Type 2 Gliclazide 120mg and Victoza

[Absxx]

Been to see diabetic specialist nurse this morning and have been put on these medications as blood sugars have been in high 20’s. Don’t know much about either. Any advice? Hba1c was 88.

 

[Jenny15]

Been to see diabetic specialist nurse this morning and have been put on these medications as blood sugars have been in high 20’s. Don’t know much about either. Any advice? Hba1c was 88.

I have not tried either medication because I read about insulin and asked for that instead. My GP was happy to agree. It's totally up to you what treatment option you wish to take. I'm just giving you info about one of the options. Here's some of what I read about it.

http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/15478720.php

 

[Absxx]

I wasn’t given the option of insulin as they said that would make me put on weight I’m 19st. So hence the victoza. Thanks for replying tho.

 

[Jenny15]

I wasn’t given the option of insulin as they said that would make me put on weight I’m 19st. So hence the victoza. Thanks for replying tho.

It doesn't necessarily cause weight gain, as explained at the link above. If you decide you want to try it, as far as I know, you are allowed to ask for it; it's your body, your decision. If you find you're not getting anywhere with Victoza they really should have the discussion with you, in my opinion. Good luck with whatever you do anyway.

 

[Jenny15]

I wasn’t given the option of insulin as they said that would make me put on weight I’m 19st. So hence the victoza. Thanks for replying tho.

I just figured out that I'm about 19st too (we use kg in NZ). I've read the NZ & UK guidelines for T2 diabetes medication and they are basically the same, that they try tablets/non insulin meds first and if they don't work, insulin can be tried. They go by blood sugar level not weight, because high blood sugar for a long period carries serious risks and they can't just leave someone like that to get worse and worse.

I certainly feel reducing carbs is the best thing to do, and I have done that for 7 years, but if someone has tried enough non-insulin drugs for a long time and still has very high BG, then if the patient asks about insulin and they refuse to consider it, they are not following the guidelines. It's as simple as that.

 

[Brunneria]

Hi @Absxx

I just checked for contraindications of Gliclizide, and sure enough, weight gain may be one of them
https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/gliclazide.html#contraIndications

while reduced appetite is a possible side effect of Victoza, which may result in weight loss
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-medication/diabetes-and-victoza.html

I would say that it sounds as though your specialist diabetic nurse has considered the drug combination carefully.
Is she going to assess you regularly to see how you are getting on?

Both sets of drug information suggest that dietary control has an important role alongside medication.
Can I ask what dietary suggestions you have been given?

 

[Jenny15]

Hi @Absxx

I just checked for contraindications of Gliclizide, and sure enough, weight gain may be one of them
https://bnf.nice.org.uk/drug/gliclazide.html#contraIndications

while reduced appetite is a possible side effect of Victoza, which may result in weight loss
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-medication/diabetes-and-victoza.html

I would say that it sounds as though your specialist diabetic nurse has considered the drug combination carefully.
Is she going to assess you regularly to see how you are getting on?

Both sets of drug information suggest that dietary control has an important role alongside medication.
Can I ask what dietary suggestions you have been given?

Hi Brunneria

That looks like an interesting guidelines document but it's only accessible within the UK. You wouldn't happen to know of a site where it could be viewed despite that rule would you? Makes it hard to discuss something if not everyone can read it. Thanks.

 

[Jenny15]

Hi again @Absxx

Sorry for all the posts. I've been thinking some more and it might be a good idea if you could let us know things like which diabetes meds you have tried, how long you have been diagnosed and what your HbA1cs have been like, roughly speaking.

Like, if you were diagnosed 3 months ago and this combination is the first one you've been offered, then I can see why the nurse would want you to try it for say 3 months unless you develop bad side effects, for example. Hopefully it helps you get your BG down within that time, in conjunction with your own food and exercise changes of course.

I've seen so many doctors and nurses over the last 30 years for my multiple medical conditions I sometimes can't remember which way is up. But I've found out the hard way that often the only person who can really make sure I have a chance at better treatments is me. Many of the nurses and doctors mean well and some are really great at what they do, and are so caring. But some aren't like that all the time.

 

[Crocodile]

I wasn’t given the option of insulin as they said that would make me put on weight I’m 19st. So hence the victoza. Thanks for replying tho.

Are you actively doing anything about the weight. Losing about 40kg over two years would help much more than the drugs ever will. I guess you probably already know that but a bit of reinforcement might help.

 

[Jenny15]

Hi Brunneria

That looks like an interesting guidelines document but it's only accessible within the UK. You wouldn't happen to know of a site where it could be viewed despite that rule would you? Makes it hard to discuss something if not everyone can read it. Thanks.

Bumping this in case @Brunneria didn't see it. Sorry, I should have tagged you in. Still getting to grips with how the site works.

 

[Brunneria]

Bumping this in case @Brunneria didn't see it. Sorry, I should have tagged you in. Still getting to grips with how the site works.

Thanks @Jenny15
I am afraid I cannot help you though. I found those links using a perfectly ordinary Google search, so cannot comment on any international access limits. And if there are any such limits they do not appear for me.

 

[Jenny15]

Thanks @Jenny15
I am afraid I cannot help you though. I found those links using a perfectly ordinary Google search, so cannot comment on any international access limits. And if there are any such limits they do not appear for me.

Thanks @Brunneria. Definitely getting error messages here whenever I try to access some of the NICE guidelines from outside the UK. It says they are only available in Great Britain, which is a shame for Brits who may be living abroad etc.

Anyway, the bit I wanted to check was whether weight gain is a contraindication of Glic. I'm trying to understand whether they mean a person may gain weight because of Glic, or people with weight issues or a tendency to gain weight anyway should not take Glic.

Thanks

 

[Daibell]

Hi. First neither Gliclazide nor insulin cause weight gain BUT if you have too many carbs whilst taking them you may gain weight as the body is now able to metabolise the carbs into glucose and if that's more than you need it will be stored as fat. Far be it for me to comment on the Gliclazide but it's sole purpose is to stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin. Most T2s with excess weight will already be producing too much insulin thru insulin resistance. That may not be true for you but bear it in mind. It is essential for you and in fact many of us to control the carbs which you may already be doing. I aim for 150gm/day and many would say stay below 100gm/day. Hopefully the Victoza will help you and if you keep the carbs down your weight and BS will gradually come down. I'm assuming you don't have some other medical condition that would work against that.