Stagliptin experiences

[Dawn_LS]

Hi
I've been taking metformin for over a year and have suffered with hair loss, my GP has suggested that I change to Stagliptin instead as it's "more gentle " but I have looked it up and found that it has been linked with pancreatic cancer.
I would very much like to hear of your experiences of taking this drug, any side effects you may have suffered or any general information you might like to share.
For your information my sugar levels are completely normalised with metformin.
Many thanks

 

[Daibell]

Hi. Sitagliptin is a very different drug from metformin and works by extending the time the pancreas produces insulin after a meal. It is more suitable for those with a failing pancreas e.g. perhaps Late onset T1 rather than T2s if they have insulin resistance and perhaps overweight as lack of insulin may not be an issue. Metformin normally only has small effect on blood sugar so you may be able to do without any meds if you can reduce the carbs you eat (may be you are already doing that). Sitagliptin has the serious side effect of pancreatitis but I believe it is quite rare. I used it for 2 years with no side effects.

 

[Dawn_LS]

Thanks Daibell
Have scared myself silly reading all the sitagliptin stuff on the Internet and have decided not to take it whilst there are so many on going investigations. Going to try and see my GP again with a view to remaining on Metformin, which seems to have more of a track record, hopefully a reduced dose may help with hair loss and bloods are well controlled on it. With regard to low carbing, I'm a big fan having quite recently lost nearly two and a half stone following The Eight Week Blood Sugar Diet. As well as the weight loss I have also brought my blood sugars into the realms of the normal so all in all things are looking up, just need to get the hair thing sorted.
Thanks for taking the time to reply.