As from tomorrow morning I have been put on 2000mg metformin and 40mg of Gliclazide in the morning and 80mg of Gliclazide in the evening, I’ve read the leaflet which is slightly scary I’m just wondering what side effects people have had on these ? As in the leaflet it says can effect vision for a short while, also diarrhoea (which I’ve stocked up on Imodium) and stomach cramps I’m back to work tomorrow as I’ve had a week off and I’m slightly paranoid many thanks in advance
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- Thread starter Nugget77
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Lucyr
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do you already take metformin at a lower dose? if you go from no metformin at all to 2000mg in one go you're unlikely to be able to work all day, it's usually built up slowly e.g. 500mg for a week, then 1000mg for a week etc to reduce the side effects
Leadinglights
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Do you also have a blood glucose monitor and strips provided on prescription as these should be as you are going to be on medication the gliclazide, which potentially could cause hypos. also would be worth having some hypo treatment to hand to use if needed.
Tdm
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I was on metformin and glicaside for a while before i got my diagnosis. I had not problems or side effects, other than going lower than expected one when i inadvertently had a low carb meal (it was before they told me about carb vounting) so as previous poster says, make sure you can and do test your levels, have an idea the amount of carbs you are eating, and have some jelly babies etc ready to treat low blood sugar if it occurs
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Welcome to the forum @Nugget77
As @Lucyr says, it is common to gradually build up the dose of Metformin over a number of weeks to reduce the risk of any side effects. Not everyone gets them (Met is very widely offered as a first medication with T2) and some find any initial symptoms settle down after a while. It can help to take the tabs with a substantial meal, and there is a ‘slow release’ formulation which can be gentler on the tum.
Do you k ow what your most recent HbA1c was? This represents your general glucose levels over the past 3-4 months. If glucose levels have been high it can change the shape of the eyeballs, which can lead to blurred vision we blood glucose levels return to a healthier range.
Hope you get on well with the new mix of meds - let us know how things go 🙂
As @Lucyr says, it is common to gradually build up the dose of Metformin over a number of weeks to reduce the risk of any side effects. Not everyone gets them (Met is very widely offered as a first medication with T2) and some find any initial symptoms settle down after a while. It can help to take the tabs with a substantial meal, and there is a ‘slow release’ formulation which can be gentler on the tum.
Do you k ow what your most recent HbA1c was? This represents your general glucose levels over the past 3-4 months. If glucose levels have been high it can change the shape of the eyeballs, which can lead to blurred vision we blood glucose levels return to a healthier range.
Hope you get on well with the new mix of meds - let us know how things go 🙂
Many thanks for all your replies
I started on 1500mg metformin and now on 2000g metformin (both were/are slow realease) I take 40mg Gliclazide in the morning and 80mg Gliclazide in the evening. Yesterday i suffered my first hypo I came across very light headed and shaky was a horrible feeling, I am due a blood test on the 18th April my last HbA1c was 83, and have to book another blood test in 3 months time as will be 3 months I would of been on Gliclazide, I am very nervous about diabetes
I started on 1500mg metformin and now on 2000g metformin (both were/are slow realease) I take 40mg Gliclazide in the morning and 80mg Gliclazide in the evening. Yesterday i suffered my first hypo I came across very light headed and shaky was a horrible feeling, I am due a blood test on the 18th April my last HbA1c was 83, and have to book another blood test in 3 months time as will be 3 months I would of been on Gliclazide, I am very nervous about diabetes
I do have a monitor which I have to log my 4 x finger pricks a day lat week I was getting no lower than 11.9, and was rising to 15.8 I started Gliclazide yesterday morning and my levels all of a sudden dropped to 5.8, I’m between 5.8 and 9.7 at the moment
rebrascora
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Did you check your levels when you felt wobbly and if so, what was your reading?
Hopefully you had hypo treatment easily to hand.... What did you use to treat it? Having a plan in place before a hypo happens is helpful, so that you are well prepared although I know that doesn't stop the panicky feeling.
Have you been told about the Rule of 15 with hypos? Finger prick. If you are under 4, eat 15g fast acting carbs (3xJelly Babies or 4-5 Dextrose tablets or a small carton of fruit juice or small can of full sugar coke) and retest 15 mins later. If you are not above 4, then have another 15g fast acting carbs and test again 15 mins later until you are above 4. Try not to eat masses otherwise you will go to the other extreme. I keep my hypo treatments packaged up in spall portions of 2 or 3 so that I can't get confused and over treat. If I had a full bag I would probably just guzzle the lot! 🙄
Hopefully, you will gain confidence that you can manage these experiences and I imagine your nurse will reduce your dose it it happens too frequently. Great that your levels have come down more into range though! Well done!
Hopefully you had hypo treatment easily to hand.... What did you use to treat it? Having a plan in place before a hypo happens is helpful, so that you are well prepared although I know that doesn't stop the panicky feeling.
Have you been told about the Rule of 15 with hypos? Finger prick. If you are under 4, eat 15g fast acting carbs (3xJelly Babies or 4-5 Dextrose tablets or a small carton of fruit juice or small can of full sugar coke) and retest 15 mins later. If you are not above 4, then have another 15g fast acting carbs and test again 15 mins later until you are above 4. Try not to eat masses otherwise you will go to the other extreme. I keep my hypo treatments packaged up in spall portions of 2 or 3 so that I can't get confused and over treat. If I had a full bag I would probably just guzzle the lot! 🙄
Hopefully, you will gain confidence that you can manage these experiences and I imagine your nurse will reduce your dose it it happens too frequently. Great that your levels have come down more into range though! Well done!
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