How have people found Dapagliflozin?

[strangebuttrue]

Hi I'm new here. I have had type 2 since November 2013, diagnosed when I went to optician and had to start eye treatment straight away injections, laser. So I was very frightened and was extremely good with my food and medication bringing my Hba1c down from 10.1 to 5.4 within a matter of months. My bood sugar stayed under 6.5 for a couple of years. My eyes continued to worsen but I have received excellent treatment and currently they are stable and I can see well. In 2019 I had a stroke leaving me with difficulties walking mainly due to my balance and I cannot walk in shoes and as a result I cannot leave the house independently. I was told by the stroke consultant the stroke was not due to diabetes have family history of stroke and blood clots, high blood pressure etc. The reason I say about this is since the reduced mobility my Hba1c was hovering around 7 then up to 8 and then 7 now 8. When we moved two years ago I managed to get Hba1c down to 6.3 very low carb diet which had its own consequences not able to go to the loo (sorry too much info) indigestion when I took tablets and I couldn't give up the carbs for ever. So I have tried to find a balance reduced carbs especially bread but sugar as I have said goes to 8 and down to 7ish. I think the immobility is the main problem as I don't potter I go to the pool each week, started chair yoga and do seated exercise classes on zoom but whilst I feel healthier not a great improvement in Hba1c. My diabetic nurse and I believe it's because I don't do that pottering around that we all do. I am going to try exercise snacking an also taking a little walk every hour. But my GP and nurse have suggested Dapagliflozin. I have read about this and they tell me it will be good for my heart and kidneys, and I understand it can lead to some weight loss. But while I would like the benefits I am very anxious about side effects e.g. thrush and cystitis, dry skin I have eczema. I know it's time that I need to do something . I really would like to know how other people have felt taking Dapagliflozin.

Sorry it's such a long first post.

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi I'm new here. I have had type 2 since November 2013, diagnosed when I went to optician and had to start eye treatment straight away injections, laser. So I was very frightened and was extremely good with my food and medication bringing my Hba1c down from 10.1 to 5.4 within a matter of months. My bood sugar stayed under 6.5 for a couple of years. My eyes continued to worsen but I have received excellent treatment and currently they are stable and I can see well. In 2019 I had a stroke leaving me with difficulties walking mainly due to my balance and I cannot walk in shoes and as a result I cannot leave the house independently. I was told by the stroke consultant the stroke was not due to diabetes have family history of stroke and blood clots, high blood pressure etc. The reason I say about this is since the reduced mobility my Hba1c was hovering around 7 then up to 8 and then 7 now 8. When we moved two years ago I managed to get Hba1c down to 6.3 very low carb diet which had its own consequences not able to go to the loo (sorry too much info) indigestion when I took tablets and I couldn't give up the carbs for ever. So I have tried to find a balance reduced carbs especially bread but sugar as I have said goes to 8 and down to 7ish. I think the immobility is the main problem as I don't potter I go to the pool each week, started chair yoga and do seated exercise classes on zoom but whilst I feel healthier not a great improvement in Hba1c. My diabetic nurse and I believe it's because I don't do that pottering around that we all do. I am going to try exercise snacking an also taking a little walk every hour. But my GP and nurse have suggested Dapagliflozin. I have read about this and they tell me it will be good for my heart and kidneys, and I understand it can lead to some weight loss. But while I would like the benefits I am very anxious about side effects e.g. thrush and cystitis, dry skin I have eczema. I know it's time that I need to do something . I really would like to know how other people have felt taking Dapagliflozin.

Sorry it's such a long first post.

Welcome to the forum
You certainly have been through it and have done quite well in the circumstances. As you mention there are potential side effects of the flozin type meds and it is not advised to go too low on carbs and also advised to drink plenty which of course increases loo visits as the excess glucose is being excreted via urine.
There may be something more you can do with your diet, not very low carb but keeping to around the 130g per day.
This link may give you some ideas as it is based on that suggestion. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
It sounds as if you are doing all you can as regards exercise but be careful when walking about if you are unable to wear shoes. There are all kinds of specialist shoes designed to help with balance, have you tried any of those.

