struggling

[Frank544]

Diagnosed two weeks ago where my blood sugar with glucose monitor was 29. Been put on Glicazide 80mg morning and evenings. Two weeks in, I feel terrible, even though my blood sugar has reduced to 14.9. Migraines, blurry vision, my prescription on my glasses is too strong and I'm now wearing my reading glasses to see, which are a lot weaker. I really don't feel myself and feel kind of suppressed. I can't live like this and have stopped the medication. Don't know what to do. I was better off not on medication.

 

[Rachox]

Hi @Frank544 and welcome to the club no one wants to join. Your initial blood sugar of 29 is high and if sustained will cause damage to your organs. We often talk about control being a marathon not a sprint, it will take some time for your body to get used to lower levels as you have found with your eye sight and feeling generally unwell. Well done for getting down to 14, still some work to do. Have a read of this blog one of our members wrote and come back with any questions you might have.
https://josekalsbeek.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-nutritional-thingy.html

 

[Frank544]

Thank you. It's overwhelming. Am I meant to feel like this? I think the medication is making me feel worse

 

[MrsA2]

Thank you. It's overwhelming. Am I meant to feel like this? I think the medication is making me feel worse

Think of your body as behaving like a toddler. It wants to play and enjoy the sugar high feelings, but you as the parent know that's bad and have to take the danger away. The toddler shouts, screams, kicks and pleads, but the parent has to stay firm. Over time time the toddler gets distracted, given something else or hugged and forgets. Lives a happy life.
Yes it might be tough for a few weeks to change habits and your body may rebel for a while but it is worth going through and coming out the other side.

You've already come down a lot, you can do this!

 

[ianf0ster]

While all medications have possible side-effects, the majority of your symptoms are most likely due to your Blood Glucose being much lower than was 'usual for your body' over a long period of time. Yes, unless you have also changed diet and lifestyle, this is due to the Glic - because it's doing what it is meant to.

These symptoms would be the same if you had decided to lower your BG by just diet and exercise, so unless you are content to have diabetic complications later on down the line, then it is something that you will have to get through for up to a few weeks.

*Edited as realised it was too diagnostic.

 

[Frank544]

Thank you. I've been scared and worried. I know something is very wrong and can't seem.to feel better. I know you can't give medical advice but do you think I'm coming down too fast?

 

[ianf0ster]

I have no personal experience of taking Glic, or of coming down so fast from such high Blood Glucose levels. In your place I would put my concerns about the side effects to my GP. However, the diabetes forums are full of reports from people who had their BG come down fast like yours. Some had the symptoms you describe and some fortunate ones didn't.

We can't tell you to take medication or not to take medication, or how much medication to take. Your GP can advise you and hopefully they will have some experience of treating patients with BG levels similar to yours. In any case, rely on some common sense and try to be an active participant in your journey back to health.

I don't know if this will help: I have searched the internet and the dosage for gliclazide appears to be somewhere between 40 to 320 mg daily, so your current dose is somewhere in the middle.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Diagnosed two weeks ago where my blood sugar with glucose monitor was 29. Been put on Glicazide 80mg morning and evenings. Two weeks in, I feel terrible, even though my blood sugar has reduced to 14.9. Migraines, blurry vision, my prescription on my glasses is too strong and I'm now wearing my reading glasses to see, which are a lot weaker. I really don't feel myself and feel kind of suppressed. I can't live like this and have stopped the medication. Don't know what to do. I was better off not on medication.

Hi Frank,

Welcome to the forum. Just another vote here for your body throwing a hissy-fit. It likes its equilibrium, and it freaks out when that changes... Even if said equilibrium is doing damage. Your eyes, for instance. There's so much glucose distorting your vision, in your eyeballs, in your tears, that your brain has been compensating for that distortion for possibly, years. With less glucose floating around in there, it doesn't have to try so hard anymore, so for now, your vision changes. Once your body gets used to normal blood sugars though, your brain relaxes a bit and the vision problems resolve. No idea what your eyesight will be like at the end of all that, but for the time being, no new expensive specs, reading glasses will tide you over for the few weeks it lasts most likely. That's also why it's such a shame you didn't see it right through, you were halfway there... Though you could just pick up where you left off with a dietary change rather than gliclazide or something, if it's side-effects you're worried about, see where that takes you. Going back to the eyes though: You were very, very high. I mean... That is HIGH. Imagine glucose as ground glass, sanding away at everything inside your body. Your veins, your organs, everything. Your eyes too. There's a reason why there are eye-checks: diabetics with long-term high blood sugars can get retinopathy, which does affect your vision in ways you really won't want it to. A few weeks of blurry eyesight can, very realistically, mean you avoid losing the bulk of that sight in the long run. Your current problem with your eyes could be linked to the headaches, but it could also be a bit of detox -sugars are addictive, activate the same area in the brain hard drugs do- or dehydration. Or, like you said, side effects of the glic. Though with a dietary change you're stil likely to get whalloped with a few massive headaches, probably some fatigue too, before the new normal of your blood sugar levels sets in.

Your body is going through a lot of changes, and it needs time. I don't know how you were feeling physically before diagnosis, but once you're through the rough patch of adjustments, you are likely to feel a lot better than you had been before. I know I was just barely existing when diagnosed... Life's a lot better now. Hang in there, it's likely to get loads better from here on in.
Hugs,
Jo

 

[Frank544]

Thank you for taking the time to reply. Everyone's advice has been really helpful

 

[ATB123]

Thank you for taking the time to reply. Everyone's advice has been really helpful

My eyes were weird when i was first diagnosed. One of my first signs was distance vision going very blurry. Optician sent me to GP, had high blood sugars though not as high as yours ans was started on metfirmin and gliclazide just 40mg Once a day which did the trick. My distance vision resolved quite quickly as my blood sugars improved but I did notice that as my sugars lowered my close vision got much worse for a couple of weeks. Also had pretty much the same feelings as you but they did improve a lot over a few weeks and I think it was my body adjusting to not having sugar syrup in my veins! My advice would be to keep at it, and if you don't feel better soon go and see your GP because it might not all be down to diabetes.

 

[Tony337]

Hi Frank and welcome.
Type 1 of 50 years here.
I understand the strain of it all i really do but please stick with it as one day everything will click into place and managing your condition will be like breathing and you will feel great.
With all the help and advice available along with all the new tech that i didn't have back in the day i personally find managing my condition easier now than its ever been.

You have that to look forward to.

I wish you well

Tony