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Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
Hello!
- Thread starter AnnetteMB
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Leadinglights
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- Type 2
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Welcome to the forum
There are many different medications that you may have been prescribed but the first one that is normally tries is metformin and that can certainly cause stomach issues in some people. Taking them mid meal can help and usually you would be started on a low dose increasing over a few weeks if your blood glucose is high.
If you are making the necessary dietary changes as well and your blood glucose has dropped a bit then that could give the symptoms of low blood glucose even though it actually isn't, it is just your body adapting.
What was your HbA1C that has given you your diagnosis as that will indicate how much work you need to do with your dietary changes.
Have a look at the Learning Zone for a better understanding of the condition.
You may also find this link useful for ideas on modifying your diet. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/ It is a low carb approach that works for many.
There are many different medications that you may have been prescribed but the first one that is normally tries is metformin and that can certainly cause stomach issues in some people. Taking them mid meal can help and usually you would be started on a low dose increasing over a few weeks if your blood glucose is high.
If you are making the necessary dietary changes as well and your blood glucose has dropped a bit then that could give the symptoms of low blood glucose even though it actually isn't, it is just your body adapting.
What was your HbA1C that has given you your diagnosis as that will indicate how much work you need to do with your dietary changes.
Have a look at the Learning Zone for a better understanding of the condition.
You may also find this link useful for ideas on modifying your diet. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/ It is a low carb approach that works for many.
rebrascora
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- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
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- She/Her
Hi and welcome.
Sorry to hear you have been hit with a Type 2 diagnosis. How did that come about? ie routine blood test or where you symptomatic?
Do you know your HbA1c result? This is the blood test used to diagnose diabetes and will generally be a number in excess of 47 if you have a formal diagnosis..... but can be into 3 figures if things have gone seriously awry. Knowing the result gives us an idea of where on the diabetes scale you are and helps us to understand your situation better and therefore give more appropriate advice.
It would also help to know which medication you have been started on? Metformin is usually the first line treatment and it can be known to cause gastric/digestive upheaval. Building up the dose gradually and taking the tablets mid meal can help mitigate some of the side effects.
Sorry to hear you have been hit with a Type 2 diagnosis. How did that come about? ie routine blood test or where you symptomatic?
Do you know your HbA1c result? This is the blood test used to diagnose diabetes and will generally be a number in excess of 47 if you have a formal diagnosis..... but can be into 3 figures if things have gone seriously awry. Knowing the result gives us an idea of where on the diabetes scale you are and helps us to understand your situation better and therefore give more appropriate advice.
It would also help to know which medication you have been started on? Metformin is usually the first line treatment and it can be known to cause gastric/digestive upheaval. Building up the dose gradually and taking the tablets mid meal can help mitigate some of the side effects.
Lots of info here - thank you. I have an appointment tomorrow with a specialist diabetes nurse, so will explore more then. Thank you.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
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Welcome to the forum @AnnetteMB
Sorry to hear your meds are making you feel a bit iffy
Is it Metformin that you were started on?
It is not at all unusual to experience that ‘shell shocked‘ feeling at diagnosis. Particularly if it comes out of the blue with little or no warning. Some liken their diagnosis to being like a sort of grieving process, with the jumble of occasionally overpowering emotions including anger, denial, bargaining, depression and acceptance. So give yourself time to adapt, and be kind to yourself.
Hope today’s appointment went well, and got you off to a good start. Feel free to ask any questions you have (either ones you forgot to ask, or based on what you have been told). We have centuries of lived diabetes experience on the forum, and nothing will be considered too obvious, or ‘silly’ 🙂
Sorry to hear your meds are making you feel a bit iffy
Is it Metformin that you were started on?
It is not at all unusual to experience that ‘shell shocked‘ feeling at diagnosis. Particularly if it comes out of the blue with little or no warning. Some liken their diagnosis to being like a sort of grieving process, with the jumble of occasionally overpowering emotions including anger, denial, bargaining, depression and acceptance. So give yourself time to adapt, and be kind to yourself.
Hope today’s appointment went well, and got you off to a good start. Feel free to ask any questions you have (either ones you forgot to ask, or based on what you have been told). We have centuries of lived diabetes experience on the forum, and nothing will be considered too obvious, or ‘silly’ 🙂
I haven't had the HbA1C results back yet - should be tomorrow. They have started me straight away on Gliclazide 80mg, to reduce the blood glucose levels quickly, as tested at 19.9 in the surgery. Diagnosis was initially from a urine test, then finger prick, with full bloods and kidney results to follow- should be tomorrow. Thanks for the links to sites - very helpful.0
Leadinglights
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- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Just be aware that reducing blood glucose too quickly can cause issues with your eyes and nerves so if your vision starts to go a bit blurry that may be the reason. Obviously it is important to reduce your level.
If you have the gliclazide then you should be prescribed a blood glucose monitor and strips so you can test your blood glucose as that medication has the potential to cause low blood glucose.
