I'm a 63 year old caucasian male, obese (5'9', 250 lbs), hypertensive, type 2 diabetic, and I had a mild stroke 3 years ago. I'm on numerous meds for diabetes, hypertension, cholesterol, and blood thinners -- and I don't like all the side effects. As a result, I often quit taking some or all of my meds, and I always get severely scolded by my primary care physician and my other health care providers. I feel much better when I stop taking my meds, but when I quit my meds, my blood glucose and blood pressure go up, and I recently had a bad episode of tachycardia, which I was told was caused by my stopping Toprol XL. Help! Is there some way to approach my doctor about trying lifestyle changes instead of all these medications? I'm afraid that she is going to tell me to find another doctor soon, if I don't do what she says -- but I often feel that she and other doctors don't listen to my complaints about medical side effects. What can I do? I am willing to try a very restrictive diet, if it would let me quit all the meds.