Medication mix and match

[Celtic Angel]

Hi, this is the first time I have asked a question about my diabetes and I'm nervous incase I seem like an idiot.

I've had type 2 diabetes for several years, and had been taking 850mg of Metformin twice a day since diagnosis. I'm 54 years old and very overweight. I'd been feeling under the weather for a few months and after taking my BSL and getting an off the scale reading I contacted my doctor.

He told me to stop taking the Metformin and started me on 40mg of glyclazide, which he's increased to 120mg two times a day. It didn't seem to be having any effect, as my sugar levels were going up and down like a rollercoaster even though I was eating sensibly.

He arranged for the diabetic specialist to call me, and she's told me to start taking the Metformin again as well as the glyclazide. She told me that she is increasing the dosage to 1gram and to see if it makes any difference. In the meantime I was to keep to a sensible food types and let her know if I had any problems reintroducing the Metformin.

At first I felt a little sick but that seems to have passed now, I have been taking this communication of the tablets for a couple of months now and my BSL has not got any lower than 14.8 and they've both advised me not to leave the house unless I'm with someone, or my sugar levels are back to at least 7.5....

I'm getting worried that they're not going to get down to that and I've been asked to go for my two year eye test and also a breast screening...I'm too nervous to call and try telling the receptionist that I can't get there as I don't have anyone to come with me and I am completely overwhelmed with the whole situation...

How long do you think it should be taking for sugar levels to come down, and can they be affected by stress at all..?

I'm not eating regular meals as I'm struggling with financial situation, and I don't know how I can make my body work properly when I don't understand why the medication doesn't seem to be doing anything much.

Any advice would be welcome, or even suggestions on ways to bring blood sugar down..
Thank you, Mikaiya

 

[bulkbiker]

I was eating sensibly.

Sensibly can mean many things to many people but not always be good for T2 diabetes.

Wha kind of things do you usually eat?

 

[Sarah69]

I don’t understand why you can’t go out without somebody being with you, that’s a stupid thing to say. Nothing is going to happen to you! Whoever said that is trying to scare you.

 

[EllieM]

At first I felt a little sick but that seems to have passed now, I have been taking this communication of the tablets for a couple of months now and my BSL has not got any lower than 14.8 and they've both advised me not to leave the house unless I'm with someone, or my sugar levels are back to at least 7.5....

I'm very confused. If they think your levels are too high for you to go outside alone surely they should be making an appointment for you to see a specialist who can authorise stronger medication?

(There are a number of stronger T2 meds that you can take.)

In your position I would contact the doctor and explain your levels haven't come down and ask how you are expected to go to your check ups. I think they may have forgotten about you and/or are assuming your levels are now fine.

I don’t understand why you can’t go out without somebody being with you, that’s a stupid thing to say. Nothing is going to happen to you! Whoever said that is trying to scare you.

If this was said by both a doctor and a diabetic specialist I'd assume they have their reasons. It's just a pity that they didn't share them with the OP.

 

[Daibell]

Hi. Are you having a low-carb diet? This is the number one priority before any diabetes meds. I'm surprised the Gliclazide isn't doing anything as that implies your beta cells are degraded. I took both Metformin 2gm and Gliclazide 320mg for several years before the Glic stopped working and I started insulin. I was always slim so a different scenario.

 

[valann]

Hi Mikaiya,
Sorry to hear you are having these problems.

I am not on Metformin or glyclazide so can't comment on those, but would have thought your team need to know they aren't working for you.

You say you're eating sensibly, what do you mean by that? I ask because I am also T2 and for years thought I was eating sensibly as was sticking to the doctor healthy plate meals they told me to. When I joined this forum I noticed that lots of people were using the low carb diet with good results, so decided to try it myself, 5 weeks in and I can't believe the difference. Wholemeal bread, rice, pasta, potatoes and porridge were advised, seems they are the things that was stopping my readings from coming down.

I am not a doctor,nor medically trained but the low carb is working for me and maybe it would help you too. It is hard when financial limits come into play but is not impossible. With the advice given here I am learning to bake/cook more and freeze so there are always something to eat in my freezer.

Have a good read around the forum and try things.

Looking forward to reading more of your posts, do let us know how you get on.x