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Dulaglutide - Advice

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O

Oblivious

Active Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi

I've started taking weekly Dulaglatide 1.75mg instead of insulin as of last week - Thursday - and wonder if anyone else on it can help. I've been getting really bad stomach cramps and have totally lost my appetite and am having to force myself to eat anything. And then after eating there is usually an hour long feeling of nausea.

Does anyone know if this will pass in time? if not then i wonder if the discomfort/pain is worth it. The Doctor from the Diabetes clinic who recommended it prescribed a 4 week supply and asked me to let them know how i get on after 6 weeks but to be honest if this doesn't pass then i don't want to go through 6 weeks of this and would rather go back on insulin.

thanks
 
Sorry, I dont know much about that T2 med @Oblivious - but it sounds like booking a phone appointment next week to discuss your concerns would be worthwhile
 
Hi @Oblivious - I don't have any first hand experience but all the symptoms you describe are typical side effects of Trulicity and are reported to be worst in the first few days lessening over time and usually better after about 2 weeks. Still definitely worth a chat with your nurse though so they can record it - hopefully it'll gradually ease off.
 
Hi. Dulaglutide is known to have some side effects like you describe. Are you having a low-carb diet? I assume you are having the Duraglutide to help with weight loss as well as BS control. If you are not already having a low-carb diet then that is the first line of attack before meds such as the glutide. The fact that the insulin was not doing the job for you implies you have insulin resistance and weight loss thru a low-carb diet should help with that?
 
DaveB said:
Hi. Dulaglutide is known to have some side effects like you describe. Are you having a low-carb diet? I assume you are having the Duraglutide to help with weight loss as well as BS control. If you are not already having a low-carb diet then that is the first line of attack before meds such as the glutide. The fact that the insulin was not doing the job for you implies you have insulin resistance and weight loss thru a low-carb diet should help with that?
Click to expand...

Hi @DaveB i am on a low carb diet of 90g per day and i currently weigh 12 stone plus change. The doctor said she thought i should -go on the Dulaglutide as i am pretty active - ex rugby player - and my exercise regimen supported the switch. The insulin was doing the job as it got my blood sugar down to between 4 - 6 from it's high of 21. The blood sugar levels seem to have actually slightly increased and are usually between 6 and 7.

it's now 3 weeks in and the nausea/appetite loss is still there, i have one more week to go before my supply is out so i might give it the last dose and speak to the clinic about going back onto the insulin as i don't feel the nausea is worth it
 
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What was the doctors reasoning for changing from insulin? It seems like it was working really well. Was insulin causing problems with hypos when you exercised?
I hope the doctor is happy enough to switch you back without too much trouble - you shouldn’t have to just put up with miserable side effects if they aren’t improving after this long. Particaularly when your previous treatment was doing the trick.
 
LucyDUK said:
What was the doctors reasoning for changing from insulin? It seems like it was working really well. Was insulin causing problems with hypos when you exercised?
I hope the doctor is happy enough to switch you back without too much trouble - you shouldn’t have to just put up with miserable side effects if they aren’t improving after this long. Particaularly when your previous treatment was doing the trick.
Click to expand...

Hi @LucyDUK, i'm embarrassed to say it was probably me saying how before i was diagnosed needles would make me feel squeamish and she mentioned that perhaps 1 injection a week is better than 14. that was the main rationale. To be honest i had rejected the idea feeling that the insulin was doing ok but had almost changed my mind by the end of the phone consultation. Plus now i know the needle on the Dulaglutide pen is way bigger than the ones I used for the insulin pen and i actually start sweating and panicking before I use it (so macho lol)
 
:D Ooops helluva way to learn what not to say out loud. On the plus side at least it shouldn’t prove too difficult to persuade a change back.
 
i hope so but if not i still have insulin in the fridge. oh i forgot to mention, after reading another person's post about the same drug, the Doctor also claimed it was impossible to hypo on Dulaglutide/Trulicity even though i am also on metformin....that's not the case
 
I wonder if the BNF info and PIL is causing confusion (It certainly did for me which is why I am editing this response) - as it suggests that only contraindicated with sulphonylureas but then goes on to ‘side effects’ to suggest hypos are common when used with Metformin. Maybe doc didn’t read on far enough - still “impossible” is a bit strong regardless.

Might be an idea to log that with the MHRA yellow card scheme:
https://yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk/

Good job you already know how to recognise and treat a hypo!
 
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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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