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Reason to be optimistic?

Hotglove

Member
Messages
20
I had a very unusual series of BS readings yesterday.
I have comparatively recently moved from Metformin to Gliclazide and have strong reservations about the new drug, 40mg once a day. I have had several reading below 4.0 and am looking to go meds-free as I see the Gliclazide as a risky route.
I am on a strict programme of diet and exercise (v low carb) and have lost 2.5 stone and lost 8” from waist in 6 months. I have been testing 6 times a day since early May and my readings have been gradually levelling off with fewer peaks but yesterday was exceptional, I had relaxed a bit the night before with a couple of glasses of wine and a couple of squares of dark chocolate so was expecting an above average BS, but first test was 5.0 (my lowest 1st test so far) then the results stayed remarkably level, with the days results being, 5.0 5.8 5.6 5.7 5.6 5.6 The last test was after dinner, I don’t do a bed time test because usually tucked up a couple of hours after dinner.
Went out for 3 course meal last night with a couple of beers and, again, was pleasantly surprised at testing 6.0 this morning.
Is this likely to be a continuing trend, or just an aberration?
All views welcome.
 
What a nice surprise!
Hotglove said:
I had relaxed a bit the night before with a couple of glasses of wine
Click to expand...
However, keep in mind alcohol can lower BG well into the next day. As long as the liver is busy dealing with the alcohol it won't dump glucose in your bloodstream, this effect can be noticable well into the next day!
While this can help getting nice low numbers, it can also cause problems with hypos for those on gliclazide or insulin. This liver dump is the bodies first defence when you drop too low, so as long as your liver is having a party it might be harder to get out of a hypo.
Combined with a deeper sleep thanks to the alcohol, this increases the risk of the hypo not waking you up before you're very low.

Young T1's who are just starting to experiment with alcohol are often advised to have a fatty and carby snack before bed after drinking to see them safely through the night.
Which isn't of course the same situation as yours, and besides, it worked out very well for you, but it is something to be aware of on gliclazide.

Mind, I'm not at all saying to not drink, I'm an enthousiastic drinker myself, but keep in mind how alcohol can affect your BG's!
Perhaps set an alarm to do a nightly test to get an idea of what's happening overnight?
 
Thanks for the info, I must confess that I still have a lot to learn about Type 2. My immediate aim is to try to convince my GP to try a month med-free and see how it goes.
Sounds like at least one week without any alcohol is indicated.
I went for 3 months without alcohol after recovering from Covid, so no big deal.
 
I’m type 1 but 2 small glasses of white wine over an evening is my limit otherwise I will have a hypo, even with this I have to make sure I have eaten something slow release.
 
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