Metformin and gliclazide Doses

[wookie101]

Hi All...

I've just recently been to hospital with a simple foot infection that ended up being complicated by turning into Sepsis and well one month on I've just finished a continuing changing regime of antibiotics trying to reduce all my inflammations.

While I was in hospital they were testing my glucose (pin prick each day) which showed that my diabetes wasn't helping things as that was reading about 14.3!!! They pointed out that, as a result my diabetes was interfering with my recovery. Once I was released I went to see my doctor.

Luckily for me my doctor is pretty switched on but he didn't believe that my blood could have been that bad (I pointed out that I was getting reading of 13.3 at home) so he asked my to get my Hb1Ac re-done (and he ticked just about every other test available as I still was still recovering from a very serious condition), Long story short a few days later I was back and my Hab1Ac was now 65.

My Dr now completely agreed with the hospital, that my diabetes was definitely not allowing me to recover as fast as I could have so he increased my:

Metformin from 1500mg to 2000mg
Gave me Glicazide 30mg two to be taken each morning.

My question is what have people found is the best way to take these Meds?

Currently I take 2 x 30mg Gliclazide after breakfast in the morning and then 2x 1000mg Metformin after my evening meal.

My bloods sugar testing in the morning (before breakfast are now around 7.9 although occasionally 6.3, I don't know why.

Anyone on the same, any advice?

 

[wookie101]

Anyone else on Metformin and Gliclazide?

 

[Bluetit1802]

Sorry I can't help with your question, but did your doctor tell you that the antibiotics may have been raising your BS levels? I imagine you were on strong doses with having sepsis. Once they are out of your system you may find your levels drop.

Edit to add that infection, pain and stress also cause higher levels.

 

[Oldvatr]

Anyone else on Metformin and Gliclazide?

Yep I am.

The metformin is a longer term acting med, so timing not massively important. It needs to build up over week or so. I take mine with food - actually I take it some 20 mins before I eat to allow it to dissolve so it is ready for the ensuing meal, It acts to restrict absorption of glucose in the intestine, so having it ready before the meal is digesting is a good idea. The dose of 2 grams per day is normal and I have been on this dose for some 10 years now. Today in my diabetic review I agreed with GP to halve my dose since I don't want to be on long term medication, and my bgl is doing well now, Metformin only drops bgl by a mmol/l or so, not a major player there, but it does offer protecion against CVE and heart problems.

Gliclazide is more interesting. I found in my trials that again, taking it 20 mins before a meal is best. But this one actually does nothing for bgl levels already present in the blood. It needs the amylase trigger from the saliva that occurs as you masticate a meal to trigger an insulin demand, and this med then makes the pancreas go into overdrive and produce more insulin, and this then attacks the bgl glucose. Without the amylase trigger,, Glic does little, So taking it with the meal or after the meal is a waste of time. I am finding that 1 x 80 mg Glic can drop my bgl by 6 mmol/l in 2 hours after a meal, so if you get it right then it can be heap powerful ju-ju. Again, today I got my GP to agree to halve my dose.

I too had a hospital A&E visit for a staph infection that ended up giving me a heart attack. I had to go on an insulin drip and be nil by mouth in the intensive care unit, but managed to escape a couple of weeks later. Worst monent was waking up from a doze, and finding a Sky Pilot at the bedside, prayer book in hand. I told him I was not ready yet and to exit stage right with expedience. ( but not quite as politely as that!) The insulin drip did not work, anf my bgl went over 32 mmol/l so I probabluy had a bit of DKA to boot.

When I came out of hospital I had high levels for a couple of months, but then discovered the LCHF diet, which has saved me. May I suggest that you do a bit of research into low carb diets, since this has allowed me to almost drop all my diabetes meds. I was facing a lifetime insulin regime, and now I have the lowest bgl level my GP has on his books (his words today).

 

[Deleted member 308541]

Worst monent was waking up from a doze, and finding a Sky Pilot at the bedside, prayer book in hand. I told him I was not ready yet and to exit stage right with expedience. ( but not quite as politely as that!)

I would have said the same, so you are not alone there.

 

[wookie101]

Hi,

Thanks for all the feedback, I've finally finished my antibiotics and I also changed how I was talking my Glic and Metformin.

So the good news is that I've managed to bring my glucose down from 14.3 (although typically averaging at 11) to 5.7 this morning.

I think Oldvtar that you where right, once the antibiotics got out of my system my body could then tackle my blood sugar levels, which have dropped almost thru the floor.

So now on how I'm not taking my diabetes meds.

I am taking the 2 x Gliclazide after having breakfast (usually porridge with a little muesli to sweeten it up).

The the 2000mg of Metformin (2x1000mg pills) I've found I can tolerate if I split them up, so I have one with evening meal and then another about 9-10pm after having a sandwich.

And I'm very happy with the results of so far 5.7 on the meter reading. I still need to get all my energy's back and start getting back up to 15,000 steps on my fitbit and start losing weight again, but, one step at a time.

So Sepsis finally getting over it, Tick
Blood sugars back under control Tick
Need to get out walking again Need to Start
Need to loose more weight Need to Start

 

[bulkbiker]

after having breakfast (usually porridge with a little muesli to sweeten it up)

Possibly not the greatest thing for us Type 2's to be eating...you've been around here a bit so you presumably know about low carb eating being helpful in lowering blood sugars..might be worth a try?

 

[wookie101]

Hi yes,

I've found that porridge is amazing for me after checking 2 hours later on my meter (I spent 3 months seeing what worked for me and what didn't) So all evidence based, but as we are all different, what works for me doesn't work for everyone.

I think that the 'Eat to you meter' is what everyone needs to do so as to find what works for them.

 

[Lamont D]

Just be wary of the way Glicizide can cause your blood glucose levels to drop into hypo levels. As @Oldvatr did, when his levels returned to near normal levels he got a review on his meds!

 

[Oldvatr]

Just be wary of the way Glicizide can cause your blood glucose levels to drop into hypo levels. As @Oldvatr did, when his levels returned to near normal levels he got a review on his meds!

Agree. But to be truthful I changed my meds unilaterally and then wrote to my GP to tell him how I wanted my next scrips to look. I included printouts of my monthly bgl and an annotation table that showed the points where I had changed, and the effect it had on my bgl. We confirmed it on my next review, by which lime I had changed things again.

In my case I get all my meds a month in advance in a blister pack, so it can take up to a month before I can get a scrip change incorporated, so I got good at ferretin in the pack to do it MY WAY. My GP is ok with this, and we have a good understanding, But I did have to have a discussion first about hypos and hypo awareness, so I did the LC and hypo awareness online courses offered on this site, and on the day I completed them, I had my first hypo - brilliant timing.!