Low blood sugar whilst on medication as well as the 800 diet

[harrygarry95]

Hi all!

Thank you to everyone who replied to my last question. I've been on the 800 cal diet for a little under a week now. I'm on x2 500mg Metformin and x1 80g Gliclazide a day.

I haven't checked my blood sugar for a week (my own fault) but when I checked it today I saw that I'm only 5.2 just 2 hours after eating my last meal. Should I speak to my doctor about coming off the tablets whilst trying the 800 cal diet? I know my HbA1c level was at 89 this time last month - well above the 40 limit! So I understand the need to bring my sugar levels down.

My goal is to stick to the 800 cal diet until I get another HbA1c test in September and then up my calorie intake whilst maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

In the past I've suffered from low blood pressure and fainting so obviously don't want to be passing out!

 

[DCUKMod]

Hi all!

Thank you to everyone who replied to my last question. I've been on the 800 cal diet for a little under a week now. I'm on x2 500mg Metformin and x1 80g Gliclazide a day.

I haven't checked my blood sugar for a week (my own fault) but when I checked it today I saw that I'm only 5.2 just 2 hours after eating my last meal. Should I speak to my doctor about coming off the tablets whilst trying the 800 cal diet? I know my HbA1c level was at 89 this time last month - well above the 40 limit! So I understand the need to bring my sugar levels down.

My goal is to stick to the 800 cal diet until I get another HbA1c test in September and then up my calorie intake whilst maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

In the past I've suffered from low blood pressure and fainting so obviously don't want to be passing out!

Hi there, Harry - When you are taking Gliclazide it is important to keep an eye on your blood glucose scores.

Do you drive? If so, has your doctor, or nurse explained your requirements in that regards, whilst taking Gliclazide?

At 5.2 a couple of hours after a meal, I would be unconcerned. The level for a hypo is under 4.0. Whilst you might think your blood glucose would keep going down until you next ate, it doesn't necessarily work out that way.

Does you Doc/Nurse know you are using a very low calorie diet at the moment?

To be honest, you need to talk to your Doc/Nurse about what you need to do if your numbers get too low.

 

[Daibell]

Hi. You might want to suggest to the nurse that your Gliclazide is reduced to 40mg as it will be causing your beta cells to produce more insulin which it appears may be too much. A T2 with a good diet and good BMI would usually not need Gliclazide at all but just Metformin. There will be exceptions but see how you go as the weight reduces. BTW for the longer term I would suggest you think carbs and a low-carb diet rather than calories as carbs are our problem and not fat.