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Insomnia

S

stevedarlington

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Hello all. New member, very glad to find this site which is great as a source of information and support.

Brief history. 55 years old. Diagnosed 9 months ago. Went onto healthy diet, took up exercise (swimming and got an allotment) gave up smoking, cut out beer (still drink some red wine weekends) In fact I have now lost nearly 2.5 stome After 3 months went onto metformin and statins.

I have been having chest pains for some time after all lifestyle changes together with some anxiety and anxiety attacks. Ended up in hospital A & E with very bad chest pains but given the all clear and it subsided.

The pains seem to relate to wind/ indigestion/ heartburn and seemed to be exacerbated by the medication. At the same time I started to have difficult sleeping cos of the chest pains ( which are uncomfortable rather than painful) stopping me getting off to sleep.

To cut the story short, my doctor has now stopped statins and glicazine ( I changed to this from metformin to see if metformin was part of the problem ) and am waiting to see a gastroenterologist as he can't suss out why I am having problems.

Any comments on any of the above in relation to digestion related issues would be helpful but my current main concern is insomnia as this is getting worse and worse and eventually my doctor gave me sleeping tablets (which I am not keen on in terms of dependency) as a short term fix until I see the specialist. In the meantime though I am exercising like mad and on health diet to keep my blood sugars down as I am not on any diabetes medication ( just on some Ranitidine to reduce stomach acid)

Has anyone else had problems with insomnia or chest pains related to dietary change or diabetes/statins medication.
 
Hi Steve,

Unfortunately indigestion is a well documented side effect of metformin (it is sometimes referred to as metfartin!). Are you sure the alternative med is called glicazine - its not a name that I can find on any of the medical internet sites.
 
Is your insommia an every night occurance..if not try not to worry about it too much...I often get about 1 night in four where I seem not to able to sleep...but I don't fret about it...
I gather you've tried all the tried and tested methods...absolutely darkened room...no late night alcohol...decent bed etc etc...even lavendar under your pillow...But if its directly caused by your condition then I cannot help..........pester your doctor/nurse....surely theres something other than sleeping pills...
 
sugarless sue said:
I'd hazard a guess that it is Glicazide he means.
Click to expand...

Hi Sue, Yes, I wondered that, but one of the glitazones would be a more usual alternative to metformin. Gliclazide is a sulphonylurea so totally different action to metformin.
 
i know I'm not answering the specific question, but just noting that I have found that the later in the day I exercise, the worse I sleep (my tai chi teacher says it arouses the chi, but perhaps there is a more western / sport science explanation as well!!), and have also increased my exercise significantly due to diabetes.
Metformin has been playing tricks on me too, seemed to have settled down after a while but now seems to have left me rather intolerant to any oily foods, which overall is no doubt a good thing but is also yet another factor to be precious about!
good luck with your tests, hope they find something simple to fix.
bruce
 
Thanks for the responses. It is gliclazide I was taking. Guess I will have to see what the gastroenteroligist says before seeing where I go next in terms of diabetic medication. Not all that confident about how good my doctor is with diabetes but that seems to be a re-occuring theme on forums for people with diabetes.
 
I ditched gliclazide. it made weight loss impossible. I went low-carb instead and managed to get weight off. Metformin does cause growly tummy, but it usually wears of if you're prepared to put up with it for a bit. alternatively, believe that the delayed release version doesn't have the effect. I don't know anyone who has it though.
I haven't slept right through a night for at least a year. Diabetes nurse says there's nothing to be done. I seem to have adapted to it; do tend to drop off in a chair in the evenings though.
 
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