• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Change of Medication

D

DiabetesSoldier

Newbie
Messages
3
I'm hoping someone has been in my situation or maybe can provide some insight/guidance.

I have recently had my medication changed (about a week ago). Was on metformin 500mg x3/day and after seeing the consultant was switched to Gliclazide/Levemir combination - Gliclazide 40mg/day and 8 units levemir/day.

The reason for the change was the fact that weight has continued to fall since being diagnosed 3 years ago. It was only recently that it was discovered that i may be 1.5, after the GAD tests were carried. I have never been overweight and was always active before developing diabetes. Diabetes was triggered after a nerve tap for a back problem, as result of playing sport (ironically). Therefore with the change of diet and continued exercise, together with Metformin, the weight continued to fall off until now, where my weight is at worrying levels. Increasing my diet has resulted in my BG levels going to levels that i had not experienced before and this led to my metformin being increased to x3/day.

Anyway, thats the background, back to my question. How long should i give my body to adjust to the new medication, because i am getting very worrying levels when i test. I have gone from around 6.5 or below readings in the mornings to nothing below mid 7s, sometimes 8s and higher. After meal readings (after 2hours) are never below 10s. Sometimes, still at levels above 10s 3 hours later.

I have not changed my diet. The only thing that has changed is that i have not been as active (gym, sport, etc) for the last couple of weeks.

I know that i probably need to go back to my consultant, what i just wanted some insight from others that may have gone through this. What alternative is there to Gliclazide and Metformin, as they both seem to agree with me for some reason. Or is it the insulin dosage that needs to increase.

Any help/guidance would be greatly appreciated as i am now starting to stress about this.
 
Hey I know exactly where u are coming from. Did they confirm slow onset type 1 by ur GAD result? If so then I would go back to your GP regarding the gliclazide as this drug can do more harm than good for type 1.5s because it hammers the pancreas to produce more insulin (this is impossible though when you don't have enough insulin producing cells) and so can actually speed up beta cell death. I was put onto it at diagnosis and it didn't work at all and when it was confirmed that I had low c-peptide my consultant confirmed that gliclazide is no good and can do more damage. Metformin is a funny one, it works for some and not others. It works for me and I've been on it for a year now but is a good safe drug. They usually say to give it two weeks from starting to take the meds for them to start having an effect....


Diagnosed with GD in 2010, Completely disappeared postpartum. Re-diagnosed December 2012 with type 1.5 diabetes, age 26, BMI 22 currently controlled by only Metformin, 500mg twice a day.
 
Elaine77 thanks for the reply.

My problem is that although Metformin works for me, it works as its supposed to, ie helps with weight loss. This is where the problem lies - too much weight loss over time. The weight i have lost over time would be ideal if i was overweight to begin with. Diet changes to attempt to halt the weight loss has caused my BS to rise and this is what has prompted my consultant to change my meds.

Does anyone know what would be an ideal alternative to gliclazide, because it does not sound like its a good med to be on.
 
I've never been told Metformin helps with weight loss, I too lost too much weight before diagnosis as I was never overweight either but as far as I've been told all Metformin does is make ur cells more receptive to the insulin produced so it makes best use of what insulin you have so if you have some, but not enough(like me), it helps utilize what you do have....

With regards to the gliclazide, there is no alternative that wouldn't do exactly the same as the gliclazide does... The only tablet med for slow onset autoimmune diabetes seems to be the Metformin or, alternatively, some people go on small doses of insulin.. Some people argue that tablets actually don't work at all for people with slow onset autoimmune diabetes but that's individual to each case I guess... Most people on here who have slow onset type 1 are on Metformin and nothing else but diet changes until they get to the point where they need small doses of insulin...
 
Back
Top