Needing advice regarding meds/symptoms etc

Robertuk

Member
Messages
18
Hi guys just looking for some advice if possible.

I was diagnosed with diabetes a month ago. The antibodies came back negative so looking type2, however they said another test was done and they don’t have the results yet so can’t say for sure.

In the meantime I’m on full 2000mg 4(per day) metformin and was put on 80mg (1per day) glyclazide together shortly after. Glucose meter levels were 18-24’s and in the space of 2 weeks have went down to 7-10’s.

Problem is I’ve felt absolutely worse since finding out I had diabetes and I’m trying to stay head strong but I can’t remember feeling like this before being diagnosed.
The doctor advised my body sugar level was used to being high and since the tablets have dropped it. He states the drop has maybe happened too quickly and as my body isn’t used to being single figures again it’s giving me negative effects such as extreme fatigue, dizziness, dry mouth, disorientation, loss of appetite and no energy at all.

He advised I should “ride the wave” as I will get better. Problem i find is it’s hard to get straight answers on my type, what to eat, when will it subside as it feels they are just guessing.

I even advised they don’t know how much insulin I’m producing so how can they know my dosage for this medication I’m on. Was expecting a c-peptide test but still nothing. I’ve been reading up and most don’t approve of the metformin and glyclazide as they do more damage to the pancreas and I tried explaining that. However was obviously quickly shut down on That topic. Although he did say if I stay in single figures they’ll look at halving the glyclazide or even stop it.

Tbh I changed my diet drastically and don’t eat as much carbs as I used to so I feel the glyclazide are possibly putting me in a state of hypo by lowering my blood sugar when there’s not much of the bad food going In.

I used to train 5 times a week and just want to feel even an ounce of that energy again. I’m worried I’m not eating enough or if it’s the right things and how much extra for going to the gym again. It’s all so confusing with very little help other than the contradicting internet.

Sorry it’s long winded essay but I’m just really hoping someone can relate on some level of this and with any possible solutions or light at the end of the tunnel.

Thanks guys.
 

Tophat1900

Well-Known Member
Messages
2,407
Type of diabetes
Type 3c
Treatment type
Other
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Uncooked bacon
It's a confusing time just after being diagnosed. To use a training analogy in a way, training is hard when you first start out, but you make considerable progress as time goes on. And you learn more and more as time goes by.

If you are T2, then thr link below is a pretty good starting point in regards to diet, but you will have to monitor levels carefully being on a drug like Gliclazide. You can make adjustments to suit yourself, but testing is very important. Use your meter to monitor and record how your levels respond to certain foods. The basics are really well covered below in the link.

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/blog-entry/the-nutritional-thingy.2330/

Anyway, welcome to the forum.
 

VashtiB

Moderator
Staff Member
Messages
2,283
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi and welcome to the forum. Someone with much more experience than me will be here shortly.

In the meantime dropping your level from 18-24s to 7-10 is a great achievement so congratulations. However, the 7s to 10s are still higher than you want to aim for. Your doctor is right when he tells you that your body being used to higher levels may temporarily not be feeling great at lower levels. This won't last forever as our bodies are actually pretty good at realising the new normal and adjusting. Do you test when you feel dizzy and extreme fatigue? If you do then you can tell when it is a real hypo or when it is just the body adjusting.

There is light at the end of the tunnel. Many people have have reduced or stopped medication completely by going LCHF.

The energy will come back. Just keep the blood sugar levels down and it will happen.
 

Route 66

Well-Known Member
Messages
205
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Sorry to hear that you are having a bad time at the moment. Do you know what your Hba1c was on diagnosis?

Your levels have come down quite quickly due to the medications. As you are on glyclazide,you will need to be careful that your BG does not drop below 4 as you could suffer from a Hypo. If you drive, make sure you take a reading before and also during long drives.

You may also find that your vision becomes a bit blurry as your body adjusts to lower sugar levels. This should return to normal.

Because your levels have dropped a lot, you may be suffering from False Hypos. When you feel bad, do a finger prick and check your reading. That will tell you a lot.

