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Rate at which you drop medications

S

Sal87

Active Member
Messages
29
Location
Toronto, Canada
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
This is a big one. I stopped insulin pretty early and now, six weeks into keto and intermittent fasting, I'm halting the Glicazide because it promotes insulin response. But I've also been told long-time diabetics like myself may need six months or more to take such steps. The blood glucose numbers are all over the place and not giving me clear information. Over what period have others decreased or stopped their meds?
 
Hi @Sal87

I’ve never been medicated for diabetes so can’t share any experience, however I’d recommend you work with your doctor or nurse on this. I’m sure it’ll be interesting to hear how others have done this, but you do need to work out a safe way to do this, especially as you’re not seeing consistent patterns with your blood sugars.

Good luck with it.
 
Sal87 said:
Over what period have others decreased or stopped their meds?
Click to expand...
I waited till my hba1c tests were stable and within 1 mmol/mol of one another, when four were the same at 34 mmol/mol my GP and I discussed stopping taking Metformin,. I dropped one 500 mg tablet after that test in March, I have just had a another blood test which was another stable 34 mmol/mol and have now stopped the other 500 mg Metformin tablet.

This took two and a half years to achieve, see the small graph in my sig.
 
Tipetoo said:
I waited till my hba1c tests were stable and within 1 mmol/mol of one another, when four were the same at 34 mmol/mol my GP and I discussed stopping taking Metformin,. I dropped one 500 mg tablet after that test in March, I have just had a another blood test which was another stable 34 mmol/mol and have now stopped the other 500 mg Metformin tablet.

This took two and a half years to achieve, see the small graph in my sig.
Click to expand...
Tipetoo, you really stuck with it, impressive that you could commit for over two years to finally cease your meds.
 
I'm with @Goonergal it is best to work with your health care professionals when lowering the dosage or ceasing hypoglycaemic medications. Take it steady.
 
Guzzler said:
I'm with @Goonergal it is best to work with your health care professionals when lowering the dosage or ceasing hypoglycaemic medications. Take it steady.
Click to expand...
I agree with the principle, the challenge being that not many of us have physicians who really know the low carb and intermittent fasting approach.
 
@Sal87
Well done for improving so much that you don't need insulin :) That's certainly an achievement and a feather in your cap.

I'm totally with you regarding wanting to reduce meds that stimulate pancreas to produce more insulin, when one already has too much in the system etc. I take a similiar medication (Glipizide 5mgs) daily. Previously I have been on 15 mgs daily, which I did manage to come off, slowly but only with using the Freestyle Libre so I could monitor my levels closely, and safely.

On Glipizide 10mgs in the mornings, I found I was going hypo by lunchtime/early afternoon so, after a while of this, I decided to reduce the dose gradually, by cutting a tablet in half (they're not coated). So, gradually, I was able to stop these regular hypos at lunchtime, meaning I didn't then need to eat Jelly Babies and biscuits, or have carbs for lunch etc. I couldn't see the logic in taking meds which caused me to eat non-nourishing foods etc ;)

After a while, I wasn't needing to take anything but still keeping blood glucose levels in good control. Needless to say, the Diabetes nurse, at the surgery, who then told the GP, were not amused and I can only think they thought I had done this at considerable risk and without being in control. I might add, for what it's worth, I am a retired nurse, so like to think I knew what I was doing ;) I am now back on Glip 5mgs but I split the tablet and take 1/2 in the morning and the other 1/2 before my evening meal. I no longer have hypos on this regime and generally keep my BG levels within 'normal' parameters - by low carbing etc.

I wouldn't recommend doing this without a very good system to monitor your levels during the day and night. Neither would I recommend taking this approach unless you really understood what you were doing etc. It certainly would be best if you had the support and guidance of the HCPs but, as in my situation, I don't feel they are prepared to tread anything but a 'convential' road regarding this, and other, issues so I decided to take it into my own hands a bit. ;)

I wish you well :)
 
Energize said:
@Sal87
Well done for improving so much that you don't need insulin :) That's certainly an achievement and a feather in your cap.

I'm totally with you regarding wanting to reduce meds that stimulate pancreas to produce more insulin, when one already has too much in the system etc. I take a similiar medication (Glipizide 5mgs) daily. Previously I have been on 15 mgs daily, which I did manage to come off, slowly but only with using the Freestyle Libre so I could monitor my levels closely, and safely.

On Glipizide 10mgs in the mornings, I found I was going hypo by lunchtime/early afternoon so, after a while of this, I decided to reduce the dose gradually, by cutting a tablet in half (they're not coated). So, gradually, I was able to stop these regular hypos at lunchtime, meaning I didn't then need to eat Jelly Babies and biscuits, or have carbs for lunch etc. I couldn't see the logic in taking meds which caused me to eat non-nourishing foods etc ;)

After a while, I wasn't needing to take anything but still keeping blood glucose levels in good control. Needless to say, the Diabetes nurse, at the surgery, who then told the GP, were not amused and I can only think they thought I had done this at considerable risk and without being in control. I might add, for what it's worth, I am a retired nurse, so like to think I knew what I was doing ;) I am now back on Glip 5mgs but I split the tablet and take 1/2 in the morning and the other 1/2 before my evening meal. I no longer have hypos on this regime and generally keep my BG levels within 'normal' parameters - by low carbing etc.

I wouldn't recommend doing this without a very good system to monitor your levels during the day and night. Neither would I recommend taking this approach unless you really understood what you were doing etc. It certainly would be best if you had the support and guidance of the HCPs but, as in my situation, I don't feel they are prepared to tread anything but a 'convential' road regarding this, and other, issues so I decided to take it into my own hands a bit. ;)

I wish you well :)
Click to expand...

This is very instructive, thank you for your robust response. Jelly Babies and biscuits! That was an eye-opener. Although those aren't my addictions, having to consume, say, some crusty bread or pasta to level my BG would have upended my entire avocado cart and thrown me back into full compulsion mode. Energize, I am using the Freestyle Libre which has been the game changer, 20 check-ins a day. How well do I know what I'm doing? That's very tricky, considering, as we both concede, not all our physicians really know what they need to. My average BG is 7.4 right now, which is not adequate control but the numbers have been coming down and the weight has been coming down. In the wake of hearing that six months, a year and more is often necessary to drop meds I am willing to restore Glicazide to see if it improves the BG but I'd do so reluctantly. I'm in the queue to have a physician at a metabolic-specialized clinic associated with Jason Fung but they're telling me two or three months to get in, which is a challenge. I'm acting now, I'm making changes now because I've gone years without being able to do so. With the Libre, I'm trusting I won't simply be driving the vehicle off a cliff. Congratulations on your success with this.
 
Daibell said:
For info, Gliclazide like insulin works within hours and I've read that any effect will have worn-off after around 10 hours.
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This is great information, @Daibell - thank you. I hadn't realised it was this length of time in the system.

The Glipizide that I take has a half life of 2-4 hours so considerably much shorter acting. In that respect, it's probably easier to 'manage' in the way I do. In spite of the short half life, I'm still prescribed it to be taken in the morning only which is more than I feel I need at that time and can make better use of 1/2 tablet before tea ? Makes sense to me ;)

@Sal87 - Great news that you have the Libre. That gives such a good over-view and, because of that, I feel we know what is going on from day to day. The HbA1c is good in it's way but not the be all and end all the HCPs seem to think, in my opinion.

Another thing is, I found the book 'Sugar Surfing' to be an excellent book, even though it's primarily designed for those with Type 1. I found the principles can be taken and applied to those with Type 2, in as much as dosing at the right time to anticipate increases of glucose levels etc.
 
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