Hello New to forum group

[hollypet21]

Hello, Nice to chat with everyone here.

Recently from being borderline diabetic , with regret have now been diagnosed Type 2 Diabetic.
After completing a HbA1C blood test this Monday, spoke with my GP, and told my levels have increased to reading of 80 mmol
Still trying to learn and educate myself on understanding the glucose levels and the numbers to lower blood sugars.

My doctor advised to start taking Metformin SR 1 tablet a day with Gliclazide 40mg 1 Tablet per day

I have attempted previously to take metformin , but felt nausea and indigestion badly and stopped.
I have not taken metformin SR, so hoping better tolerated.

But reason concerned unsure of taking gliclazide , the new tablet prescribed and the side effects , my GP mentioned low blood sugar can happen.
May I ask is anyone taking this combination of metformin and gliclazide together, and finding good tolerance of the tablets, or side effects difficult to manage.

With honesty, struggle to take medication at best of times, but know now with type 2 diabetes have no option , but face my fear of medication, and start a program of improving my health , now diagnosed with diabetes.

Any advice greatly appreciated

 

[Drummer]

Why do you feel you have no option but to take medication?
I had a dreadful time taking the tablets, so I stopped and ate a low carb diet, and found that I didn't need tablets in the firs place. As long as I eat low carb, my numbers are normal and after a couple of years I was labelled as in remission.

 

[Docb]

Hi @hollypet21 and welcome to the forum. I take both slow release metformin and gliclazide, both at minimum doses, with no problems at all. My principle control is a low carb diet but some experimentation has shown that the gliclazide is worthwhile taking although I am not sure about the metformin. Took higher doses when my HbA1c was in the 80's and never had problems with gliclazide although had the often reported problems with higher doses of metformin.

What we keep on saying is that there are no real rules when it comes to balancing out diet, medication and exercise when it comes to blood glucose control. It's a question of what works for you and if the medication helps then take it is my way of thinking.

 

[SB2015]

Hi @hollypet21 . Welcome to the forum.

As others have said management of our Diabetes is so individual but I find it great to tap into the vast experience available on here, in order to make decisions appropriate for myself. Whatever questions arise, just ask. Nothing is considered silly on here.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @hollypet21

I thunk it’s not unusual to be slightly anxious and concerned about being thrust into potentially lifelong medication use when diagnosed with diabetes - particularly with T2, where in some cases medication isn’t required. For T1 there isn’t an option, so perhaps it’s easier to just get on with it, but with T2 there certainly seems to be a number of people for whom taking medication feels like a kind of failure (which it isn’t at all!).

Bear in mind that this may not be permanent. At the moment your body just needs a little help as it adjusts - but as you make positive changes to your diet, and add in whatever activity and exercise you can manage, and lose weight if you need to, you may find that the meds can be reduced or discontinued altogether, on the advice of your Dr.

Metformin is the first-line medication for T2. Rather than working directly on glucose levels, it helps ‘in the background’ by reducing insulin resistance and suppressing glucose output from the liver. Gliclazide is a very common second-line addition. It works by encouraging the pancreas to release more insulin, which should help bring down your BG levels. It’s likely this has been recommended because your starting HbA1c is quite high.

You should have been prescribed a BG meter and strips so that you can check your levels at home, which should reassure you about the possibility of hypos.

Hope the Slow Release metfartin is easier on your tum. Let us know how you get on 🙂