Hello everyone, stressful week regarding medication

[Eviec]

I have been type 2 for 10 years, managing well initially on 1 x 500mg metformin for 8 years, then increased to 2 x 500mg metformin for 2 years. I was then put onto semglee, had to take my blood sugars in the morning only. Last week I was called in by my GP who said my levels had gone up and I needed to be put back on metformin, together with another new medication and the semglee. I was really overwhelmed by the amount of medication my GP prescribed. This week, I have been so unwell with side effects, constant nauseous, chronic diahorrae, and no appetite. When I read the side effects of the new medication, I was very hesitant to take it. Spoke to my GP who said that he did not think it was that medication, but I stopped it. However, it turns out to be the metformin. I am seeing my GP again next week, but I'm thinking I've been overloaded with a high dose of metformin which should have been increased gradually. My blood sugars have been good throughout the day, but I've suffered, and for the first time, I feel really deflated and miserable.

 

[Lucyr]

Do you drive? Semglee is an insulin injection so you shouldn’t be testing only once per day. If you drive and aren’t testing before driving you’re driving illegally. Why did you stop the metformin previously and how long for? Would be normal to continue taking that but then add new things on top. It doesn’t sound like you stopped the metformin for long though if you’ve been diabetic for 10 years and taken metformin for 10 years.

 

[Eviec]

I was only injecting once a day after my evening meal, then checking my blood sugars in the morning. This is the advice I was given, and to stop the metformin.
This week has really stressed me out.

 

[Lucyr]

You need to report this to the DVLA if you drive, and you must test before driving. Testing more through the day on top will give you a better understanding of your blood sugars too, but before driving is compulsory.

 

[Leadinglights]

Were you given the HbA1C result that prompted the change in medication and given any explanation as to why such a substantial change to the medication.
Had you also been keeping to a low carbohydrate diet alongside the metformin since your original diagnosis, if not that could explain why your blood glucose level had gone up but also the body can change in its ability to cope with carbohydrates causing an increase in blood glucose.
What glucose level are you seeing from your once a day testing.
If you had discontinued the metformin then it is usually advised to build up the dose gradually if starting again.
I presume you previously had no side effects from it. The slow release version is supposed to have less side effects.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Ah sorry to hear you have been feeling down and a bit overwhelmed, even though the combined medication has managed to reduce your blood glucose levels effectively.

As @Lucyr says, you should have been told by your Dr to contact the DVLA to let them know about your change in diabetes treatment when you started using Semglee (which is a biosimilar insulin to Lantus)

There is more information here:

Diabetes and your driving licence

There are extra rules for people with diabetes who want to drive. This is to make sure it’s safe for you and others. This information is about what to tell your driving licensing authority when you have diabetes. Provisional licenses and booking your driving theory test What to expect at the...

www.diabetes.org.uk

Hopefully by reintroducing the Metformin a little more gently over weeks or months you will be able to tolerate it more easily than just jumping back onto a full dose.

Let us know how things go 🙂