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Finding the correct medication

C

Chrissie Caesar

Newbie
Messages
2
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Non-insulin injectable medication (incretin mimetics)
Hi I am new to the forum and am struggling to with meds. I have type 2 diabetes and am already on meds for PBC (which is an autoimmune disease of the bile ducts) and high blood pressure. The PBC causes random chronic fatigue amongst its symptoms.

I eat really healthily and am veggie and don't buy any prepared foods. I live in Cyprus and use only local Mediterranean produce, I cycle and swim regularly. I really have a great life.

But I have been feeling really ill and struggling just to get through each day with energy levels at zero and have also really struggled with weight, constipation and sleeplessness. I was taking gliclizade and a few weeks ago stopped and I now feel so much better and am really enjoying and participating in life again. However, my sugar levels are rising and I fear I am going to need to go back on meds.

Can anyone suggest a more suitable drug please?
 
Perhaps it isn't a different drug that you need, rather a change in diet. Veggie diets are often quite high in carbohydrates (bread, rice, pasta, cereals, flour, potatoes), which all rather rapidly become sugar in your body, putting up your levels. Many, on this forum, eat Low Carb, High Fat (LCHF) and are able, as a result, to cut down on or give up drugs. As a veggie, you need to concentrate on seeds, nuts, chick peas, lentils, olives, olive oil and vegetables, plus (if acceptable to you) cheese, milk products and eggs. Many here also find that LCHF is good for weight loss. As for constipation, this household has found that simply drinking rather more water helps a lot.
Do tell us more about your diet (if already doing LCHF, my apologies) and what are your blood sugar levels like. I'm afraid I don't have the knowledge to suggest drugs, but someone else will be along soon with more ideas.
Sally
 
Hi. I agree with the last poster. If you are overweight, then Metformin is the first drug of choice to reduce insulin resistance. Have the Slow Release (SR) version if you suffer stomach problems. Gliclazide is used if, and only if, your pancreatic cells are underperforming. Sitagliptin may also help in that case. If despite weight loss thru low-carbing you still have high blood sugar then ask for the two tests for Late onset T1 (LADA). As you have other auto-immune disease then LADA becomes a bit more likely.
 
Many thanks for your prompt replies. I am afraid I omitted to say that I do eat fish and have tuna, sardines, sea bass and swordfish regularly. I do eat a lot of pulses, lentils and nuts and live off fresh veg both raw and steamed and used to make casseroles and chilli etc. I live in North Cyprus and there is no trade so only eat organic seasonal produce. I do eat carbs although not too much flour based products.I do eat eggs and use skimmed milk. I have very little cheese as this is fat loaded - are you suggesting this is ok which would be great? I use virgin olive oil in cooking and am drinking water constantly throughout the day and even a pint during the night as I also have Sjorgens syndrome which causes dry eyes and a lack of saliva etc. I am calorie counting and the weight is coming off slowly. Would I be better to cut out processed carbs completely? I will ask the Dr about using slow release metformin if i cant get my blood sugar under control, and also ask for the LADA test - is this a fasting test?
 
Diabetics control their weight and BG by the amount of carbs they eat and drugs

If you want to lose weight you cut carb. Eat normal amount protein and add healthy oil fat to make up most of the calories that are lost by carb reduction

fatsecret.com/You really need to measure your carb intake for a week there Are lots of hidden carbs
Use a carb counter like fatsecret.com/
Or yourfitnesspal
 
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Personally, I would cut out ALL bread, flour products, pasta, potatoes, cereals, porridge, rice, anything with sugar or honey in it and all fruit and fruit juice for a couple of weeks and see what happens. (Perhaps decrease your carbs over the course of a couple off weeks first to gets used to the idea?) Do you have a blood glucose meter? Ideally you should be testing before and two hours after every meal, at this stage, to see what effect they have. Note, you will still be having some carbs in vegetables, so will not be carb free.
If you are on "ordinary" type 2, sugar levels should come way down on this diet. You can then re-introduce small quantities of favourite things, just one at a single meal, and see if they affect you. If all goes well, you will establish a new healthy-for-you diet.
I would eat cheese, not by the kilo, but modest portions. Fat will not affect your blood sugars and will give you the energy you need.
Some people do say that when they start serious low carb, they feel a bit rough for a few days, but they get through.
This approach worked very well here, but James (who is a very ordinary T2!) doesn't have other health issues.
Sally
 
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