You are doing the right thing by reducing your carbs.

There is light at the end of the tunnel, but it takes a bit of time before we get there.

Good luck.
 
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UsmanMo96

Well-Known Member
Messages
938
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi guys just looking for some advice if possible.

I was diagnosed with diabetes a month ago. The antibodies came back negative so looking type2, however they said another test was done and they don’t have the results yet so can’t say for sure.

In the meantime I’m on full 2000mg 4(per day) metformin and was put on 80mg (1per day) glyclazide together shortly after. Glucose meter levels were 18-24’s and in the space of 2 weeks have went down to 7-10’s.

Problem is I’ve felt absolutely worse since finding out I had diabetes and I’m trying to stay head strong but I can’t remember feeling like this before being diagnosed.
The doctor advised my body sugar level was used to being high and since the tablets have dropped it. He states the drop has maybe happened too quickly and as my body isn’t used to being single figures again it’s giving me negative effects such as extreme fatigue, dizziness, dry mouth, disorientation, loss of appetite and no energy at all.

He advised I should “ride the wave” as I will get better. Problem i find is it’s hard to get straight answers on my type, what to eat, when will it subside as it feels they are just guessing.

I even advised they don’t know how much insulin I’m producing so how can they know my dosage for this medication I’m on. Was expecting a c-peptide test but still nothing. I’ve been reading up and most don’t approve of the metformin and glyclazide as they do more damage to the pancreas and I tried explaining that. However was obviously quickly shut down on That topic. Although he did say if I stay in single figures they’ll look at halving the glyclazide or even stop it.

Tbh I changed my diet drastically and don’t eat as much carbs as I used to so I feel the glyclazide are possibly putting me in a state of hypo by lowering my blood sugar when there’s not much of the bad food going In.

I used to train 5 times a week and just want to feel even an ounce of that energy again. I’m worried I’m not eating enough or if it’s the right things and how much extra for going to the gym again. It’s all so confusing with very little help other than the contradicting internet.

Sorry it’s long winded essay but I’m just really hoping someone can relate on some level of this and with any possible solutions or light at the end of the tunnel.

Thanks guys.

Hi. Not everyone is the same for me I started to see my energy come back within a few months as did my levels.

These things take time. Be patient you will be back to your normal self if you listen to your doctor and eat the foods that are good for you. I'd cut out junk food as much as you can.
 

EllieM

Moderator
Staff Member
Messages
9,208
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
forum bugs
When your blood sugar goes low your body pumps out hormones to push it back up: glucagon (which makes the liver pump out sugar), epinephrine (adrenaline), cortisol, growth hormone. So you don't feel great. When your body has been running high blood sugars for a while, the insulin feedback loop cuts in at too high a level, you get a "false hypo" and you feel like sh*t. Unfortunately you have to wait out the false hypos in order to retrain your body to react at the proper level (4 instead of 7-10).

My guess is that if you're T2 a choice of low carb diet will allow you to get back to normal blood sugars without medication, and you'll need to drop the gliclazide. If you're T1, your levels will gradually go back up as your insulin production slows, and you'll need to ,move onto insulin eventually (but it could take years of you're LADA T1, which is often slow onset).

Good luck. Unfortunately there are no hard and fast rules about dosages and times for recovery, everyone is slightly different. But you are now diagnosed (albeit waiting for type) and things will get better eventually.
 

Robertuk

Member
Messages
18
Thanks guys for all the responses they are very much appreciated. Going with the low carb diet to hopefully get off the glyclazide as I feel it’s probably giving me the false hypos but I have confidence I’ll get there. Just need my body to catch up lol. Thanks again guys.
 

Robbity

Expert
Messages
6,683
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Thanks guys for all the responses they are very much appreciated. Going with the low carb diet to hopefully get off the glyclazide as I feel it’s probably giving me the false hypos but I have confidence I’ll get there. Just need my body to catch up lol. Thanks again guys.
If you feel you're already getting hypos (false or otherwise) then you really need to take care as low carbing will be reducing your glucose levels even further. So probably best to discuss with your doctor.

Robbity