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An interesting choice to make.

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TerryP

Active Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi All

I have been given a choice today by my DN as to whether I want to move onto Insulin instead of taking tablets (currently Gliclazide and Metformin) the thinking behind this is that daily I take so many tablets that it is becoming difficult to manage. So, my answer is ‘I don’t know’ because I don’t know that the pros and cons are of doing this. I’m currently diagnosed as T2 but should probably be T3C due to multiple Pancreatitis events. My Blood Glucose is not currently under control (hence adding the Metformin) so I am seeking input from the Forum as to the things that I should consider as I make my choice.

Thanks in advance.
 
A thought is to take insulin, to give everything physically and emotionally a rest.
You'll get a lot of different answers.
My personal choice would be to do that, if it simplifies things.
Have a break, regroup, then, when everything is calm, that's the time to look at how to live with it for the future.
 
I'd advise giving the insulin a try so that if your pancreas has any life left in it, it can have a chance to get its breath back and not be hammered by the Gliclazide.
I know that apparently defunct organs can be revived as my thyroid was declared pretty well useless quite a while ago now, but in the last couple of years I suddenly needed less Thyroxine as it woke up again.
 
If you’re taking regular metformin then switching to the slow release would mean only taking metformin once a day instead of multiple times a day.

Insulin is the best thing I’ve ever done, and I am quick to endorse it, but I wouldn’t suggest switching to it to make things easier than taking tablets. Insulin depending which kind you take can mean injecting once a day or injecting 5-6 times a day, or more some days. Then there’s fingerpricks too, and insulin is usually added as well as metformin not instead.

I’d look at switching from gliclazide to one of the once weekly non-insulin injectables if it’s remembering the tablets that is an issue. That is only injected once a week so would be easier.
 
Do you drive @TerryP

It’s perfectly possible to hold a driving license as an insulin user, but the DVLA need to be informed in a way they don’t always seem to be with oral meds. I’m not sure which side of the fence Glic is currently deemed to sit.
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
Do you drive @TerryP

It’s perfectly possible to hold a driving license as an insulin user, but the DVLA need to be informed in a way they don’t always seem to be with oral meds. I’m not sure which side of the fence Glic is currently deemed to sit.
Click to expand...
Glic needs to be informed if there is a risk of an assisted Hypo and your DN has advised you to inform them (Which she has).
 
TerryP said:
Glic needs to be informed if there is a risk of an assisted Hypo and your DN has advised you to inform them (Which she has).
Click to expand...
You don't.
Only insulin treated diabetes needs to be reported.
 
travellor said:
It's not.
Insulin or not.


www.gov.uk

Information for drivers with diabetes

Further information on what drivers with different types of diabetes need to tell DVLA by law.
www.gov.uk www.gov.uk
Click to expand...
It is slightly broader. It’s anyone using insulin has to inform. Anyone not using insulin only has to inform in certain circumstances eg have had help to treat hypos or had laser treatment in both eyes.
 

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Hi @TerryP
I'm type 3c following pancreatitis but I've been on insulin since the beginning as I have very little pancreas left.
Others have given you good advice on things to consider about starting insulin.

I'll just mention that I assume from your post that you see the diabetes nurse at the GP rather than a hospital team. I am under a hospital team and treated in a similar way to a Type 1 diabetic. If there is enough damage to your pancreas for insulin to be considered you might want to consider asking for a referral to a hospital team and to be reclassified as 3c as this gives a greater chance of access to diabetes technology.

Do you need to take pancreatic enzymes (eg Creon)?
 
TerryP said:
Glic needs to be informed if there is a risk of an assisted Hypo and your DN has advised you to inform them (Which she has).
Click to expand...

Have you ever needed assistance for a hypo caused by glic?
 
travellor said:
Have you ever needed assistance for a hypo caused by glic?
Click to expand...
No, luckily only had 1 Hypo, and didn't need assistance. My problem is the other end of the scale, way too high with my BG. Just started on the Metformin today (in addition to max Glic). So we shall see what is said when I get reviewed in 2 weeks time. Coincidentally I'm now taking 15 tablets a day which is a bit of a nightmare.
 
TerryP said:
No, luckily only had 1 Hypo, and didn't need assistance. My problem is the other end of the scale, way too high with my BG. Just started on the Metformin today (in addition to max Glic). So we shall see what is said when I get reviewed in 2 weeks time. Coincidentally I'm now taking 15 tablets a day which is a bit of a nightmare.
Click to expand...
My other half takes 10 and he doesn't have even have diabetes.
If it is hard to remember what to take then get a pill box to allocate them into or some on-line pharmacies will dispense in dose blister packs.
 
TerryP said:
No, luckily only had 1 Hypo, and didn't need assistance. My problem is the other end of the scale, way too high with my BG. Just started on the Metformin today (in addition to max Glic). So we shall see what is said when I get reviewed in 2 weeks time. Coincidentally I'm now taking 15 tablets a day which is a bit of a nightmare.
Click to expand...

I thought it was the top end, not the bottom end.
That isn't reportable.
Your DN isn't giving you the correct advice.
 
soupdragon said:
Hi @TerryP
I'm type 3c following pancreatitis but I've been on insulin since the beginning as I have very little pancreas left.
Others have given you good advice on things to consider about starting insulin.

I'll just mention that I assume from your post that you see the diabetes nurse at the GP rather than a hospital team. I am under a hospital team and treated in a similar way to a Type 1 diabetic. If there is enough damage to your pancreas for insulin to be considered you might want to consider asking for a referral to a hospital team and to be reclassified as 3c as this gives a greater chance of access to diabetes technology.

Do you need to take pancreatic enzymes (eg Creon)?
Click to expand...
 
Hi Soupdragon,

Thanks for the info. Yes I’m under the GP and DN. My first & second Acute Pancreatitis events happened within a month of each other, and I ended up in Hospital on both occasions. This was in 1984 and between then and my 3rd Acute attack in 2015 I had many ‘near misses’ with it and continued to get intermittent events of varying degrees of severity and pain. The reason I mention this is back in the early 2000’s I had a bad attack and had a scan done, (barium meal (yuk) and they found damage to the Pancreas. Now I can’t remember if it was the head or the tail that was damaged and I’m pretty sure it’s not on my Medical Record (electronic version). So long story short, I have damage to my Pancreas. I think my Diabetes stared after the last attack in 2015 and went undiagnosed until last year. (As a side issue, my DN told me last week that my Pancreatitis was not showing as a Major Event within my medical records and therefore it is not obvious to anyone looking and that I need to be aware that there are a range of Diabetes medication which you absolutely must NOT take if you have had Pancreatitis. (nice to know, maybe I should have told my Cardiologist before he started pumping all those drugs into me).

Anyway, that’s about the size of it. A few days on Metformin and I’m not noticing any real difference so we shall see what happens.
 
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