I hear you but, they are obsessed with my lipids, and have been trying to get me to go on statins even before they agreed to let me go on metformin, giving me huge lectures about it every time I have refused in the past, and pretty much not listening to my reasons for not wanting to be on them. I feel very bad about just not taking them, but I have told them, and told them, and they will not listen. I’m actually looking for a new endo, but I really need to get the metformin, so I’m jumping through their hoops as much as I have to to get the bare minimum that I need. It was a struggle getting them to rx the metformin – it was a struggle to get them to recognize i actually have a “glucose tolerance” problem. The real conflict here is that I don’t think lipids are a good predictor of heart risk – but I DO think A1C is strongly correlated with heart risk. My priority is getting the A1c down. And statins have really frightening side effect potentials. If I really thought any part of my lipid profile except small particle vldl’s had anything to do with risk, I might be willing to risk the side effects of statins. But even so, since I haven’t had a heart attack or other coronary issue, I feel statins are not worth the risk. But they won’t listen. The drug companies are in bed with the doctors, and they won’t be happy until everyone is on statins.
Another issue is that my tsh comes up in the realm on 4.3 - 4.95 (yes, no kidding) but since it isn’t over “5” they won’t treat it and say that it is “normal”. Based on a lot of symptoms, I think I’m sub clinically hypothyroid. Interestingly enough, if they would be willing to try to treat my thyroid, my lipid profile might improve as well. Yet another reason I am looking for another endo. I’m under the impression than TSH over 3 deserves treatment, but this information from the American College of Endocrinologists hasn’t filtered down to the practice I have been going to.
I discovered my blood sugar issues on my own last year when I was trying to deal with an issue of ongoing tiredness – I have had sleep studies, stress tests, all kinds of tests, and most of my bloodwork is very normal, except for my slightky low TSH. Until just a few months ago my fasting bg was about 101 – my pcp didn’t care that I was seeing post meal spikes at 200- 240 since my fasting gluocse was low enough for her comfort. And then she accused me of metering improperly! When my fasting suddenly went to 120- 130 I freaked out,a nd basically threw a temper tantrum to make the doctor rx metformin, and refer me to an endo. I don’t like having to treat my doctors that way, I don’t like interacting with them like a hysterical maniac. But I saw the danger in that sudden jump, and i am angry that they dilly dallied around with my diagnosis, while my beta cells were screaming for help. And I’m willingt o do what I have to do to get help.
Since I have been changing my diet to try to get my glucose in line, I have felt less tired, but I’m still having issues. I want to try getting treatment, even low dose treatment for the thyroid, and see if that could help. If it doesn’t, I’ll chalk my energy issues up to the diabetes, and work on that full steam. But I can’t give up and let them mask potential symptoms with other drugs – drugs that have really catastrophic side effect potential. My pcp actually suggested an antidepressant for my tiredness! I refused that too.
I wish I could have more trust in my doctors, but I am getting increasingly skeptical and suspicious.
