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Actos

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Cosy

Well-Known Member
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108
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United Kingdom
New to this. Diagnosed January 2007 Type 2. I have been on Metaformin four a day. They have now put me on ACTOS one a day 15g. I have read so many scarry stories of side effects from this. I am not too keen to take it and as I have only been on it a week dont know if it will work. I am really scared about putting weight on as this seems to be a big thing with this, I am large enough dont need to put on any more, they have advised me to loose some weight but then put me on this that can put on weight - dont understand their thinking there ! I am about to start Simming World eating plan as this has helped me before but according to some people even watching what you eat does not stop the weight going on. I am not keen on taking tablets at the best of times but I know I have to for the diabeties and also on statins and high blood pressure tables. Which is another thing I was wondering what should me blood pressure be at the moment it is mainly 135/85 my GP says it should be under 140/90 but I read somewhere else for a diabetic it should eb 130/80. There are so many things I am confused about.
 
The first thing to bear in mind is that although some medications have the reputation for making you gain weight, the number one factor for gaining or losing weight is what you put in your mouth. Hopefully, then, with enough effort on your part you will be able to lose the weight anyway.

Why have they changed the medication? Is it becuase metformin wasn't working?

What have you been doing to keep your blood glucose levels down?

Losing weight will help because carrying excess weight makes you even more insulin resistant than you already are as a Type 2. Exercise will also help make you less insulin resistant (as well as helping you lose weight).

Other ways in which you might lower your blood glucose would be to watch the amount of carbs you eat. FOllowing a lower carbohydrate diet helps many type 2s keep blood glucose levels in more normal ranges. Perhaps if you can get that under control you can get off the medication altogether.



LJ
 
They have put me on Actos as well as the Metaformin as this does not seem to be working. Although I know before I went for my last clinic appointment I had been eating terrible as it was the lead up and during Christmas and I just went overboard. I hope I can keep things under control with being more careful in what I eat. Mabey they will take me of the Actos if I can do really well. (Or is that just wishful thinking). I have also been told to take another high blood pressure table (cannot remember name at the moment) I am on Rampril and a beta blocker at the moment and have not started the new one yet, keep checking my blood pressure to see it does not go too high - getting back to taking regular excersise - mainly walking. Och I will get this under control eventually - it is just this time last Jan was taking no medication whatsoever and now on all this - old age does not come alone. I keep thinking this is me being given a chance to take control of my health but not as easy as I thought. Just feeling a bit down just now re it all, I will pep up again soon.
 
<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by Cosy</i>
<br />New to this. Diagnosed January 2007 Type 2. I have been on Metaformin four a day. They have now put me on ACTOS one a day 15g. I have read so many scarry stories of side effects from this. I am not too keen to take it and as I have only been on it a week dont know if it will work. I am really scared about putting weight on as this seems to be a big thing with this, I am large enough dont need to put on any more, they have advised me to loose some weight but then put me on this that can put on weight - dont understand their thinking there ! I am about to start Simming World eating plan as this has helped me before but according to some people even watching what you eat does not stop the weight going on. I am not keen on taking tablets at the best of times but I know I have to for the diabeties and also on statins and high blood pressure tables. Which is another thing I was wondering what should me blood pressure be at the moment it is mainly 135/85 my GP says it should be under 140/90 but I read somewhere else for a diabetic it should eb 130/80. There are so many things I am confused about.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">


Hi Cosy and welcome to the forum.

Unfortunately the scare stories you have read about Actos and weight gain are largely true. Actos is a member of the thiazolidinedione or glitazone family of drugs and their most common side effect is fluid retention and weight gain. However, this just means that you need to be even more careful about eating the right things. So what are the right things for a diabetic?

If you are joining a slimming club you need to remember that their goal is generally to reduce your calorie intake, whereas a diabetic needs to control their carbohydtare intake, not their calories. If you look at the 4 basic food types:
Each gram of carbohydrates contains 3.75 calories.
Each gram of protein contains 4 calories.
Each gram of alcohol contains 7 calories.
Each gram of fat contains 9 calories.

