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[sophie58]

Hi am both new to this site and to diabetes. I was diagnosed 5 weeks ago.
I am struggling big time to reduce my levels which range from 14 fasting to 22 after eating. I take 2000mg of metformin and 40mg of glicazide prescribed this week. I have lost over 1 stone in weight without trying. I feel unwell all the time. Any advise would be welcome. Just can't get my head
round it all

 

[Northerner]

Hi Sophie, welcome to the forum 🙂 Don't panic! I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis, but you should know that this is something you can get to grips with, but it will take a little time. Your current high levels may be a cause of your weight loss as your body is unable to use the glucose in your blood properly and will be using body fat stores instead. It may take some time for the medication to begin to make an impact, but things should become easier. How did you come to be diagnosed?

I would recommend having a read of Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter and, if you can, get hold of a copy of Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker - the better you understand diabetes, the easier it will be to tackle it and start to feel much better. Are you able to exercise? If you can manage half an hour a day then it will help greatly.

There is an awful lot to take in to start with, so try and just take things one day at a time. It is a good idea to start a food diary and record everything you eat and drink as this will be useful to indicate where you might make adjustments that would be friendlier to your blood glucose levels. Please ask any questions you may have - nothing is considered silly, and there are lots of friendly, experienced people who understand exactly how you feel and will be able to offer you lots of advice and support. Many people find that, in time, they start to feel much happier and healthier than they have for a long time as they make the adjustments to their diet and activity levels and get their levels under control, so things can and will get better for you - just keep posting and let us know how you are doing. 🙂

 

[Mark T]

Welcome to the forums sophie58 🙂

There are lots of useful items in the newbies help thread, including the Gretchen Becker book and advice from various people.

You will be feeling unwell if your levels are 14+ It takes a while for the metformin to start being effective (at least 2 weeks) but the glicazade should be helping straight away.

If you don't mind me asking, what general age are you? Do you have excess weight?

The other two aspects to medication is diabetes is exercise and diet? Many of us find a low/moderate carbs and/or low GI diet helpful (not a guaranteed fix though).

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hi am both new to this site and to diabetes. I was diagnosed 5 weeks ago.
I am struggling big time to reduce my levels which range from 14 fasting to 22 after eating. I take 2000mg of metformin and 40mg of glicazide prescribed this week. I have lost over 1 stone in weight without trying. I feel unwell all the time. Any advise would be welcome. Just can't get my head
round it all

Hi Sophie,
welcome to the forum.
Obviously we don't know any details about you so this is just a general observation.
If you have cut down on your carbs and not carrying any excess weight and or your symptoms were fairly sudden in their onset, would there be a possibility that you have been mis diagnosed and are infact type 1?

 

[cods]

Hi Sophie 58

I was only diagnosed in July. My levels were between 17 and 21 when I was first diagnosed. I am currently on 2000mg metformin and 80mg gliclazide. My levels are now down nicely to between 4.1 and 9.5. I have started to really watch what I eat and do take regular exercise, which I know help greatly.

I always take my metformin during my meals, as it doesn't give me any side effects that way.

It's a lot to take in at first, but read the posts on here as there's plenty of good advice.

I've just been put on a 6 weeks Xpert Diabetic course which is really helpful and explains things in simply terms. Ask your local doctor/diabetic nurse if there is a similar thing in your area.

Hope this may help in a small way x x