I have type 2 diabetes and have had it for a year. I have just been taken of Metformin due to dizzy spells and heart palpitations. My Dr has put me on Ertugliflozin 5mg which I will start tomorrow.Im after any advise on this medication and to ask if anyone else is on it and how they find it. Thank you
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Ertugliflozin
- Thread starter Kerry1966
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SueEK
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- Type 2
Hi Kerry, sorry cant help on the medication side but just wanted to say hello and welcome to the forum. It’s a great site with lots of friendly people happy to help and support each other. I’m sure someone will be along soon who can hopefully help re your new medication. All the best. Sue
Hello Sue and thank you
rebrascora
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Hi Kerry and welcome from me too.
Have you tried modifying your diet to try to manage your diabetes. Many people here on the forum find that dramatically reducing the amount of carbohydrates they eat, helps to lower their HbA1c into the normal range sometimes without the need for any medication. It can be difficult to get your head around when you have spent all your life eating bread and pasta and potatoes and rice, but cutting right back on these things as well as the obvious sweet stuff can make a huge difference to Type 2 diabetics and it can even be quite an enjoyable way to eat once you get used to it and eat more fat instead of low fat products which usually contain more carbohydrates and chemicals than simple unprocessed foods. Many of us here on the forum enjoy our low carb way of eating.
Afraid I don't have any experience of the Ertugliflozin. Metformin needs to be taken mid meal with a substantial amount of food to reduce the risks of side effects but some people still have problems,
Have you tried modifying your diet to try to manage your diabetes. Many people here on the forum find that dramatically reducing the amount of carbohydrates they eat, helps to lower their HbA1c into the normal range sometimes without the need for any medication. It can be difficult to get your head around when you have spent all your life eating bread and pasta and potatoes and rice, but cutting right back on these things as well as the obvious sweet stuff can make a huge difference to Type 2 diabetics and it can even be quite an enjoyable way to eat once you get used to it and eat more fat instead of low fat products which usually contain more carbohydrates and chemicals than simple unprocessed foods. Many of us here on the forum enjoy our low carb way of eating.
Afraid I don't have any experience of the Ertugliflozin. Metformin needs to be taken mid meal with a substantial amount of food to reduce the risks of side effects but some people still have problems,
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Welcome to the forum Kerry
I haven’t ever used a ‘gliflozin’ but they are one of the SGLT2 class of meds which actively lower glucose by inhibiting the reabsorption of glucose in your kidneys. I believe there is evidence of cardiovascular benefit as well as BG reduction. Possibly some positive effect on weight too!
As @grovesy suggests, there should be a ‘patient info’ leaflet detailing things to look out for.
I have read the leaflet and it’s the side effects that I’m worried about. Was diagnosed Jan 2019 with Hba1c at 66, 3 months later it was down to 46 and stayed the same at my next test which was 3 months later.In Jan this year it was down to 43, so I’m very proud of my hard work and getting it down so much in a year. Due to the side effects of the Metformin the dr wants me to change to this medication but on reading it the side effects seem worse.
Hi I’m just asking if anyone is on Ertugliflozin.I have been on Metformin for a year but due to side effects my doctor has taken me off it and wants me to try this medication instead but I’m worried as I’ve read the side effects and they look worse than the Metformin ones.I have gotten my Hba1c down from 66 to 43 in a year and so very happy with myself and just not sure about this new medication. Thank you for listening to me any advise would be greatly appreciated.
Felinia
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- Type 2
My initial thoughts when reading your HbA1c was why does your doctor want to keep you on medication when you are now in the pre-diabetic range? Why not do what my DSN is doing which is seeing if I can control by diet and exercise alone? You have proved you can do the work. What do others more experienced than me think? Is it worth Kerry1966 asking if she can try 3 months without medication and be re-tested then?
rebrascora
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@Kerry1966
No problem updating this thread with that info. It helps with continuity for us to read it here.
Well done on lowering your HbA1c so dramatically. I am quite surprised that your health care professionals are so keen for you to be on medication when you have made such impressive progress. I am assuming you have reduced your carbohydrate intake to achieve that alongside the metformin.
Try not to worry about possible side effects. Many people take these drugs and don't suffer any side effects or just very minor ones and you can always review the medication with your GP if they are not agreeing with you. Have you tried negotiating with your doctor for a medication free period of say 3 months to see if you can keep your HbA1c at a reasonable level through diet alone. You can always restart medication if it starts to rise. Many Type 2 diabetics here on the forum self fund Blood Glucose Meters and strips so that they can keep track of how they respond to food and tailor what they eat to how their body responds to it so that they don't go back to the docs in 3 or 6 months and find their reading has soared. Meters are relatively cheap to buy at approx. £15 but it is the on going cost of purchasing test strips for them which can clock up the financial impact. For that reason, here on the forum many people recommend the SD Codefree Blood Glucose Monitor or the Tee2 which have the cheapest test strips on the market @ £8 for a pot of 50. Many other manufacturers charge as much as £20, so it is well worth going for ne of these units.
The basic idea with a BG meter is to test your blood before you eat and then 2 hours afterwards. If you get a rise of more than 2-3 mmols then there were too many carbs in the meal and you need to reduce the portion size of them next time. BG can vary quite significantly throughout the day so it is important to test before eating so that you know your starting level before the meal and are therefore largely just measuring the response of your body to that food.
No problem updating this thread with that info. It helps with continuity for us to read it here.
Well done on lowering your HbA1c so dramatically. I am quite surprised that your health care professionals are so keen for you to be on medication when you have made such impressive progress. I am assuming you have reduced your carbohydrate intake to achieve that alongside the metformin.
Try not to worry about possible side effects. Many people take these drugs and don't suffer any side effects or just very minor ones and you can always review the medication with your GP if they are not agreeing with you. Have you tried negotiating with your doctor for a medication free period of say 3 months to see if you can keep your HbA1c at a reasonable level through diet alone. You can always restart medication if it starts to rise. Many Type 2 diabetics here on the forum self fund Blood Glucose Meters and strips so that they can keep track of how they respond to food and tailor what they eat to how their body responds to it so that they don't go back to the docs in 3 or 6 months and find their reading has soared. Meters are relatively cheap to buy at approx. £15 but it is the on going cost of purchasing test strips for them which can clock up the financial impact. For that reason, here on the forum many people recommend the SD Codefree Blood Glucose Monitor or the Tee2 which have the cheapest test strips on the market @ £8 for a pot of 50. Many other manufacturers charge as much as £20, so it is well worth going for ne of these units.
The basic idea with a BG meter is to test your blood before you eat and then 2 hours afterwards. If you get a rise of more than 2-3 mmols then there were too many carbs in the meal and you need to reduce the portion size of them next time. BG can vary quite significantly throughout the day so it is important to test before eating so that you know your starting level before the meal and are therefore largely just measuring the response of your body to that food.
grovesy
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
If you are concerned about taking it because of the side effects, why not discuss your Doctor.
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Hello @Kerry1966
As both of your threads were covering the same question it seemed to make sense to keep all your answers on one place, so I’ve merged your threads. Hope that’s OK 🙂
As both of your threads were covering the same question it seemed to make sense to keep all your answers on one place, so I’ve merged your threads. Hope that’s OK 🙂
Thank you, once again sorry for the mix up
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