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Just started DPP-4 inhibitors and high readings

R

redgarry

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi,

Husbands just started DPP-4 inhibitors a couple of weeks ago due to poor control, been on Metformin for about 7 years. Been feeling off for a day or so, checked sugars and have very high readings but on waking (both overnight and naps), average of 28, but then settles to 8 or so.

How worried should I be?
 
My doctor prescribed one to me last week at 25mg but I've not taken it yet because the price at the pharmacy was $527 USD for 30 pills! No reasonably insurance coverage yet on it and I guess that might be the same with all the options right now. What is the price like in the UK if that's where you're from? I am definitely not paying $6,000+ USD per year if my alternate choice is to just cut even more carbs from my diet and work out a little more each week.

As for what your husband experiencing, I researched DPP-4 inhibitors and found that their primary action is to inhibit an enzyme that gets in the way of the body producing insulin. I did a test 5 years ago after initial T2D diagnosis to determine if there were any issues of my endocrine system. There were no issues, my body was (at the time) producing normal levels of insulin. I've yet to get that test again, but I am gooing to discuss with my doctor to ask them why they would want to prescribe something to me before first verifying if it would even make sense since my issue may not be insulin creation and instead just resistance to the insulin? Why stress my pancreas and potentially lead to other issues? And with more insulin in my system, wouldn't that just drive my body to become even more resistant?

I would describe what you're seeing to the doctor and ask those kind of questions specifically.
 
Thanks. My thoughts were similar, I think it was prescribed a little too easily, without a full understanding of what was going on. Will definitely raise this. Thank you
 
redgarry said:
Hi,

Husbands just started DPP-4 inhibitors a couple of weeks ago due to poor control, been on Metformin for about 7 years. Been feeling off for a day or so, checked sugars and have very high readings but on waking (both overnight and naps), average of 28, but then settles to 8 or so.

How worried should I be?
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The readings of 28 mmol/l are pretty concerning, and worth a call to 999, especialy if he's feeling off.
Would you elaborate a bit more? When does he see numbers in the 20's and when does he go down to around 8?
JayAmerican said:
What is the price like in the UK if that's where you're from? I am definitely not paying $6,000+ USD per year if my alternate choice is to just cut even more carbs from my diet and work out a little more each week.
Click to expand...
I have no experience with gliptins, but in the UK they are covered under the NHS if deemed necessary. As they are in my own country (the Netherlands). We cannot buy them.
 
Readings of 28 last two mornings, on waking. He took as felt a bit dizzy and unwell. He then seems to bounce back. I'm having enough difficulty getting him to take it seriously. I'm concerned about him but he is a bury his head in the sand sort of man.
 
redgarry said:
Readings of 28 last two mornings, on waking. He took as felt a bit dizzy and unwell. He then seems to bounce back. I'm having enough difficulty getting him to take it seriously. I'm concerned about him but he is a bury his head in the sand sort of man.
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As far as I know, it's very unusual to be this high first thing in the morning, and even more so if he drops back to around 8 later.
Did he wash hands and retest to confirm the high readings?
 
Antje77 said:
As far as I know, it's very unusual to be this high first thing in the morning, and even more so if he drops back to around 8 later.
Did he wash hands and retest to confirm the high readings?
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Yeah, I made sure he did that as I was puzzled too. Definitely a chat with the GP and I'll take him in before if needed. We live 10 mins away from a good hospital if needs be.
 
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