Hi all

[Locky]

I'm 67 and have been diabetic for 11 years. A while ago I was called into the surgery to be told my Haemoglobin A1c level has risen from 48 last year
To 62 . I've no idea how this happened . I've now had a 10mgs Dapagliflozin added to my medication which is now - Current Diabetes Medication. Glucophage SR 1 gram twice daily. Gliclazide 160 msg twice daily . Vildagliptin50 mugs twice daily plus medication for high blood pressure and colesterol. I've been advised by my consultant to carry a bottle of lucozade around with me . Any way I've never drank so much lucozade in my life. On many occasions my blood sugars dropped below 4 00 mostly in the evenings or after I've had a brisk 30 min walk I've now stopped 2 glitazide (160msg) but my blood sugars are still to low. I'm also weeing for England
How am I suppose to exercise if my blood sugars drop plus I'm eating to raise my sugars when I should be losing weight. Regards to all. Phil

 

[Northerner]

Hi Locky, welcome to the forum 🙂 Sorry to hear of the problems you are experiencing It sounds like they have perhaps overdone things with the medication in response to the rise in your HbA1c, and they are all now working together to cause those lows. I would recommend going back to your consultant for a review of the situation, because it sounds like you need some adjustments either in doses or possibly have one of the medications removed. Has insulin been proposed at all? I often wonder whether it would be much simpler and easier for you to control your levels just using insulin instead of such a panoply of pills. The need for lucozade should only be on rare occasions, not frequently

 

[Ditto]

It doesn't sound right at all. Go back and make them sort you out!

 

[Copepod]

Welcome to the forum Locky. Be persistent and keeping asking your diabetes team, as something needs to change so you don't have so many hypos.

 

[Locky]

Northerner, Copepod, Ditto. Thank you for the replies. I have been in touch with a diabetic nurse who has the same views that the medication is too much and advised me to see my doctor. I mentioned that I had stopped 2 gliclazide tabs ( I take 4 a day) and he asked why ! Even after showing him my blood results taken 4 times a day which show my bloods below 4 00 on a number of occasions ? I mentioned that although I had dropped 2 tabs I was still having hypos and I thought I needed to drop more so he agreed to dropping another tab. I phoned the nurse up and she suggested the same and to drop the last tab if nothing improves. It's early days but there has been a slight improvement. At the moment I have breakfast (porridge) at 7 30 lunch around 12 00 and tea around 5 30/6 00. My nurse has told me to have a snack in between these times and also a slice of toast in the evening . I'm seeing the consultant on the 9th oct hopefully he'll have some answers . Since my last post I've been on a diabetic education programme and I have another this Friday . I've learnt how important diet and food is . In the past I've just taken the tabs and carried on as normal as I suspect most of us do. I'm determined to lose weight do more excercise and sort my diet out . I'll keep you all informed over my progress. Good luck to all Phil

 

[Northerner]

Northerner, Copepod, Ditto. Thank you for the replies. I have been in touch with a diabetic nurse who has the same views that the medication is too much and advised me to see my doctor. I mentioned that I had stopped 2 gliclazide tabs ( I take 4 a day) and he asked why ! Even after showing him my blood results taken 4 times a day which show my bloods below 4 00 on a number of occasions ? I mentioned that although I had dropped 2 tabs I was still having hypos and I thought I needed to drop more so he agreed to dropping another tab. I phoned the nurse up and she suggested the same and to drop the last tab if nothing improves. It's early days but there has been a slight improvement. At the moment I have breakfast (porridge) at 7 30 lunch around 12 00 and tea around 5 30/6 00. My nurse has told me to have a snack in between these times and also a slice of toast in the evening . I'm seeing the consultant on the 9th oct hopefully he'll have some answers . Since my last post I've been on a diabetic education programme and I have another this Friday . I've learnt how important diet and food is . In the past I've just taken the tabs and carried on as normal as I suspect most of us do. I'm determined to lose weight do more excercise and sort my diet out . I'll keep you all informed over my progress. Good luck to all Phil

Good to hear you've been reducing the meds, Locky, hope you manage to get the right balance soon 🙂 Whilst I understand why they are suggesting you eat snacks, that's because your meds are still *too* effective - you shouldn't have to 'feed the medication', so do take care and make sure you carry some fast acting sugar (jelly babies, glucose tablets etc.) with you at all times. Hopefully, you are also aware of the rules about driving and testing before you drive 🙂

 

[Locky]

Hi Northener. I've informed the DVLA and Im ok if sugars are over 5 00. I've never had these problems before , it all started when I was prescribed Dapagliflozin. Prior to this my sugars were always high between 6 00 and 12 00. Is this high ? With the occasional spike . Regards Phil

 

[Locky]

Hi All carrying on from my previous posts, i was advised to stop the Gliclazide 80 mg tabs (2 twice daily). And i feel wonderful, ive lost a stone, i take a brisk 45 min walk every evening and ive cut the carbs down. my bloods are now between 4.0 - 8.0 . The consultant recons my GP may be able to drop the Vildagliptin in a couple of months once my Haemoglobin levels are down. Apparently the hypos were caused by the medication plus the exercise and diet all at once. Im now currently taking- 2 Metformin 1g slow release tabs, 2 Vildagiptin 50 mg tabs and 1 Dapagliflozin10mg daily. Regards to all