Forum Virgin!

Please be gentle with me, as I am new to the world of Diabetes forums!
I was diagnosed with type 2 in December, after months of not feeling too good.
Going to the loo 15 times each evening and drinking gallons of water. Waking up during the night, parched and drinking more water, then going to the loo, yes, I am sure you all recognise the signs.
The thing is I put it down to an age thing. I am in my late 40's and thought feeling hot, thirsty and tired were age related.

Initially my levels were 19, and I was put on metformin 3 times daily. I persevered with the medication until early February, but after constant diarrhea, I decided that it was time to see my GP. The good thing is that I lost a stone in weight, but was miserable and spending a fortune on diacalm!
My levels have been averaging at 9, and my GP changed my meds to Glimepiride.
Back seeing him today, suffered from nightmares and restless legs, apparantly two well known side effects from that particular medication!
My poor husband is shattered, as he wakes when I do.
Round 3, and I have been given Gliclazide. Having read some of the comments on the forum, it would appear that it can cause weight gain. I haven't lost any more weight since I stopped taking metformin, and I would like to lose more weight.
I feel a lot better than I did in December. I was sitting Law exams and felt as if I was functioning in a diabetic stupor! Don't know how I managed to pass everything, as I needed to wear two sets of glasses at once due to blurred vision. Not a good look!
(My GP told me later, that blurred vision is normal when taking metformin initially, wish he had warned me about that one).
So any advice regarding Gliclazide would be appreciated. Is it useful, or are there alternatives which may be better?
Went for a retinal scan yesterday, still getting used to the label of "Diabetic", although I am milking it a bit and getting my husband to peel grapes etc for me!
Phew, hope this isn't too long for an initial introduction!

Thank you!

For everyone else out there who is a recently diagnosed type 2, it is heartening how quickly you can feel a lot better and a bit more "human" again, and it is nice to know that there are so many nice and supportive people around, who give sound advice!

Hi Dobbs,
Nice to meet you!
Fortunately, in Scotland, my GP issued me with a monitor free of charge!
I have been asked to test three times a day before meals for the next week, this is because I need to check that my levels do not become too high or too low.
If all is well, then I will continue with the latest medication and see how I get on.
Metformin definitely suppressed my appetite, and I got a good weight loss, and my levels went down dramatically which was required, as they were way too high.
I couldn't cope with the side effects long term as they were impacting on my life too much....
It is strange being ill. I have been lucky with a fit and healthy body until now, and what this diagnosis has done is make me re-evaluate my lifestyle.
Good health is the most important thing, and like many I have taken it for granted.
However, I have been inspired by so many positive and helpful people such as you, and like the "Prisoner", I am not a number, or a label, I just happen to be a diabetic!
I have been reading a lot about diabetes tonight, and I think low carbs appear to be the way to go for me. The diet booklet I was given by the GP wasn't very helpful, and as I am determined to do everything that I can to keep my condition under control, I think I will have to sacrifice my love of all things starchy!