From Insulin to Metformin and Glic : What can I expect?

[ChrisM]

I was diagnosed T2 in June by accident while in hospital for surgery. They put me on insulin while the surgery wounds healed and have told me I can go on metformin and glic whenever I want. I have not done so yet because they said it would initially cause some disturbance to my blood glucose levels which may disturb me at a crucial stage in my research. I have had good control of my levels on insulin, and was told it would take a few days to a week for me to get used to the change.

What can I expect when I do change from insulin to metf & glic?

 

[trophywench]

Chris

I don't know I'm afriad, have absolutely no experience even hearsay of anyone in your position before, although I used to bang on about what a good idea it was to slap T2's on insulin first off if their BG merited it - it seems all too rare.

BUT ..... what tests did they do to establish that you are definitely T2? - GAD65, C-Peptide - what?

AND .... what BG readings are you seeing as a consequence of what doses of what insulin? - are you 100% certain you are a T2?

 

[Northerner]

Yes, I'd be interested to hear what doses of insulin you are on as I would have thought if they were on the high side then oral meds probably wouldn't be successful as a substitute. I have heard that sometimes T2s are initially put on insulin if their levels are particularly bad at diagnosis, but as they recover they are taken off it and put onto oral meds. I'm also aware of some members who were put straight onto insulin from day 1 and continued on it. Unfortunately, I can't point you at any posts or individuals describing their experiences. Hopefully, someone will spot this and let us know 🙂

 

[Copepod]

It's also relatively common for established type 2 diabetics normally on oral medication, to be put on insulin during and soon after surgery. There would probably be an overlap period of a few days weaning off insulin, probablt short acting first, then long acting, if you're taking both types, while increasing metformin and glicazide.

One bonus of oral medication over insulin is that you will no longer have to renew driving licence every 3 years. Assuming you told DVLA when you started on insulin, they might take some persuading that you are no longer taking it.

 

[ChrisM]

Before I was operated on I was asked if I was diabetic and because I had not been tested I replied no. But just before I entered the the theatre they had accidentally found abnormal high glucose levels in my blood. After surgery they put me on insulin drip for a few days. Looking back now I was suffering some symptoms of diabetes but did not realise what they were.

I was told to try Novomix30 at 30 units in the am and pm when I was discharged, which seems to have worked well which is why I have not yet moved to tablets. I attended outpatients clinic a few weeks ago and was told that my HbA1c was excellent and that I was still producing quite a lot of insulin. I have not been told that I am definitely T2 but with the test results it is highly probable I am T2. The clinic is very keen to put me on metf & glic, so I assume that they think it would be beneficial for me.

 

[trophywench]

All you can do Chris, is give it a go, isn't it? But keep on testing testing testing and obviously straight back down the docs if it's going pear shaped.

Glic is a 'hypoglycaemic agent' though so you need to make sure you do all the things DVLA say to do when driving ......