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Type 2 Medications

Chauffeur_lady

Member
Messages
15
Type of diabetes
Type 2
It has been 4 years since I was diagnosed with T2 diabetes although I think that I probably had it for much longer. I am over weight by about 1 1/2 stone and struggle to lose weight. It’s been a bumpy ride with some success and failure. I was initially prescribed Metformin and after slight upset stomach things were fine and blood glucose levels dropped. However at the same time as being diagnosed as T2 I was told that I had a small amount of fat on my liver and gall stones. My Gall bladder was removed and after that I have had the worst stomach upsets ever (think food poisoning). I started to realise it may be the Metformin - GP prescribed slow release but after a couple of weeks same reaction. I then went on to Gliclacide and that was ok whilst taking half a tablet but eventually when dose increased 1 tablet problems began. I decided probably wrongly that the tablets made me more ill than my illness (well in the short term). My doctor agreed I could try with exercise and diet but must stay in touch. 18 months later I had moved home and registered with a new Doctors. They checked my diabetes and things haven’t gone well - my Hb1C was in the 90s my blood pressure was high and so was the collestrol (can’t remember the reading). I was referred from the nurse straight to a GP. I was told off for a second time and I explained about the painful debilitating problems with the tablets. I said that I thought I might be lactose intolerant as things like ice cream cause bloating and sometimes worse. He prescribed me a different tablet which he said would get rid off the excess sugar in my urine. I asked would it make me urinate more because I drive for a living and it would not be possible to get to the toilet more. He said No. I also asked if the tablets contained lactose as I noticed that Metformin and Gliclazide do and that might be the problem. He said “I don’t know”! With such high readings and 2 telling offs I took the prescription and left. At the Chemist (Asda very good) I was asked if I had taken the tablet before and was I new to diabetes. I quickly explained the situation and was told that the tablets did contain lactose and could make me prone to utinsry tract infections (the leaflet inside also said may need to urinate more)! The chemist said that lactose is used to bind the ingredients for tablets but that Metformin could be taken in medicine form without lactose. I called the doctors surgery and a new prescription for the Metformin Medicine was done. I was supposed to take 1tsp (5ml) a day for week one, two at 2, and 3 at 3. Somewhere between 2-3 the bad stomachs (poisoning) practically incontinance was back and I Couldn’t drive/work. The good points were weight was coming off and blood strip readings were dropping from 16 something to around 10. The bad fact is the side effects are intolerable and not something I can live with. The GP and nurse at my new surgery say that diet and exercise are not enough and won’t work (my old GP had a more open mind). I joined here but found the food diary thing crashed and didn’t work well so now use MyFitnessPal. I read other people having success and it makes sense if you don’t eat sugar then it’s not there to be got rid off. However, I think that I may need some modern medicine to help with the process. So after all the above - Does anyone know of a diabetic drug for T2 that may be gentle on my stomach (not make urinate or poo) but bring my blood sugars down. At the moment I am trying 1 tsp a day to see if I can tolerate that. I’m guessing you might say back to the GP and I know that’s right but I didn’t find them particularly understanding so would like to go back armed with as much information as possible.
Sorry for the long message
 
Hi there. I had similar experience with Diabetic meds. I can empathise with how you are feeling

After 6 different ones I asked for a referral to the Diabetic Clinic. Thi happened reluctantly on the part of the GP.

Not sure if this is an option for you
 
What diet have you tried?
The drug without peeing/pooing side effects is hard to find, except for insulin. But that has it's own problems, especially when driving. I'll tag @daisy1 for you, she'll provide you with some excellent information on this thread.
Good luck, and I love your profile picture
 
Hi @Chauffeur_lady and welcome to the forum.

Firstly let me say you are doing really well, in doing your best despite major challenges. I've had a telling off from a GP about ignoring my diabetes and it's not nice to hear. You have both the feeling of being told off plus extreme worry about your eyes, kidneys, and legs to face at the same time.

The good news is there are approaches you can try that you have probably not been told about yet.

Bowel management
First priority is finding out about a drug to deal with diarrhoea that can happen after gallbladder removal.

The gallbladder squeezes out bile in response to eating a meal containing even a small amount of fats. The body then reabsorbs the bile from the intestines and processes it through the liver to be "recycled" into bile again. After gallbladder removal, bile drips from the liver to the intestines at a constant rate (more or less). It is then in some cases not properly reabsorbed from there and causes diarrhoea.

A drug class called Bile Acid Sequestrants can relieve the problem by mopping up the bile so that stools are allowed to form in the normal way. Relatively normal bowel movements are possible with this treatment.

It may be possible to find some info online and have it up your sleeve when you ask you GP about prescribing this drug. If he understands it may help, he may prescribe it, you can try it, and it may solve this problem, making it easier for you to address the other problems. Or you could ask for a referral to a gastroenterologist.

I am sure a gastroenterologist would know about BAS therapy for chronic post-gallbladder removal diarrhoea. I know this because my gastro doc told me about it when I said I was very worried about getting the problem when I have my upcoming surgery.

Diabetes management
Now, about your diabetes management. I agree about considering medications of some kind, at least for 3-6 months then reassessing. I'm not trying to give advice but will just say that I'm not aware of insulin making bowel issues worse. In general it can be a valid choice for T2s in some situations (see links in my signature) but it does require careful management of the safety risks, primarily of very low blood sugars, which can be life-threatening if not caught in time.

