insulin vs gliclazide?

[river-rat-sam]

I am type II diabetic and I have other health complications unrelated to diabetes. I am forty two. I take metformin 500 slow release twice a day. My blood glucose readings are around 14 no matter how or what I eat. My GP put it up to 750 twice a day but it made no difference whatsoever so I put it back down to 500.

She wants me to take gliclazide but I don't want to take it. I am already overweight and I have heard that most people who take gliclazide gain more weight.

My blood glucose has been around 14 for about three years now. I am tired, and find it hard to concentrate and therefore find it hard to sort this out without asking for advice.

Today my GP says would I consider insulin? I am aware I would have to inject myself but aside from that, what would be the benefits of going on insulin as oppose to gliclazide? My diet last year was not good, I have had an eating disorder but in the last few weeks I have been eating 'good'.

Is it possible to go onto insulin to get my 14 reading down and then stick to a healthy diet, come off the insulin and take just metformin? or is it once you are taking insulin you are on it for life?

I don't know what to do and would appreciate any advice

 

[ebony321]

Hi,

I'm T1 so i don't know too much about T2 but you did say any advice would do...

have you spoken to a diabetes professional about your problem? i find my GP is good with knowledge of diabetes but a diabetes nurse deals with diabetes everyday so essentially is the 'expert'

it seems strange that you upped your tabs by 50% yet it had no effect, maybe thats something worth seeing more over time to make a difference to your BG's?

on the insulin subject i know i'd rather take medication than inject so maybe you should try gliclazide as im sure complications from running around 14 alot would be worse than gaining more weight... which brings me to say without offending you maybe exercise could be your key to bring those sugars down? and shift some extra pounds?

exercise makes you feel better too and will start your metabolism off and could bring those sugars down so you dont have to take more medication or consider insulin?

like i said im definately not an expert and you do say you have more health problems unrelated to diabetes and i dont know what these are and could throw and idea i have out the window,

however i hope you do manage to solve this and get your sugar to a reasonable level and feel better

good luck

 

[cugila]

Hi.
I know you say you are eating healthily but WHAT exactly do you call healthy ? I would be interested to know what a typical days food intake would consist of, warts and all !

What other medications are you taking besides the Diabetes ones. Sometimes these drugs can have unfortunate side effects which can seriously elevate Bg levels. With this information we may be able to advise you better and help you avoid the Insulin. Help you lose some weight.

If your medication is having no effect then surely the GP would consider the other alternatives available before Insulin. That's like giving up at the first hurdle. You say you are overweight, Insulin is maybe not going to help you to lose weight ! It may be useful for lowering Bg levels through the day but I too, as a T2 personally would avoid Insulin unless I had explored all the other reasons for high Bg levels.

There are alternatives to Insulin which are also injected such as Byetta and Victoza wich are possibly viable alternatives in your case.

Tiredness all the time is a typical symptom of high Bg levels. From my own experience I found that reducing starchy carbohydrates and portion sizes was the fastest and most effective way to lower Bg levels AND to lose weight. I lost 5 stone since January 2009 with little or no effort doing that.

 

[lovinglife]

Hi :0)

I am a very new T2 only diagnosed in June so don't profess to have much knowledge but from personal experience just wanted to say that being on Gliclazide doesn't always mean weight gain. I have been on it since diagnosis - the max dose at first but now reduced - and I have managed to lose 5 st in 6 months!

Along with the meds I have had a big lifestyle change - I am strict with my portion control and have reduced my carbs to 120 - 130 g a day, eating to my meter- and I try to do some exercise every day - even if it is just more effort into my housework :lol: - It's my belief that these changes that have helped my weight loss - I certainly didn't do it to lose weight but to get my BS under good control - (I am expecting it to have dropped into the 6's when I get my results next week) - The weight loss has been a wonderful side effect if you like

Give the glic a try - it is possible that once you are on it and doing well that you can reduce it or even come off with your drs advice - You never know it may be worth the try

 

[Daibell]

Hi

I've been T2 for 5 years, started with Metformin SR max dose then Gliclazide was added and increased to max dose. Each of these steps had an effect but only in the region of, say, 1% HBA1C reduction and dosage increase has a non-linear effect i.e. the effect is not double for double dose. There are some useful papers on the NHS website which show the typical HBA1C effects for these drugs and dosages. Note these are typical and everyone is different! Like the other contributor, I have lost weight with Gliclazide which proves that you can only generalise with regard to diabetes. I am maybe near to having insulin if my recent HBA1C test proves as I expect, but I would certainly go through Gliclazide again to help control my BS and it has caused me no side effects. My weight loss is probably recent low carbing, learned from this website, together with visits to the gym which I've done for years.