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Another newbie here :)

J

jackyval

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Hi everyone, I was diagnosed as type 2 about 18 months ago. been controlled by diet until the New year and then 1 500mg metformin. The metformin just doesn't agree with me though, had terrible stomach cramps and VERY bad diahorrea (and I mean BAD), so my gp put me onto SR metformin, but same reaction plus awful nausea. Am just about to start gliclizide, but I hear that weight gain is a big problem, and I am overweight enough!!! Any suggestions??
 
Gliclazide CAN be a problem in higher doses, it does not always have that effect. It is just something to bear in mind. What dose are you on ? In any case simple dietary adjustments can counteract the possible weight gain effect. Gliclazide allowed me to get my Bg levels under control in combo with another drug.

If you are concerned, discuss with the GP about the alternative drugs. There are a few more available.

Ken
 
The advice below may help you lose weight if you need to and also general advice on diet.

Here is the advice we usually give to newly diagnosed type 2 diabetics.This forum doesn't always follow the recommended dietary advice, you have to work out what works for you as we are all different.

It's not just 'sugars' you need to avoid, diabetes is an inability to process glucose properly. Carbohydrate converts, in the body, to glucose. So it makes sense to reduce the amount of carbohydrate that you eat which includes sugars.

The main carbs to avoid or reduce are the complex or starchy carbohydrates such as bread, potatoes, pasta, rice, starchy root veg and also any flour based products. The starchy carbs all convert 100% to glucose in the body and raise the blood sugar levels significantly.

The way to find out how different foods affect you is to do regular daily testing and keep a food diary for a couple of weeks. If you test just before eating then two hours after eating you will see the effect of certain foods on your blood glucose levels. Some foods, which are slow acting carbohydrates, are absorbed more slowly so you may need to test three or even four hours later to see the affect that these have on your blood glucose levels.

Buy yourself a carb counter book (you can get these on-line) and you will be able to work out how much carbs you are eating, when you test, the reading two hours after should be roughly the same as the before eating reading, if it is then that meal was fine, if it isn’t then you need to check what you have eaten and think about reducing the portion size of carbs.

When you are buying products check the total carbohydrate content, this includes the sugar content. Do not just go by the amount of sugar on the packaging as this is misleading to a diabetic.

As for a tester, try asking the nurse/doctor and explain that you want to be proactive in managing your own diabetes and therefore need to test so that you can see just how foods affect your blood sugar levels. Hopefully this will work ! Sometimes they are not keen to give Type 2’s the strips on prescription, (in the UK) but you can but try !!

As a Type 2 the latest 2010 NICE guidelines for Bg levels are as follows:
Fasting (waking).......between 4 - 7 mmol/l.
2 hrs after meals......no more than 8.5 mmol/l.
If you are able to keep the post meal numbers lower, so much the better.

It also helps if you can do 30 minutes moderate exercise a day. It doesn't have to be strenuous.

Sue/Ken.
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Being on Gliclazide doesn't have to be a problem - it can give you an increased appetite leading to eating more of course :roll: - I have been diagnosed a year ago today - started on insulin then max dose glic with max met - have both been reduced by half now - during this 12 month period I have lost 61/2 stone so it doesn't automatically mean weight gain - just watch those portion sizes and your carb intake

Ken is right glic can help you get your BS under control and if your control is good you don't have to be on them forever
 
jackyval said:
Thank you for your replies. I am on 1 80mg a day Ken. I am very glad I found this forum, been a great support so far.
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That doesn't seem anything to worry about. That is only ¼ the maximum recommended dose.

Ken
 
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