Stopping Gliclazide

Hi, Welcome

No one here can advise you to stop taking medicine prescribed by the doctor, it would be dangerous to do so

if i were you i would go to the chemist and buy yourself a blood monitor, regardless of what youve been told, it IS very important you do this, this does of course work out a more expensive way around testing but there is a meter you can buy on amazon i believe called sdcode free meter and the strips are cheaper than in the chemist (so ive read) i would say its especially important to test if youve stopped taking the meds, just to make sure your bloods are ok, well done on the efforts with the weight loss and i hope you get the weight loss back on track if it was the glic, i believe that weight loss starts in the kitchen and exercise although a fantastic aid in all aspects of life including weight loss, i think what we eat is far more effective, have you tried reducing your carbohydrates? many of us find this very effective for both weight loss and blood levels

cruze21 said:

I am type 2, on metformin(sr) 2 tablets twice a day, just after xmas doc also put me on Gliclazide 2 tablets a day, I was already overweight but was getting the weight off slowly, had managed to lose almost a stone, so anyway doc added on Gliclazide, Ive put on almost two stone since December, I am hungry all the time, and no matter how much I up the exercise it does no good, I'm so depressed about it all, someone suggested to me yesterday that it could be the Gliclazide, having looked thru the forums and on the internet today I now believe this to be the case, have tried calling the doc this morning but with it being a bank holiday they are closed today and Monday....I haven't taken this mornings tablet, I don't want to take them anymore, I cant check my blood because the health center doesn't want me too, does anyone know of any other meds I can ask for when I call on Tuesday...im still taking the metformin which I have been on for over a year with no problems
thank you in advance for any advice anyone can offer x

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I'm not sure that just stopping the Gliclazide is a good idea, without something to replace it. Doctors are different all over the country in their opinions about checking blood sugar levels, but it's your body and my feeling is that you should have some sort of control over it. I was put onto Gliclazide about 3 years ago. I was already on Metformin. I had a massive weight increase over the following 12 months - and I thought it was something I was doing wrong - even then my blood sugar levels stayed high. Then I was allocated to a new doctor who told me that I would inevitably put on weight on Gliclazide. He took me off of it and put me on Victoza instead. I lost a couple of stone but then stuck at 14 stone - now 13 stone ofter a nasty virus a few weeks ago. The dietician told me that it was a waste of effort trying to lose any more weight! I am on 2 types of insulin - one slow acting and one longer acting for overnight. My readings are still high and the metformin has a horrible effect - even after about 6 years - on my bowel but it is the only option I am offered to try to control the diabetes. I don't honestly know where I am with this, but keep on plodding on. Just a few days ago another doctor advised me to stop eating wheat products to see if that helps my bowel problems. So far no real improvement, but hey - who knows what might happen? I might try the 5:2 diet.

Hi. Gliclazide can cause weight gain because it stimulates the pancreas to produce more insulin. Your highest priority is to reduce the carbs to reduce your weight. I would discuss with the GP whether you should continue with the Gliclazide and say that you are going on a strict diet change. Not all GPs understand that carbs are the problem so be prepared for a negative response about low-carbing but it is the only way you will reduce weight. Have enough carbs and proteins to give you enough calories whilst low-carbing but not too much!

Daibell is right. But you should really have a blood monitor and testing strips, given that gliclazide can push your sugars very low (and you should test before driving). I would make a fuss about getting the monitor first, and once you have it, then discuss possibilities of switching from gliclazide.

Hi. I agree with desidiabulum. Note I meant 'fats and proteins' in my earlier post not 'carbs and proteins'!