One in three people with type 2 diabetes are given medication too soon, instead of being urged to eat better and do more exercise. A study of 650 people in south west England found 36% were put on tablets within a month of being diagnosed. But guidelines recommend first trying lifestyle changes to control diabetes. The Royal College of GPs agreed diet and exercise should come first.
Metformin is the first drug of choice, but more drugs can be added if that is not doing enough to control blood sugar levels. The researchers found that 13% of participants were actually on two types of tablets within the first few weeks of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Study author Dr Rob Andrew, a senior lecturer at the University of Bristol, said they had not expected the figures to be quite so high. "There is quite clear guidance that says when you're first diagnosed, you should have the opportunity to concentrate on lifestyle then if that doesn't work the next stage is metformin. "When people are diagnosed, they're ready to make a lot of changes but if you give them a tablet, you're saying it is not their lifestyle that is the problem."
Bonnie - even if a patient is on a diabetes drug, they still need to pay strict attention to diet and lifestyle.
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