• 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

Gliclazide

S

Sophie84

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Been changed from metafomin to Gliclazide. I've only been on it for 2 weeks but it's making me feel ill. I'm really tired, getting horrendous headaches like a tight band around my head, I'm nauseous and having stomach problems. It doesn't appear to be doing anything with my levels either. My morning bloods are between 9 and 10, they don't dip below this even after taking the Gliclazide slowly rising to about 12 by evening. This was about the same on metafomin but I tolerated this better, was slightly nauseous but that was all. What shall I do? Shall I stick it out a little longer or contact my GP?
 
Sophie84 said:
Been changed from metafomin to Gliclazide. I've only been on it for 2 weeks but it's making me feel ill. I'm really tired, getting horrendous headaches like a tight band around my head, I'm nauseous and having stomach problems. It doesn't appear to be doing anything with my levels either. My morning bloods are between 9 and 10, they don't dip below this even after taking the Gliclazide slowly rising to about 12 by evening. This was about the same on metafomin but I tolerated this better, was slightly nauseous but that was all. What shall I do? Shall I stick it out a little longer or contact my GP?
Click to expand...
Go back to your GP without doubt. Why did they change the metformin if you were tolerating it OK. The medications work in different ways and the gliclazide is supposed to encourage your pancreas to produce more insulin, it does however require you to eat some carbohydrate to work properly and I think it is suggested it is taken 30min before eating to give it a head start to cope with the carbs.
What sort of meals are you having, it may need a different approach from being just on the metformin
 
I'm having it with breakfast, which is usually 30g jumbo oats with a spoonful of berries. I didn't know about taking it 30min before it just states with food. I'm really good with my diet less than 50gram carbs per meal. I don't add sugar or eat sweets/chocolate and go to the gym 5 times a week. Have had to skip the gym 3 times in the past 2 weeks as I felt too unwell to go. This is so unlike me
 
Sophie84 said:
I'm having it with breakfast, which is usually 30g jumbo oats with a spoonful of berries. I didn't know about taking it 30min before it just states with food. I'm really good with my diet less than 50gram carbs per meal. I don't add sugar or eat sweets/chocolate and go to the gym 5 times a week. Have had to skip the gym 3 times in the past 2 weeks as I felt too unwell to go. This is so unlike me
Click to expand...
It might be worth while testing your blood glucose before you eat breakfast ad then 2 hours afterwards to see how well you are tolerating the oats and berries, if the increase is more than 3mmol/l then not so good. I am wondering if you are feeling nauseous because your blood glucose is lower than you have been used to with the changed meds.
 
I do this daily. On waking then 2hrs after breakfast. Its hard to tell some days it goes up by 1-2mmol and others down by 1-2mmol despite having the same food. Its like the meds doesn't make any difference. Theres no consistency at all.
 
Sophie84 said:
I do this daily. On waking then 2hrs after breakfast. Its hard to tell some days it goes up by 1-2mmol and others down by 1-2mmol despite having the same food. Its like the meds doesn't make any difference. Theres no consistency at all.
Click to expand...
How long is it between your morning test and starting breakfast as for some people there can be a difference in reading in the time between getting up and just before eating as the liver releases glucose to give you energy for any activity.
 
Sophie84 said:
About 60min
Click to expand...
If you want to get an better idea of the effect of meals then the advise is to test immediately before you eat and then after 2 hours as unless you know your starting blood glucose you don't know what the difference is.
That could explain the erratic nature of your results.
 
Currently I test on waking, 2 hours after breakfast, before lunch, 2 hrs after lunch, normally after work as I go to the gym, after the gym before driving home then 2 hrs after tea. Oh and if work involves me driving through the day then literally every 2hrs. Loosing available fingers for testing at this rate. So far nothing. I rarely drop below 9. Not sure i can justify feeling this rubbish with no results. Will go back to GP
 
All sounds very rubbish for you and not something you should have to just put up with.

Has type 1 been ruled out for you, IE have you had the c-peptide and antibody blood tests? If you have not it may be worth enquiring about those.

There's been more than one person who's been misdiagnosed as T2 when in fact they're T1 and that would explain why the oral meds are not working.
 
If your levels are above 13 in the afternoon/evening before going to the gym, it is probably not a good idea to do exertive exercise. High BG levels in the teens put a strain on your body and cardiovascular system, add in some strenuous exercise and that puts extra pressure on your body particularly your blood vessels and heart. A walk would be a better option when levels are high.
 
Sorry to hear you have been struggling @Sophie84 - those numbers seem to be a bit high even when not eating, making me think the Gliclazide is not really doing the job - that drug should tell your pancreas to produce more insulin, which it appears doesn't to be doing the job - defo speak to your healthcare team and as @dannybgoode has said it may be asking for more tests...
 
Sorry to hear what a difficult time you’ve been having @Sophie84

Hope you are able to get an appointment with your GP without too much faff, and that it’s a constructive appointment 🙂
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top