Talking of Metformin.
Has anyone else developed a facial rash on the chin, nose, moving onto cheeks and patches on both sides of the forehead? On slow release and have been told to take it in the morning. The rash is reasonable in the morning and gets steadily worse all day. Not so easy to see except in the right light on in a mirror. When I had it looked at the nurse said it appeared to be ectopic dermatitis and booked me in with the DN. Although she was uncertain that it was related. I suppose it could be stress or sun sensitivity- in this grey northern and rainy weather.
I have taken an antihistamine for the last two days which has taken away the burning and most of the itching. But not this evening and the itching is starting up. Tomorrow I think I shall stop the Metformin for a couple of days to test whether it makes a difference to the rash.
On Wednesday I am due to see the DN with a view to taking the next level of medication - one that requires use of a glucose meter and has risks of hypos - probably weight gain too - begins with a G. Just what I need at the moment. Just getting to grips with losing weight steadily.
Its been suggested to me that I should refuse medication and concentrate on diet for the next couple of months. A option not given to me by the belligerent GP who rang me with my blood test result.
Incidentally, I am also getting pins and needles and sharp stabbing sensations in hands and feet. Even in the top of the head and neck. Any idea if that could be related. Sigh. Its just so hard to know what to think and how much to tolerate.
Hi
@Ceppo,
Is it possible that you are allergic to one of the inactive ingredients of slow-release metformin? If this is the reason for the rash (and no, I haven't heard of this as a common side effect), switching to a different brand might help. Maybe could ask about this at your appointment next Wednesday?
Have you started testing you blood sugar levels yet? What do they look like? Has your change in the way of eating had an impact yet? I know these are lots of questions, but sharing a record of your blood sugar readings might be helpful when having your appointment. Maybe they might even hold off on adding the new medicine (which I suspect is Gliclazide).
Gliclazide forces your pancreas to produce more insulin (regardless of what you eat) -- and some would argue that (a) it would exhaust the beta cells of your pancreas (which produce insulin) even faster and (b) that adding more insulin to an already high level of insulin (which tends to be typical for T2s) is not necessarily beneficial as it increases insulin resistance. For example, for Virta Health (a remote care U.S.-based health care company which focuses on reversing T2 and has a success rate of around 60% with people who had T2 for around 10 years on average) gliclazide is the first medicine to be eliminated when people join their program.
If low-carb is working for you and you are approaching near normal levels, the addition of gliclazide might push you into hypo (blood sugar levels which are too low) territory. So, it if you decide to take them (and yes, it is ultimately your decision not your GP's or DN's), make sure you monitor your blood sugar levels frequently. Let your GP/DN know if this medication is pushing down your blood sugars to a level which is too low (less than 4 mmol) regularly.
Good luck with your appointment on Wednesday.