There are many other meds that can also be a valid choice, balancing safety and effectiveness. IMO this website has very good info about all the drugs available: http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/17977284.php

HbA1c of 90, along with your other indicators being high, suggests a need to get things under control within 3 months, and keep checking HbA1c every 3 months until goals are reached. To be out of the "could cause complications" zone you need to get under 75, then 65, then 55. I am looking to get under 48 again, then 42, 9 years after diagnosis.

Your high BG also puts you at increased risk of infections so it pays to be alert to that and to see a doctor as early as possible if you get one. (Examples include but are not limited to the flu, or a UTI, or a skin infection.)

Others will add info to your thread about dietary changes, home blood testing, exercise and medications, which will help a lot, too. @daisy1 and @Bluetit1802 have excellent info they copy and paste for newcomers.

It is going to get better! You are now on the right track and we will do everything we can to support you achieving your goals. You deserve the chance to be as well as you can be.
 
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@Chauffeur_lady

Hello Chauffeur_lady and welcome to the Forum Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will be able to help.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 235,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.

There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates
Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.

  • Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why

  • Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
 
I agree with Jenny15 about the post gall bladder removal chronic diarrhoea. Before I was diagnosed with type 2 I took a bile acid sequestrant (Questran) for some years because I was suffering diarrhoea after my gall bladder was removed in 2000. However it was unpleasant to take and eventually I changed to Loperamide as and when I needed it. One happy consequence of my eating low carb for my type 2 is it counteracts the diarrhoea and I have actually been constipated a few times! I haven’t touched the Loperamide for a long long time now and that’s taking Metformin too!
 
Thank you that is very kind of you I apologise for the delayed reply

Thank you Antje77 that is very kind. Please accept my apologies for the delay in replying due to my sending on a particularly frustrating just before going on holiday. I am also struggling a bit with how to use everything on here. I typed the comment and then couldn’t work out where to find if anyone had replied
 
Thank you - I’m sorry to hear you that you were poorly too but in a selfishly for me it confirms that I am not overacting or imagining things and the problem can be overcome
 
How was your holiday
 
Antje77 said:
How was your holiday
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My holiday to Spain was wonderful and I'm only a pound heavier so not too bad in the greedy me stakes I think that I'm starting to get the hang of avoiding potato and bread etc. A change of a lifetime eating meat veg and a potato item has taken some getting used to, but it's starting to feel that there's not something missing from my plate. I find breakfast the odd one - who would have thought that I would be eating a piece of cold meat for breakfast Instead of toast with butter
 
Cold meat with butter spread on it instead. And no I’m not joking.. try it..
 

@Chauffeur_lady - There are over 400 different drug combinations available to treat T2, so plenty left to go at, if you need some pharmaceutical help with your blood scores.

Good luck with it all.
 
If you need a fuller plate then grab some more green veg.. or even multiple meats..
 
I have bile acid malapsorption and couldnt tolerate Sequestrian so my gastroentroligist put me on low dose codeine daily which works really well. I am allowed 4 a day but almost always manage on 2 a day. Its magic. My tests were carried out in Nuclear Medicine in hospital after colonoscopy and other investigations.
 
bulkbiker said:
Cold meat with butter spread on it instead. And no I’m not joking.. try it..
Click to expand...
Ha ha sounds odd but I’ll give it a go - says the girl who has eaten snails and frogs legs in the past. What meat and I’m guess we are talking real butter (that’s what I have)
 
Thank you for taking the time to provide me with your information. I think it is useful to go to the GP armed with information as the 10 minute slot flies by and it’s good to cut to the chase. It’s almost like doing a presentation
 
Chauffeur_lady said:
Thank you for taking the time to provide me with your information. I think it is useful to go to the GP armed with information as the 10 minute slot flies by and it’s good to cut to the chase. It’s almost like doing a presentation
Click to expand...
This was all before I had diabetis diagnosis. I always thought I was lactose intolerant for very many years mostly cheese but it got so bad with diarrohes that I stopped doing stuff including flying anywhere and eventually got help. I know codeine is very maligned because of its risk of addiction but I totally respect the relief it has given me and aleays try to take only as much as I need. I think that is a conversation to be had with a gastro though not a GP. Good luck!
 
Chauffeur_lady said:
Ha ha sounds odd but I’ll give it a go - says the girl who has eaten snails and frogs legs in the past. What meat and I’m guess we are talking real butter (that’s what I have)
Click to expand...
And while you're at it, place a slice of cheese and some cucumber,tomato or other salad items on top of your cold meat to make yourself a festive sunday morning sandwich without the sandwich!
 
DCUKMod said:
@Chauffeur_lady - There are over 400 different drug combinations available to treat T2, so plenty left to go at, if you need some pharmaceutical help with your blood scores.

Good luck with it all.
Click to expand...

Hi
I thought that there must be a lot of different tablets but I struggled to find any information. I posted on here in the hope someone might mention something that I wasn’t aware of (metformin Glicalizide)

I have read some useful points
 
Chauffeur_lady said:
Ha ha sounds odd but I’ll give it a go - says the girl who has eaten snails and frogs legs in the past. What meat and I’m guess we are talking real butter (that’s what I have)
Click to expand...
Any meat but cold beef slices buttered is rather yummy. And most certainly real butter.
 
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