• 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.
  • We seem to be having technical difficulties with new user accounts. If you are trying to register please check your Spam or Junk folder for your confirmation email. If you still haven't received a confirmation email, please reach out to our support inbox: support.forum@diabetes.org.uk

Empagliflozin

A

Angeela

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi
I have just been prescribed Empagliflozin, to take alongside Gliclazide as my HBA1C has risen from 52 to 64.
I am waiting for it to arrive from pharmacy.
I’m not keen on taking another diabetes medication and this one sounds a bit scary (UTIs etc)
Has anyone had experience of taking it and is there anything to be mindful of etc?
Thanks
 
I'm wary of taking a SGLT2i drug, which I've been told is my GP surgery's drug of choice because some of the possible side effects are so awful. I'm not taking it yet but my review is coming up later this month.

UTIs and thrush are painful and soul destroying but I'm most worried about euglycaemic DKA, a form that can happen at low BG levels. You're already on Gliclazide so presumably you have a BG monitor, does it also test ketones? Urine strips are no use because the drug prevents the kidneys from flushing ketones out in urine and they can build up in the blood instead.

A few years ago there were cases of people going to A&E with life-threatening euDKA but being sent home because their BG was only around 11 and the ketones were not showing up in a urine test. I'd hope by now their knowledge has been updated but I'd prefer not to need to go to A&E at all.

Having said that it's still a very rare complication and some people tolerate the drugs just fine. I'm just not happy with the risk and will try to argue for Gliclazide instead. It can cause hypos but they're much easier to sort out at home.
 
Angeela said:
Has anyone had experience of taking it and is there anything to be mindful of etc?
Click to expand...
It gave a few of us DKA, so make sure you’re aware of the symptoms and can check ketones if feel unwell
 
Lucyr said:
It gave a few of us DKA, so make sure you’re aware of the symptoms and can check ketones if feel unwell
Click to expand...
Thanks. I’ve just ordered a ketone monitor from Amazon! I’ll keep an eye on this. Doctor scared me a bit with the precautions and side effects.
 
debs248 said:
I'm wary of taking a SGLT2i drug, which I've been told is my GP surgery's drug of choice because some of the possible side effects are so awful. I'm not taking it yet but my review is coming up later this month.

UTIs and thrush are painful and soul destroying but I'm most worried about euglycaemic DKA, a form that can happen at low BG levels. You're already on Gliclazide so presumably you have a BG monitor, does it also test ketones? Urine strips are no use because the drug prevents the kidneys from flushing ketones out in urine and they can build up in the blood instead.

A few years ago there were cases of people going to A&E with life-threatening euDKA but being sent home because their BG was only around 11 and the ketones were not showing up in a urine test. I'd hope by now their knowledge has been updated but I'd prefer not to need to go to A&E at all.

Having said that it's still a very rare complication and some people tolerate the drugs just fine. I'm just not happy with the risk and will try to argue for Gliclazide instead. It can cause hypos but they're much easier to sort out at home.
Click to expand...
I have a BG monitor and have today ordered a ketone monitor from Amazon.
Thanks for your reply and the information
 
Angeela said:
I have a BG monitor and have today ordered a ketone monitor from Amazon.
Thanks for your reply and the information
Click to expand...
The ketone strips are very expensive so I wouldn’t waste them regularly checking but if you feel ill with symptoms of DKA go to a&e and ask to be checked for ketones or use your monitor
 
Hi @Angeela
for me Empagliflozin wasn’t a good medication, although I know people including a friend of mine who have got on with ever so well on it, he lost a considerable amount of weight and it helped him bring his Hba1c back into range plus as he has a heart condition it helped him with that also, however one thing is be sure to drink plenty of fluids (as we all should especially in this hot weather)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top