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Stop Glicazide to lose weight?

Nikkim58

Nikkim58

Member
Messages
8
Location
Chesterfield UK
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
People walking in front of my wheelchair, people talking to whoever is with me as I am obviously stupid! Lol, people moving me in my wheelchair out of the way, not asked, just moved! yes, it really does happen
Hi
I'm T2 on Metformin SR twice daily and Glicazide 1 morning, 2 evening.
I have 2 traumatic Spinal Cord conditions and various other conditions and in a wheelchair full time. I can't exercise and am constantly fatigued.
I'm overweight, about 14 st and 5'4"
I can't lose weight.
Above 4 years ago, I started on slimfast twice a day and a fairly healthy meal at night. I lost 12 kgs in 2 years and was iniatially disappointed. Then I realised that I'd dropped a couple of dress sizes and HADNT PUT WEIGHT ON YIPEEEEE
But now I can't lose any more.
I never eat between meals, my BS are good and in normal,range. I eat a low carb diet.
Should I try to stop the Glicazide and try Metformin three times a day and should it be the non SR type of Metformin? I have read that people lose weight doing this.
My other problem is a bit personal... Spinal injuries have affected my bladder and bowels. I have no feeling and often have embarrassing accidents and often get diarrhoea. Would Metformin make this worse? MY GP was happy to prescribe Orlistat but can't manage the side effects.
Any suggestions, normal, weird or out of this world would be appreciated.
Thankyou xxx
 
Metformin is infamous for its effect on the gut - when I tried it I was unable to leave the house some days, but other people find it does become better with time, I found it got worse, and I got pain, itching all over, muscle twitching and just had to give it up. I tried all ways to take it, before eating, during, after with a large glass of water, and there were sometimes intervals of half a day when it seemed better, but the next tablet brought it all full on again. I think it really is just a matter of luck if you can take it or not, so the only way would be to try it, but not when you have appointments to keep.
 
Hello @Nikkim58 and Welcome to the Forum :). Some people cannot take the Standard Metformin as it can cause stomach problems and also give you diarrhoea. Whereas the Slow Release Metformin is much better tolerated by people.
We are not allowed to tell you what to do as regards medications - You need to discuss with your GP any concerns about stopping and/or changing medications.
 
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I've been slowly losing weight while on Gliclazide, but had to lower my daily calories a bit below what is recommended for sedentary people. I also can't exercise, and am mostly stuck on the couch, but can walk short distances around the house. Admittedly, Gliclazide doesn't seem to have any impact on my blood sugars.

Have you been counting carbs and calories? That's how I was able to determine that 1800-2000 is too much for me, and I need 1600-1800 to lose weight, which I can usually do without feeling hungry.
 
Thanks for your replies, guys.
I was just hoping to lose some weight due to diabetes.
I didn't lose any before diagnosis, nor when first on meds...
Guess I'm just unlucky in the weight loss dept.
It's very difficult to find the right amount of carbs/calories to eat without either eating too much and weight on or not eating enough and into starvation mode and weight on!
 
Talk to your GP, or preferably a specialist in diabetes, about this. There are things you can take other than Gliclazide. It might be something more expensive though, which is why it'll never be offered as a first choice, but if you don't highlight your difficulties to the professionals they can't offer alternatives.
 
Hi. I would certainly stay with the Metformin SR as it doesn't affect weight and helps BS a bit. You might want to discuss the Gliclazide with the GP? It works by stimulating the pancreas to produce more insulin and many T2s will already have enough or too much from insulin resistance. It can cause weight gain if any extra insulin production is matched by eating too many carbs. GPs often seem to throw-in Gliclazide with Metformin 'just in case it helps' without doing a c-peptide test. With an insulin resistant T2 it won't do any harm or much good either. It may help long-term T2s where the pancreas has been damaged thru continued high BS.
 
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