 

[stackingcups]

I was on dapa for a good year I think, and never suffered with thrush once. I do drink a lot of water which may have helped.

 

[Docb]

Hi @strangebuttrue and welcome to the forum. In answer to your question I have found dapagliflozin effective in reducing my blood glucose levels without any downsides at all.

As many on the forum will know, my approach to a new medication is to start with a positive approach, try them, and only think about the side effects if they actually happen to me. If I get to the position that the downsides outweigh the upsides I know that if I stop taking it then things will get back to the way they were and I can start again with something different.

 

[strangebuttrue]

I was on dapa for a good year I think, and never suffered with thrush once. I do drink a lot of water which may have helped.

Thank you that's good to know I do drink a lot of water anyway so maybe it would be OK.

 

[strangebuttrue]

Hi @strangebuttrue and welcome to the forum. In answer to your question I have found dapagliflozin effective in reducing my blood glucose levels without any downsides at all.

As many on the forum will know, my approach to a new medication is to start with a positive approach, try them, and only think about the side effects if they actually happen to me. If I get to the position that the downsides outweigh the upsides I know that if I stop taking it then things will get back to the way they were and I can start again with something different.

 

[strangebuttrue]

Thanks that's very sensible I used to be the same way but I get very anxious about it all trying to eat right , exercise worrying about the future. I just want to be as healthy as possible. Thanks again.

 

[Taighnamona]

I was on dapa for a while but had horrendous thrush problems to the point of being so sore I couldn’t walk. Having said that my sugar levels were too high and I wasn’t drinking enough water so I think I was passing pure sugar… hence my thrush problems. If I were to use it now it would be with a much lower carb diet and drinking lots more water … advice I wasn’t given at the time. Lots of people have found it to be very effective so it’s worth a try.

 

[casey jones]

Hi I'm new here. I have had type 2 since November 2013, diagnosed when I went to optician and had to start eye treatment straight away injections, laser. So I was very frightened and was extremely good with my food and medication bringing my Hba1c down from 10.1 to 5.4 within a matter of months. My bood sugar stayed under 6.5 for a couple of years. My eyes continued to worsen but I have received excellent treatment and currently they are stable and I can see well. In 2019 I had a stroke leaving me with difficulties walking mainly due to my balance and I cannot walk in shoes and as a result I cannot leave the house independently. I was told by the stroke consultant the stroke was not due to diabetes have family history of stroke and blood clots, high blood pressure etc. The reason I say about this is since the reduced mobility my Hba1c was hovering around 7 then up to 8 and then 7 now 8. When we moved two years ago I managed to get Hba1c down to 6.3 very low carb diet which had its own consequences not able to go to the loo (sorry too much info) indigestion when I took tablets and I couldn't give up the carbs for ever. So I have tried to find a balance reduced carbs especially bread but sugar as I have said goes to 8 and down to 7ish. I think the immobility is the main problem as I don't potter I go to the pool each week, started chair yoga and do seated exercise classes on zoom but whilst I feel healthier not a great improvement in Hba1c. My diabetic nurse and I believe it's because I don't do that pottering around that we all do. I am going to try exercise snacking an also taking a little walk every hour. But my GP and nurse have suggested Dapagliflozin. I have read about this and they tell me it will be good for my heart and kidneys, and I understand it can lead to some weight loss. But while I would like the benefits I am very anxious about side effects e.g. thrush and cystitis, dry skin I have eczema. I know it's time that I need to do something . I really would like to know how other people have felt taking Dapagliflozin.

Sorry it's such a long first post.

I have been on dapagliflozin 10mg for abut4-5 years now and I have not had any problems with taking it. I would say try it and see if you will tolerate it.if not you could ask to stop it.