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Really need advice please, Urgent

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fedup&fat

Newbie
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4
Firstly hi, and what a great forum for diabetic people :D hopefully I can get some good advice here.

This maybe a little long winded, but feel I ought to explain the full situation and background.

I have suffered clinical depression since I was a child; I am now 39, the depression in turn led to me becoming agoraphobic and social phobic. These symptoms are so bad that I do not get out now, with the exception of medical appointments. As you can imagine, not getting out has its own side effects...weight gain, although everyone in my family has weight issues, not through over eating or lack of exercise, perhaps hereditary. About 18 months ago I was diagnosed as type 2 diabetic, the usual signs, excess bladder relief, yeast infections etc.

I was prescribed Gliclazide initially to bring my levels which were around 22-24 down. This was unsuccessful, so Metformin was to be used alongside the Gliclazide. Unfortunately Metformin did not agree with me, so I was put on Pioglitazone with the Gliclazide. This appeared to do the trick.

Unless you weigh yourself regular, you don’t tend to realise weight gain, although I felt I had gained a lot of weight over a short period. When you are morbidly obese your average household scales tend to have the habit of refusing to allow you onboard...well don’t cater for your weight. I recently had to go to hospital to see a bariatric consultant; part of the procedure is a weigh in. I was gobsmacked to learn I had gained about 8 stone in about 8 months, this confirmed my fears. This is not due to eating as I eat very little; I have also quit alcohol, soft and fizzy drinks, no sugar in drinks etc. I have also been suffering from pitting edema, fluid etc.

Just to scare the living hell out of me, my GP had me tested for heart failure.....a week of waiting for results fearing the worse, results came back clear, heart, liver, kidney, thyroid, all ok. The problem is the diabetic drugs, Pioglitazone is known for weight gain, water retention and Edema, as is Gliclazide. I cannot cope with this massive weight gain, I am at the point of stopping all my diabetic medication, yes there are risks, but the amount of weight I am gaining has its own very serious risks with a BMI of approx 56.6. I am at risk from heart diseases, stroke, amongst other health risks, that alongside the risks of my severe obstructive sleep apnoea, which has the side effects of circulation and heart issues, Coronary Artery Disease etc, stroke etc. The sleep apnoea not necessarily due to obesity, I am due an operation to remove an enlarged uvula and have my nose broken and reset and turbinate’s sorted. I have to sleep using a Nippy 3 ventilator.

I am on the waiting list for bariatric surgery, as well as the nasal issues, this could be quite a while. I really cannot deal with any more weight gain; my mobility is affected due to the increase. If the weight gain does not kill me, the effects on my depression will.

There must be alternative medication I can use. I have heard of some that apparently cause weight loss, to be honest I am not bothered if it causes a loss or not, as long as no more gains.
Any expert advice greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance
 
Hi.
Welcome to the forum.

A question for you.......what is your typical daily diet, breakfast, lunch, dinner any snacks. Knowing that might help us to better help you in some way.
 
breakfast.....depending on sleep pattern, sometimes breakfast skipped, but would be cornflakes or similar, no sugar, semi skimmed milk.

lunch 2 slices toast, tea= potatoes, veg, chicken for example.

My weight although overweight was stable before the diabetic drugs. I never had any edema issues or anything like it.
 
fedup&fat said:
breakfast.....depending on sleep pattern, sometimes breakfast skipped, but would be cornflakes or similar, no sugar, semi skimmed milk.

lunch 2 slices toast, tea= potatoes, veg, chicken for example.

My weight although overweight was stable before the diabetic drugs. I never had any edema issues or anything like it.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that. Not a lot to go on there, however, the foods highlighted in red are high in carbohydrates. These are the things that in my own personal experience contribute to weight gain.
I too was on the same medications as you for years and put on weight in record time. Then I discovered that it wasn't just the meds that were fattening me up, it was the carbohydrates in my diet that were making things worse.

Since January I have had my medication changed to Byetta, an injectable drug which is also an appetite suppressant. That, plus 30 mins non strenuous exercise a day and drastically reducing the intake of carbohydrates has allowed me to lose 5 stone. I'm not saying that this is what you need to do, it worked well for me and it may help you to lose some weight. Something to consider.

You need to be careful that you are getting the proper nutrition as well, so I would discuss this with your GP/Specialist before embarking on any drastic diet plan.
 
