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Glicacide & Pancreas Demise

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wellwell1212

Well-Known Member
Messages
133
Location
Swindon Wiltshire
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Liars and cheats
I have been on x2 80m Glicacides taken twice daily and I am not happy with taking 320m per day for past several months :? . To be honest with you I would rather not take Glic at all. I was on x2 750 SR Metformins for quite a while and doing ok and then had one relatively bad HB result around 7 and my young male Doctor put me on 1000m Met twice a day and full dose Glics. Ok so my HB should be below 6 but, I think this dosage of Glic is dangerous in terms of the the longevity of my Pancreas. I now tolerate Metformin well after going to the SR version. I have upped my exercise to at least x3 gym session per week and employ the Bristol Uni Diabetics technique during the cardio workouts I do.

I have to say I was doing better with the female doctor I had. She took the attitude that it was my body and if it works for you then carry on. This young (to me, he probably early 30 something) male doctor is all knee jerk drug intervention to me.

I am seriously considering throwing the Glic in the bin and just going with Met and exercise and sensible diet of course. What I need to know is ... am I wise in binning Glicacide ? :problem: Also, what is the timeline on Panc damage via Glic use. ?
 
Hi. I'm on gliclazide. Although there are reoprts of Glic 'burning-out' the pancreas I'm not sure there are any facts to back this up and I also read that if you stop glic for a few weeks the pancreas does 'recover' anyway so it's all anecdotal. If your Hba1C remains below 7 with Met and exercise then you don't need Glic. If not, then Glic is the normal 2nd level tablet. I've found that Sitagliptin helps me more than Glic so it's another approach. Worth looking at the NICE diabetes guidelines flow chart to see what options are suggested to GPs.
 
Daibell said:
Hi. I'm on gliclazide. Although there are reoprts of Glic 'burning-out' the pancreas I'm not sure there are any facts to back this up and I also read that if you stop glic for a few weeks the pancreas does 'recover' anyway so it's all anecdotal. If your Hba1C remains below 7 with Met and exercise then you don't need Glic. If not, then Glic is the normal 2nd level tablet. I've found that Sitagliptin helps me more than Glic so it's another approach. Worth looking at the NICE diabetes guidelines flow chart to see what options are suggested to GPs.
Click to expand...

Nice one Daibell, thanks my friend :D

Does Sitagliptin act in the same way as Glicacide ? or has it a different approach.

Frankly, I think my Doc over reacted to my last result and I intend to bin Glicacide and stick with Metformin and Excercise and Diet.
 
Forget the question about Sitagliptin ... just looked at the side-effects. it took me ages to tolerate Metformin and never tolerated statins. Thus cant see me managing to tolerate Sitagliptin. That said, I don't think to need to use it or Glic. I indeed to make sure my next HB is below 7 nearer 6 :wink:
 
Hi. Sitagliptin has a completely different mechanism from Glic. Sit suppresses an enzyme that in turn suppresses insulin from the Pancreas. Glic stimulates the pancreas. Sit appears to have one or two major side effects for a few but for me it was just a light headache during the first week then nothing else. Looks like keeping to a good diet and exercise for you is the best approach for as long as you can keep below 7.
 
Hi wellwell! If it's any encouragement, my T2 friend had an A1c of 11.2, but refused meds. We worked together on diet, and after 4 months he was down to 5.7. So maybe the doc was a bit hasty! Nonetheless, I always think you should tell the doc if you change/ditch meds in case there's an underlying reason for them we don't know about. Good luck!
 
Cheers Diabell and Grazer .. solid advice there :)

I know if I behave myself and keep to my regular exercise pattern, an HB below 7 is do-able for me. As for the doc, well, just lets say I've had better more experience ones, I think our American cousins call it "shooting from the hip" :wink: ...
 
Sitagliptin is very good for coping with spikes. I too only suffered with a slight headache for the first week.

I was horribly affected by metformin. Not only stomach problems but problems with my balance. I fel that I was walking to one side all the time and at its worst I felt as if my head was under my arm!

Things go slighytly better with the SR metformin and almost 5 years on I thought I had finally
got over the side effects.

Until yesterday. I had an urgent phoone call jst before I took my tablet and consequently forgot o take it until later. Took it then with a litttle snack.

Suffice it to say that I spent all nightt in the bathroom and still feel like death.
I often wonder if it is worthwhile for everyone. I believe I had worse side effecs because I was very slim when diagnoosed. I was told I was prescribed it for its cardiovascular protection but I still wonder.....

I have never taken glic but I used to take glimepiride {amaryl} I put on an enormous amount of weight which dsappeared in less than a month when I stopped aking it..It is also supposed to kill off cells in the pancreas. makes you wonder doesn't it?

Maybe they should only take acion o increase or change these meds when there have been 2 or £ HBA1Cs showing a downward urn and when the patient has no idea why this should be happening.

Targets and money again!
 
My sympathies are with you Unbeliever on Met toleration, I won't go into details for a family audience but, it was a bear for me too. I am OK now on Met-SR after some years on it. Glic, I am not keen on and I believe that it causes fluid retention and wt gain, amongst other side effects.
 
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