TIFUpdate by most likely having diabetes for years without knowing

Submitted by Cutecat42 t3_10x5fjs in tifu

Previous post: https://www.reddit.com/r/tifu/comments/10q7ad7/tifu_by_most_likely_having_diabetes_for_years/

Good news! I'm not diabetic...yet. Just pre-diabetic. My doctor also let me know my thyroid levels were low, so that is also a reason why it's so hard for me to lose weight.

I've been taking NP Thyroid and Metaformin for a few days now. I also switched to a keto lifestyle. Cauliflower pizza bread and mash are pretty tasty. Going to try some cauliflower rice tonight; I'm betting it'll be good as well.

I've already lost like 2 pounds, so I'm pretty sure the medicine is working. Or maybe it's just switching to keto that is doing it, but I'm not complaining either way!

TL;DR: Not quite diabetic, and also had a low functioning thyroid. Medicine and a keto lifestyle seems to be helping.

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MrAkai t1_j7rjfqz wrote

When I (Diagnosed type 2) went on metformin, I lost 30lbs in 3 months.

I also have been diagnosed with Hashimoto's (an auto-immune disease that basically causes your both to make antibodies that go have thyroid hormones) but my doc insists the levels are fine but will recheck often since my siblings are both on sythnroids and it's improved their lives/energy levels immensely.

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MoobyTheGoldenSock t1_j7rba0y wrote

> NP thyroid

That’s what the quacks prescribe. You probably want to find a new doctor.

Metformin is standard of care, though, so it’s good to see that.

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Cutecat42 OP t1_j7rhphr wrote

I'm pretty sure my doc isn't a quack...

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"Since the introduction of levothyroxine, some patients have anecdotally reported much better symptom relief and management of their hypothyroidism by taking NDT vs. levothyroxine. The likely reason? NDT contains natural forms of both T4 and T3 hormones."

"More recently, research has shown that a subset of the population has a genetic defect that impairs the ability to convert T4 into T3. Many of these patients report far better symptom relief and quality of life taking NDT because it includes T3 and doesn't rely solely on conversion."

"One reason given by some doctors for their reluctance to prescribe NDT is the fact that NDT drugs are not "FDA-approved." This statement is misleading. NDT was available by prescription long before the Food and Drug Administration came into existence. These drugs were "grandfathered in" by the FDA and were never required to go through the formal FDA approval process. They are, however, carefully regulated by the FDA."

"There is no strong evidence to suggest Armour Thyroid or a combination therapy of synthetic T4 and T3 produce better results than Synthroid in most people."

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I found quite a few articles with the above info. My doctor has a medical degree, and I don't. So even though I know there are other articles that have different info, I trust her more than the Internet.

Seems like the Internet is divided straight down the middle for this argument. As long as I'm taking the medicine properly, there is no risk to my health. If you like dark chocolate, and I like milk chocolate, one of doesn't have to be wrong. We can both have our own opinions.

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MoobyTheGoldenSock t1_j7rotpg wrote

We can certainly have different opinions, but I’m actually a family doctor and am qualified to diagnose and treat hypothyroidism. I do have some patients on it who came to me already on it from other doctors and I do leave them on it if they’re stable, but I certainly don’t start anyone on it.

The endocrinologists in my health system recommend against it and refuse to touch the stuff. The only one who does prescribe it is the self-proclaimed thyroid guru in the area who runs massive panels of unnecessary tests like alternative medicine practitioners do and then prescribes everyone NP or Armour thyroid as a first line. The fact that this is what they started you on without even trying levothyroxine first suggests you have one of those docs.

So I’d be wary. There are a lot of docs out there practicing outside the guidelines even though they hold legit degrees and board certifications. So any time I see a doctor doing something like that, it immediately makes me suspicious.

And hey, maybe yours is an exception. As I said, the metformin is legit. But NP thyroid as a first-line choice makes me suspect they’ve gone down the alt med rabbit hole.

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SometimesGlad1389 t1_j7rtazf wrote

Can I message you? I have some questions about hypothyroidism, someone close to me was just diagnosed and sees a specialist next month. I have a lot of questions on what to expect.

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MoobyTheGoldenSock t1_j7rxkxi wrote

I am going to respectfully decline. You and I don’t have a doctor-patient relationship and that would cross over into giving medical advice on the internet. You could try /r/askdocs as an alternative.

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SometimesGlad1389 t1_j7rxrlu wrote

Fair enough! That's why I asked first before popping into your inbox. Thanks anyway! I'll check that sub out. I didn't know it existed.

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theburiedxme t1_j7srmgy wrote

If you have high bp or cardiovascular issues you might wanna avoid armour/np thyroid but otherwise i wouldn't worry about it. Armour does have therapeutic value, some people have difficulty converting t4 to t3 for several reasons.

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oOoOosparkles t1_j8byryd wrote

Congratulations on starting your journey to better health! You're lucky that they caught you in the pre-diabetic phase because once you have it, it wreaks so much havoc on your body.

I was diagnosed with full-blown diabetes back in 2012 and didn't start Keto until the end of 2021. I was also on Metformin (luckily wasn't so bad that I needed insulin, but I was close to that level). I have, through diet alone (I'm too lazy to exercise and need to work on that LOL) successfully treated my diabetes and no longer need medicine.

Low carb is absolutely the best solution for keeping your blood sugars healthy. Just find the macros that work best for you.

If you ever have any questions about diabetes or Keto, feel free to message me. I wish you the best!

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cbx19 t1_j7sfd3u wrote

Good for you! We seem to be in a similar place, although my doctor said I'm borderline pre-diabetic. Similar treatment, with Metformin (Glucophage) and an initial prescription of Levothyroxine with a checkup in 2 months to see how my thyroid responds. I'm hopeful that this, combined with going very low carb, can get me back to the weight I was before my back went out and I stopped being able to exercise the same way. Make sure you stay hydrated and pay attention to your muscles: if you start twitching, you may need to review your mineral intake, like magnesium and potassium and sodium. You got this!

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fomoco94 t1_j7qul1m wrote

> I also switched to a keto lifestyle.

Trading one extreme for another one...

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Cutecat42 OP t1_j7qz0l6 wrote

Eating low carb is extreme? Dude, the medicine I'm on gives me the runs if I eat carbs...I think if I didn't eat low carb then it would be extreme lmao

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ProfessorNox t1_j7sc06z wrote

Plant-based w/low fats & low GI food should work, if you ever decide to move away from keto. Last I read on this, there have been breakthrough cases of diabetes essentially vanishing & insulinoresistance being reversed.

I'll try to link the studies if I can remember later. For what it's worth I'm not diabetic but did keto for 5 years & it was the best I had felt mentally and physically my entire life. That said, keto is also not just "low carb", it's essentially "no carb", and I'd recommend a plant-based diet with proper macronutrients control over it.

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fomoco94 t1_j7ryu9s wrote

Low-carb is extreme. It's also a fad diet. The majority of studies state that as fact. The human body wasn't designed for low-carb. Just because your particular medication requires it doesn't make it less extreme overall.

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TsuZaki969 t1_j7ryeya wrote

He has diabetes so ya I would make that switch.

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fomoco94 t1_j7rz2s6 wrote

Proper management of diabetes requires controlling carbs, not eliminating them.

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TsuZaki969 t1_j7sdknk wrote

Yes that's true but if you want to get your blood sugar in control quickly going keto which is low carb is the way to go and then control your intake

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