Thanks for the response.

I tend to get conflicting advice in general, I was advised to have carbs as they generate sugars or something like that. One doctor says one thing, one says another. Example, recently I went to get a repeat prescription for electrodes for my glucose monitor, gp says I dont need them? yet another says I should keep a check on my levels? this is at the same surgery. I am 1000% convinced the gain is purely due to the meds. My legs especially near on doubled in size with the edema, this effected my legs, feet, stomach, all come on rapidly.

In regards to excercise, I find this impossible, mobility issues, extreme tiredness and fatigue as little or no sleep, vicious circle. I have suffered back issues for a long time, yet another thing I am waiting an appointment, skeletal consultant and physio. I cant stand for more than a few minutes due to excrutiating pain, cant walk more than a few yards.

Diabtetes is understated I think, it has effected me quite badly so far. I suffer the sharp stabbing pains, burning, I also have neuropathy, loss of sensation in my right hand finger tips, no strength in left hand and only sensation in half of it. Most things are kind of in hand, but everything is a waiting game.

bariatric surgery due
sleep apnoea being treated
nasal, uvula surgery due
skeletal, physio due
neuropathy electro due
depression, awaiting cbt, on anti depressants, but seam to do little
 
I agree with Ken. As I read through your story, a number of fairly commonplace symptoms seemed to emerge, although unfortunately they seem to have affected you to a much greater extent than they have affected others.
In my view you shouldn't be pinning your hopes on prescription medications to rescue your health. I believe you will see a pretty immediate turnaround in your fortunes if you eliminate those carbohydrate foods from your diet and replace them with good proteins and fats.
I'm fairly certain you are suffering from absurdly high insulin levels, which are being induced by foods like cornflakes, toast and potatoes. Those high insulin levels have pushed your insulin levels up to a level where your body cannot access its fat stores for fuel and can only keep adding more fat.
Do a google search on a man called William Banting, read his story and see whether the cause of his condition, and his methods of turning things around, strikes a chord with you.
Good luck and all the best,

fergus
 
F&F
Your medications are very likely at least part of the cause of your current weight problem, As you say, they are known for it.
I too have weight problems, but not as extreme. I have found that cutting back hard( in my case to almost zero) carbohydrates has had a great effect. Despite being very weight loss resistant, I'm down 2.5 stones and struggling hard to get down more. I have completely adapted to the low carbohydrate way of life and don't get hungry. I also eat very small portions of anything except green leafy vegetables. I can eat a pound of Brussells sprouts.
I find I can do with minimal medicine and keep my blood glucose very low( around 5 at all times)
Sugars and starchy carbs are a no;no for me.
I do go to exercise classes, which I realise wouldn't probably work for you, but how about a video of seated exercise?
Hana
 
i am a type one which i became while i was suffering from agorophobia,anxiety,panic attacks and depression, i was in the middle of cbt,
i had suffered a mental breakdown 3 yrs earlier, the diabetes actually helped me sort my life out,
i was 17 stone at my heaviest , i have been 9stone 10 now for 2 yrs, and only rarely suffer from depression/panic etc,
the weight loss came from cutting carbs drastically and walking... when agorophobic i would walk around my house and up and down stairs, when well mentally i would walk out doors,
you can get well with determination as 7 yrs ago i was totally housebound and only spoke to family, it was hard and took a long time but i made it and so can you(albeit i inherited a few more long term health issues on the way )
if i can be of any help plz pm me :D
 
I can eat a pound of Brussells sprouts.
Click to expand...
I bet people keep clear then :lol:

Totsy, very similar issues, I also have the anxiety, panic attacks etc, as well as a few breakdowns, one very major one. Unlike you diabtetes has just made things a lot worse for me, one issue after the next. I wish I could quote 17 stone, well perhaps I could, but I'd be fibbing a little. Prior to diabtetes I was fluctuating between 25-27 stone, but kind of remained stable at them weights. I am a big fella anyway at 6ft 4. I know diet is quoted often, but as stated, pre diabetes I had no weight gain, was not too bad on just the gliclazide, when combined with the pioglitazone weight gain was fast, fluid build up was rapid. My diet will change when I have the gastric operation, whether I like it or not. In the meantime I need to get off these tablets, perhaps the injection that is available, although not sure on true side effects.
 
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