My brother's diabetic nurse advice

[Mark Parrott]

Was chatting to bruv on Thursday. His DN has reduced his Gliclazide to 1 tablet a day & told him to test his levels before meals only. They were worried that his BG was going too low. By low, they meant in the 4's. They want his BG between 6 & 8 before meals. Surely this is a tad high?

 

[Lynn Davies]

Might not be if he is on Gliclazide. If he is taking his D seriously and LCHF'ing he may be more at risk of a hypo.

Just got this from NetDoctor:

Low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) can sometimes occur as a side effect of this medicine. This is more likely to happen if you suddenly do more exercise than normal, have your meals at irregular times, eat less than usual (particularly less carbohydrate), miss meals altogether or drink a lot of alcohol.​

 

[Copepod]

If by "between meals", you mean 6 - 8 mmol/l 2 hours after meals, that's not so bad. If it means 6 - 8mmol/l before next meal, that's a bit different.
If he's getting most such readings at 4.x mmol/l then that is a probably a bit lower than ideal, as he might continue to go lower if he has a later meal or longer gap between meals or extra exercise or more alcohol than usual or any combination of those things.

 

[Austin Mini]

I aim to be 6 to 8 before meals. I regularly awake with a reading of 6 to 8.

 

[Mark Parrott]

If by "between meals", you mean 6 - 8 mmol/l 2 hours after meals, that's not so bad. If it means 6 - 8mmol/l before next meal, that's a bit different.
If he's getting most such readings at 4.x mmol/l then that is a probably a bit lower than ideal, as he might continue to go lower if he has a later meal or longer gap between meals or extra exercise or more alcohol than usual or any combination of those things.

Sorry, I meant before meals. He doesn't Low Carb, he eats what he wants, but he is a heavy drinker. Whiskey being his drink of choice. I think that with the tablets is what's keeping him low.