I am looking for advice for my husband who has been a diabetic type 2 for nearly 15 years. He has been on metformin since the beginning and is currently on the maximum dose of 3 x 850mg a day. He also takes repaglinaide 3mg three times a day, and 1 x pioglitazone a day. He has also been on various blood pressure medications since he was in his twenties (he is now 60). He has also been taking bitter melon tablets which are a herbal remedy for about a year.
He has been having the runs with metformin for many years and has had stomach pains in the past year. The gastro specialist advised to come off the metformin and try diaglic tablets at 30mg initially and then went up to 60mg a day. These didnt seem to be working so he was sent to a diabetic nurse (never had any success with diabetic nurses!) who instantly tested him for the 3 month test, result being off the scale of the machine. When we expalned the history of the last 3 mths, nurse didn't listen or take heed and insisted that he went on insulin immediately. He is not at all keen on insulin so refused this and requested to go back on metformin again. I might add his BS were in the 20's when taken off the metformin and onto diaglyic but now back on metformin together with diaglyic has come down to 10-15 results. I know this is still high but is more where he felt better running at, if he goes lower he feels very unwell.
My main question is - is there a better option to stay off the insulin injections? I have read a bit about byetta and victosa but don't know much about it.
Other question - what can I give to him at about 8-9pm at night to supress hunger pangs that isn't going to make his BS spike?
Thanks for any help, although this is my first visit, think its a great site.
He has been having the runs with metformin for many years and has had stomach pains in the past year. The gastro specialist advised to come off the metformin and try diaglic tablets at 30mg initially and then went up to 60mg a day. These didnt seem to be working so he was sent to a diabetic nurse (never had any success with diabetic nurses!) who instantly tested him for the 3 month test, result being off the scale of the machine. When we expalned the history of the last 3 mths, nurse didn't listen or take heed and insisted that he went on insulin immediately. He is not at all keen on insulin so refused this and requested to go back on metformin again. I might add his BS were in the 20's when taken off the metformin and onto diaglyic but now back on metformin together with diaglyic has come down to 10-15 results. I know this is still high but is more where he felt better running at, if he goes lower he feels very unwell.
My main question is - is there a better option to stay off the insulin injections? I have read a bit about byetta and victosa but don't know much about it.
Other question - what can I give to him at about 8-9pm at night to supress hunger pangs that isn't going to make his BS spike?
Thanks for any help, although this is my first visit, think its a great site.