read more »
Your Good Health: Brown semen usually doesn’t present a health concernOne might argue that in absence of symptoms beyond what reader has, treatment may not be necessary
Read more »
Why deathbed dreams and visions can be a comfort for the dying — and those left behindCynthia Good, her mother Charlotte Good, and her younger sister Sherry Good, in 1961.
Read more »
THE BOOK SHELF: Patient advocate helps readers navigate health-care systemExplore stories from Atlantic Canada.
Read more »