dapagliflozin

[EBee]

I used to get free strips when on met & Glic but when they stopped the Glic they stopped the free strips and said I didn’t need to test on Metformin. Still wanted to monitor so buy them myself - £15 a cassette after vat - expensive hobby!!

Can I ask have you applied for your medication exemption card? As the testing strips and needles to prick your finger would then be free. Always worth asking a diabetic nurse rather than the GP fir testing kits tbh . When I was on Metformin I still had to test as my T2 has so many highs and dropping sharply to a low .

 

[pmasoft]

Thank you... Today I've felt dizzy since 10am until now... Only been on them 10 days no thrush yet, fingers crossed, waiting for a call back from go before 6pm tomorrow. Maybe I'm not eating enough or too much. Just feel so lost with it all. Hopefully they will give me a monitor

Drink lots of water to dilute the excess sugar you will be passing. This will reduce the risk of thrush. And yes, us men can get it too!

 

[MissMuffett]

Hi. I’m on dapagliflozin and metformin and and I don’t have any side effects at all. It took a couple of days to get used to them but I’m fine now. I take mine in the morning and only have coffee with double cream in it, my first meal being lunch. As long as you eat low carb and drink plenty of water you shouldn’t have thrush as it’s too much sugar passing through your kidneys that will cause this.
You definitely need to get a metre and strips but unfortunately the nhs don’t provide them anymore so you’ll have to buy your own.

 

[PhilippaB]

Hello Of course, everyone is different but I felt compelled to let you know what happened to me when I read your post, especially when you asked whether you might not be eating enough carbs. Obviously that's not to say my experience would happen to anyone else but with all the encouragement and advice of low carb eating etc out there, I felt you should be careful and aware.

I was diagnosed Type 2 August 2021, I embarked on a fitness regime and did a low carb eating plan and walking with great results. Over 2022 I became complacent and totally undid everything. I therefore thought I knew what to do and I would restart my low carb eating regime as a new year resolution. I told my diabetes nurse I was fully aware what had happened and what I needed to do. I told her I would be going back on the low carb plan. She went and had a word with the doctor and came back to tell me they thought I would benefit from Dapagliflozin. Over the next few days my sugars started to improve and respond well...or so I thought.

Within the week I became very very ill. I was incredibly tired, weak and slept a lot. My husband and son decided I should go to the hospital and helped me downstairs. I presented with an Acute Kidney Injury, Diabetic Ketoacidosis and Sepsis!!!

Thankfully, they saved my life and the consultant explained that no matter what anyone may say I must never have Dapaglifloxin ever again. She went on to say that this drug should NEVER be used on a very low carb eating plan. I guess what I am trying to say is that low carb eating can be good, Dapagliflozin can be good too but never together.

I was discharged in February, I now take insulin and I am still under the consultant at the hospital and the diabetes specialist nurses. I am Ketosis Prone Type 2. They have recently given me Ozempic (only had one dose so far) and introduced Metformin in August.

Carbs are life, for me anyway, but of course in moderation I hope you find what works best for you and you start to feel better soon x

 

[Diane01322]

Thank you all for the advice and information, I am drinkings loads. I think I'm not eating enough as Ive got a lot of weight to loose

 

[Oldvatr]

Dapagliflozin is contraindicated for anyone with low kidney function. If your eGFR is lower than 60 you should not be taking this medication. It must be withdrawn if eGFR is 40 or lower. It is not a sweet. The possiblilities of DKA are real, as I found out myself, so please get some means of testing for ketones in blood or urine. weestix from the pharmacy? Also stop the med if you start getting soreness around the genital or anal area which again i have personal experience of when on this medication. It may just be nappy rash, but it can become gangrenous.because of the excess glucose. any UTI on this med can become serious if it creeps up into the bladder or kidneys. The UTI is often a yeast infection not bacterial and feeds off the excess sugar in the uriine. Do not let a UTI fester It needs prompt attention.

 

[Oldvatr]

Hi. I’m on dapagliflozin and metformin and and I don’t have any side effects at all. It took a couple of days to get used to them but I’m fine now. I take mine in the morning and only have coffee with double cream in it, my first meal being lunch. As long as you eat low carb and drink plenty of water you shouldn’t have thrush as it’s too much sugar passing through your kidneys that will cause this.
You definitely need to get a metre and strips but unfortunately the nhs don’t provide them anymore so you’ll have to buy your own.

Dapagliflozin should not be used with low carb or keto diets. The patient notes say any LC diet should be stopped while on this med.

 

[MissMuffett]

Dapagliflozin should not be used with low carb or keto diets. The patient notes say any LC diet should be stopped while on this med.

It’s working for me with no adverse effects and my BG is in the 6s so I think I’m quite safe. Most DNs advocate the Eatwell plate if you’re T2 and their guidelines say eat porridge, pasta and sandwiches, so I’ll take what they advise with a pinch of salt! But obviously this is personal to me

 

[Oldvatr]

It’s working for me with no adverse effects and my BG is in the 6s so I think I’m quite safe. Most DNs advocate the Eatwell plate if you’re T2 and their guidelines say eat porridge, pasta and sandwiches, so I’ll take what they advise with a pinch of salt! But obviously this is personal to me

The study I saw into eUDKA did advise keeping bgl levles of 6 and above. I too went at risk by using low(ish) carb diet while on it, but I had an infection , and my ketones shot up to 8 mmol/l which while still safe, is well on the way to DKA. Normally my dietary ketones are below 1 mmol/l, but on dapa I was regularly reading 4 mmol/l. The med does increase ketones, so it is a risk especially if your kidneys get an infection.

 

[MissMuffett]

The study I saw into eUDKA did advise keeping bgl levles of 6 and above. I too went at risk by using low(ish) carb diet while on it, but I had an infection , and my ketones shot up to 8 mmol/l which while still safe, is well on the way to DKA. Normally my dietary ketones are below 1 mmol/l, but on dapa I was regularly reading 4 mmol/l. The med does increase ketones, so it is a risk especially if your kidneys get an infection.

oh dear I hope you recovered quickly.
I definitely want my levels to be in the 4s and 5s but that’s my preference

 

[Oldvatr]

oh dear I hope you recovered quickly.
I definitely want my levels to be in the 4s and 5s but that’s my preference

Thank you. Yes I did manage to deal with things ok by rehydrating myself and doing a lot of flushing out. I have virtually stopped taking the Dapa as I had too many nasty side effects for comfort. I have tweaked my diet instead but for me dapa did very little for my sugar levels anyway.

 

[Marcus1234]

Hi looking for advice, newly T2 been given dapagliflozin, I understand that one of the side effects is dizziness. Started taking it at night (was told this was OK) on waking I'm fine about 2 hrs after breakfast I'm so dizzy, heavy feet... Drinking loads of water, could it be I'm not eating enough carbs, I was told I don't need to check my own bloods just have blood test in 3 months. Keep having to leave work as feel so rough... Any ideas very welcome

Hi Diane, im on dapagliflozin and am suffering dizziness that can last for days, im also getting fast heartbeat as well. My GP says it's normal even though I've been taking them for several months. Some days are fine, and others are awful, especially with the dizziness which feels like im walking on a mattress.
Im also peeing a lot more.