Should my husband be on Zicron?

Hi and welcome,

I'm afraid I don't understand. He was diagnosed as pre-diabetic with a fasting glucose of 4.8???? That is a perfectly normal fasting blood glucose test. Are you sure he didn't have any other tests? I also understand that Metformin isn't licenced for GP's to prescribe in the UK for people that are not actually diabetic. Zicron seems very much over the top to me. Maybe others can comment on this. One good thing about Metformin is it is an appetite suppressant, so helps a bit with weight loss. There is a slow release version that is kinder on the tummy.

I am equally puzzled. A fasting level of 4.8 is not indicative of diabetes or pre diabetes. Being overweight is another issue but it may have caused the GP to jump to conclusions. The frequent peeing could be due to a number of causes. My nurse told me to drink decaf to lessen this effect but this did not help.

If you think the Metformin (or Zicron) is the cause of the peeing then negotiate to stop taking it for a time to see if matters improve.

Why not have a chat with your pharmacist. They will be able to tell you what effects the pills will have and what may happen if he stops them.

Have you got copies of the print outs of his blood test results? You are entitled to these if you ask. The receptionist may do them for you. I think you need them to see exactly what tests he has had and what the results were. With a Fasting test of 4.8 there is no way he should have been told he was pre-diabetic without some other back up tests. Have you checked this?

The problem may be that he is locked into a treatment cycle. The GP may think he is following recommended procedure (as indeed he is) by putting your husband on gliclazide (Zicron) if his BGs had failed to respond to metformin after 12 weeks, and that he should continue on gliclazide until his levels improve. It seems very strange that he was diagnosed as prediabetic wiith fasting bloods of 4.8, and that he is on gliclazide while still prediabetic, but then it is also strange if he is not then getting hypos on gliclazide, and that the side effects still imply high BG levels.
Maybe you could try discussing things again with the GP. Begin with the fact that you understand why the GP was following recommended procedures in good faith, but that the initial decision to put him on metformin was odd (whatever one thinks of the subsequent treatment). Get a blood glucose monitor and explain that, given that gliclazide can cause weight gain, your husband wants to try a systematic weight loss programme first -- monitoring his BGs regularly -- to see whether that can reduce the insulin resistance. If that doesn't work then he will go back to gliclazide. Trying to get the GP involved in an agreed procedure that doesn't challenge his judgment might be the best way forward (don't cite the locum's assessment against his -- even if the locum was correct -- that will only make him more defensive). Good luck!

I am prediabetic with a FBG of 6.9 at my bloods test 2 consecutive two weeks apart My doctor never put me on medication said they don't do that until we have two readings of 7 or over. 4.8 is normal non diabetic levels your husband has nothing to worry about with that