Hi. I was placed on Gliclazide on diagnosis over two years ago. I was on 80mg orally once a day (at breakfast), increased to twice a day. It did help bring my levels down from over 20mmols to the low teens. I chose to come off the drug because I wanted to see if a low carb diet was being effective...and could not tell what was doing what on both drug and diet. I kept records of what I ate and what my levels were before and couple of hours after by reference to readings on a self-testing meter. I also recorded when I took any other my meds I was on (quite number of things following a transplant..which was not caused by diabetes). I found that cutting carbohydrates was far more effective than the Gliclazide on its own...and in a relatively short space of time. I didn't go back on the Gliclazide and therefore I had less of a "rattle when I walk". I would add that while doing both (diet and pills) together may well be a good way for now to get the levels down...be careful not to cut carbs too much while on Gliclazide (particularly before driving or sleeping) as the blood sugar could drop you into a hypo.
Two other things -
1] I soon identified that some other pills I was on were also contributing to my high blood sugars (one in particular had actually cause it - a steroid), so I had these reduced where possible to great effect. We all differ, but amitriptyline can/does increase blood sugar as can statins. I refused statins and never regretted it. I take leflunomide too - no problems.
2] If you don't have a meter, I would strongly urge you to buy one; it is the best way to see what is having most impact on you and that allows you to adapt your diet/meds to better effect.
Good luck.
