controlling type 2 without meds
 

I've been diagnosed with type 2 for approx a year and decided to forgo meds and try my hand at diet and exercise as the primary method to control my blood sugar. I have the meds and have not taken them because I'm afraid of the side effects. Has anyone tried this route? Please let me know.

Diet and exercise is great for helping to control diabetes. However, sometimes it's just not enough. If you were prescribed Meds, then you probably need them. Why not just take the Meds and work toward getting off of them. It's been done before and there are several threads on this forum to back that up. Good luck with whatever you decide is best for you.

Yes. I decided to avoid medications and just do a strict diet and exercise and all my glucose levels have been in the normal range since I began. According to the estimator I am on target to a 5.3 A1C

Congratulations, baconbits. It sounds like you are well past the denial stage and ready to manage your diabetes instead of letting it manage you. I have had type 2 diabetes for 23 years and must take insulin now, but I managed just fine with only diet and exercise for the first five years. Go for it! If you are currently overweight diet and exercise are your best friends and you may be able to postpone medication for many years if not forever. If you are like me and have never been overweight you may need medication. But diet and exercise still help you manage this and stay healthy. Best of luck to you.

I was on metformin for the first 6 months of being diagnosed. While on it I didn't notice any side effects, but I did lose a lot of weight, not sure if it was the mess or me exercising. I've been off it for 1 1/2 years. I will say the long winters in VT are tough to get my walks in. My numbers / weight go up during winter. As long as I stay active my numbers have been good. Hope this helps .

Yes u can
 

Diets exercise and almonds helped me keep of meds during my first pregnancy:) but don't over exercise since u might end up feeling hungry and craving carbs

I was diagnosed with type 2 in early 2007. I was put on Medication. However, I was already exercising and began watching my diet (portion control) and within six months I was experiencing lows. My doctor took me off the medication and I have controlled my diabetes ever since with diet and exercise. My A1C averages between 5.6 & 5.8. I'm not saying it's easy, however it is the only major health issue I have that I am able to control without medicine. (I have breast cancer, asthma and other health problems that all require drugs.)

Baconbits- I was diagnosed a couple months ago (285, 8.5) and was prescribed metformin. I, like you, did not particularly want to take medication. I studied hard and have found information from Dr. Jason Fung to be the best. I follow his recommendations, and without medications maintain glucose below 100. You must look him up on YouTube.

Please focus on diet and exercise. It'll definitely help you. Best of luck!!

http://www.meds247online.net/

I had really bad side effects when I first started metformin and I didn't want to try another drug if I could help it. So my doc gave me 3months of diet and exercise and if there was an improvement I could skip meds for now.

I didn't really change my diet aside from less simple carbs and more fiber and protein. I think what made the difference was increased exercise. I worked up to 1-2 hours a day, typically a 3mile run in the morning and a brisk walk with my dogs at night. Now I only have to take meds when I'm on prednisone for my arthritis and asthma and the much lower dose of metformin is mostly tolerable especially for just a few weeks

Yes we can control diabetes with strict diet and exercise in early stages of diagnosis say for 3/4 years . But you cannot control for ever without medication. This is my personal experience.

Check out "Eat to Live" by Dr. Joel Fuhrman.

I was diagnosed with type 2 last December (age 27), I weighed 175lbs, my A1C was over 14. They started me on Lantus insulin at 10 units and I was to increase by one unit every other day of my morning reading was above a certain number. I got up to 16 units but then started seeing my glucose readings come down so I weaned my insulin down too (with the blessing to do so from my doctor). By the end of February I weaned myself completely off of it. By April I was down to 153lbs, and my A1C was 5.7 (that's right pre-diabetic).

I can't promise it will work for everyone but it certainly has helped me out!

I think you can reverse it dramatically just with a change in lifestyle.
I mean sure, you can treat it with drugs if you lack the will but you will keep doing that all your life and living with drugs and their side-effects sucks anyway.
I strongly encourage people to consider looking in lifestyle changes.
Is diabetes curable?

Iam not overweight and iam pre-diabetes, do you think that exercises and diet will help?

Yes, but the fact that you are not overweight makes it less likely that you have an easy dietary fix

If you can afford it (or can convince your doctor to prescribe it), it is not too early to start testing to see what foods elevate your blood sugar and to decrease the quantity or frequency of those foods.

My goal is to keep my blood sugar within normal ranges (below 100 for fasting, <120 within 2 hours after eating). Most of the time I'm there.

I keep it there by a lot of testing to find out what sends it out of the normal range - I test before eating, 1 hour after taking the first bite, 2 hours after the first bite and (if hour 2 is higher than hour 1) 3 hours after the first bite. If any reading is above 140, the next time I eat that food I decrease the quantity or buffer it by eating a fatty or protein item first.

There was a study out in December that indicated that many people with prediabetes already have (largely undiagnosed) chronic kidney disease. So it is never too soon to start paying close attention!

Once the weather is warmer & I'm less overwhelmed at work, I'll work on exercise, which is supposed to decrease insulin resistance.