What they will want you to do is to reduce your intake of those things that have the highest calories. But it is carbohydrates, with the lowest calories, that cause you to have high blood sugar levels and should therefore be the things that you control most. Protein, alcohol and fat contain very little carbohydrate and in fact alcohol (in moderation) actually reduces blood sugar!

Can I suggest that you have a look at the various "stickies" at the top of this section as they contain a great deal of information about diet for diabetics.

As regards the blood pressure, diabetics run a higher risk of heart disease than non-diabetics. As high blood pressure generally leads to heart problems, this is why doctors prefer diabetics to operate at a slightly lower level than non-diabetics.
 
Thank you for your advice and when I get more time I will look at more things on this site. If this medications puts on weight I will speak to doctor re coming of and trying something else but I will persivere for a while yet, I weighed myself when I started it and I will do it again after a month see what happens. I am not actually joining a slimming club just following a plan not calorie counting dont want to get bogged down with calorie counting as I have a daughter with an eating disorder and do not want to make it an issue. I really feel even though I was diagnosed last year I dont really know enough about diabeties and need to do more to find out and hopefully these forums will help.
 
Hi Cosy...ive just joined and im in the same boat as you....i went to hospital yesterday and he put me on actos....i read about it on internet and its a bit scary....but the dr said it doesnt put weight on ....but i dont believe him ...ive lost 2 stone and the thoughts of putting it back on yukk...he then offered me pills to help loose weight but i said i want to get my bg sorted out first..so good luck we both need it
 
Hi Saffy

Yes it is rather scary when you read things on the Internet but we just have to tell ourselves that everyone is different and hope they dont happen to us, unfortunately I have started having a couple of them but I was the same with Metaformin and stayed with it and they calmed down so hopefully putting on weight is not going to be one of them. Let me know as time goes on how you get on. I am really getting so fed up with all this medication, keep wondering what would happen if I just stopped taking them all and then I come to my senses and assume I need them or they would not be putting me on them. Take care.
 
Thanks for responding Cosy......well i have been really good to-day food wise lol..had steamed salmon and cauliflower for my dinner..suprisingly feel quite full..what do you have in fruit line...im confused over fruit...anyone else reading this..give me advised please....fruit and the bread issue..hope you go ok with your new med Cosy ...what side effects are you getting...i am and was fine with metformin no probs at all..but early days on this new one ....take care ...saffy:)
 
Hello Cosy i was on Actos (Pioglitazone) for 2 years then last August i stopped my medication and lost 17lb, then in early February i was put back on it, after 2 weeks i started getting pains in my joints and gained 3lbs so i asked to go back on Metformin and now my BGs are 8.8mmol 2 hours after meals which is near normal.
 
Hopefully watching my diet will help with not putting on weight but we will wait and see. I am having various things that I think might be related to Actos - headaches, sort of cold feeling in my head, a bit short of breath etc. I will persivere for a couple of weeks then speak to my GP.
 
Hi Cosy,

Hot sure about the headaches, but shortness of breath is one of the common side effects of Actos.
 
Really I have only had this headache today so it could just be a tension thing, shortness of breath really only comes on at night and so far not too bad just feel I need to have a DEEP breath if you know what I mean. Just these things are a bit scary.
 
Hi Cosy...went to drs....spoke to receptionist i get on with....after reading dennis mess i just said i wasnt taking it anymore .....told her about this forum and said im going to be really good ...which i have been since last thursday...just got in and took my blood wow 6.6....ive only took 3 actos so surely cant be them....but its given me a boost as i havnt been under 11 for months..ive thrown out all naughtys in kitchen and after the hours ive spent allready on here....and the encouragement they give...this is my crutch from now on...come on Cosy lets be really good (food wise )together....speak soon ..Saffy:)
 
My blood sugar is still pretty high so will keep with the Actos for another wee while see how things go. I am also like you getting rid of all 'bad' food although I have only been 'good' for a few days so will see how I feel next week, I am sure these pills are affecting my sinuses etc so will make appointment with GP soon. I am due back to the hospital 'problem' clinic on 16th April and want to prove to them that I can sort myself out before then re blood sugar and blood pressure, hoping this site is my saviour, although I know I have to do it myself.
 
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