Yes, a routine 'new patient' blood test, and then a follow up appt. with my amazing new GP practice. 2 hours of discussion, another blood test, urine samples, and a blood sugar level of 19.9. Had a follow up appt. on the Friday, and the diabetes nurse suggested I halve the diabetes medication (not Metformin) - can't remember which at the moment. Can't remember much at the moment!
Thanks so much. Test results weren't back on Friday, so the nurse will phone me tomorrow. Apparently the kidney is a bit of a concern.Welcome to the forum @AnnetteMB
Sorry to hear your meds are making you feel a bit iffy
Is it Metformin that you were started on?
It is not at all unusual to experience that ‘shell shocked‘ feeling at diagnosis. Particularly if it comes out of the blue with little or no warning. Some liken their diagnosis to being like a sort of grieving process, with the jumble of occasionally overpowering emotions including anger, denial, bargaining, depression and acceptance. So give yourself time to adapt, and be kind to yourself.
Hope today’s appointment went well, and got you off to a good start. Feel free to ask any questions you have (either ones you forgot to ask, or based on what you have been told). We have centuries of lived diabetes experience on the forum, and nothing will be considered too obvious, or ‘silly’ 🙂
Yes, they were brilliant and gave me the full test kit, and also amended my repeat prescription with Pharmacy2U. I was surprised to be told that HbA1C was raised in 2016 - I wasn't told that :-(
- Relationship to Diabetes
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Ah what a nuisance!
Hope today’s call goes well, and you are able to get some reassurance and advice about your kidneys. 🙂
Windy
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- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis and the shock, and that no one told you in 2016 that your HbA1c was raised.
It's all a bit of a whirl at first; blood tests, appointments etc. it felt like the NHS was showering me with care, and that they all wanted blood and urine samples for the first few months!
I found taking a notepad and pen to appointments helps, as I get overloaded when they tell me stuff. Or making a list of questions to ask, with the most important ones or ones that worry you most at the top of the list.
Also, don't be shy in asking if they can print your test results out for you. They may say no, but there's no harm in asking. I found it helpful to have them printed off so I could see what effect changes in my diet were making to my lipids/cholesterol/HbA1c etc.
Hope that it all goes a bit easier for you, Sarah
Thanks. As you have all said, it has been a total whirlwind of appointments, taking readings, blood pressure (also very high) and so on. I am reading as much as possible, and finding out the facts.
Really good tips here - thanks Sarah. I did take a notebook, and will ask about printing off the test results - that's a great idea.
Windy
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
I also meant to say, that the metformin made me feel mildly nauseous at first, but it wore off after a week or so, and gave me a weird, metallic, sweet taste in my mouth.
I'm also on high blood pressure medication, ramipril, and that made me feel dizzy and light headed for the first week or two, so that might be what's happening with you if you're on BP medication. It also wore off, as I got used to it.
I know you're probably overwhelmed with information, but I can recommend getting a book or two on diabetes so you can understand it better, I read both books by Prof Roy Taylor, and they helped me. Also got some cookery books, the Caldesi diabetes weight loss cookbook being the one I like the most, but I also had the blood sugar diet book, which also has nice recipes in.
There's no one right way to manage your diabetes, and you'll find you get conflicting advice, but it does get easier to navigate as the rawness of diagnosis wears off a bit,
best wishes, Sarah
I'm also on high blood pressure medication, ramipril, and that made me feel dizzy and light headed for the first week or two, so that might be what's happening with you if you're on BP medication. It also wore off, as I got used to it.
I know you're probably overwhelmed with information, but I can recommend getting a book or two on diabetes so you can understand it better, I read both books by Prof Roy Taylor, and they helped me. Also got some cookery books, the Caldesi diabetes weight loss cookbook being the one I like the most, but I also had the blood sugar diet book, which also has nice recipes in.
There's no one right way to manage your diabetes, and you'll find you get conflicting advice, but it does get easier to navigate as the rawness of diagnosis wears off a bit,
best wishes, Sarah
The gliclazide made me dizzy the first two days, but then the diabetes nurse suggested I have half with breakfast and half with evening meal, which has helped significantly. I already had the 8 week blood sugar book, and the diabetes UK one, but am a keen cook so will look at getting more. Thank you!
Windy
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi Annette, I see that you're on gliclazide - just to be aware that the Caldesi cookbook and the 8 week blood sugar diet books are both lower carbohydrate ones.
Please be mindful that you need to eat enough carbs to balance out the gliclazide or it understand it can give you hypos. I don't know how little is too little carbs for gliclazide as I'm not on it, but keep a small, sugary snack with you (glucose tablets, jelly babies or whatever your nurse has suggested) and test your BG if you're feeling a bit off.
Stay safe, Sarah
Thanks Sarah. Caldesi book came Weds and has really good recipes. Yes, came back from a long walk yesterday and felt a bit light headed - BG had fallen to 5.5. Had a few grapes and half a banana, but will source some jelly bears tomorrow. I have an appointment with a dietician at the end of the month, to check out the carb levels and other questions I have. Enjoy your weekend
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