Newbie

[CurlySue]

Hi, I was diagnosed with type2 diabetes 3 weeks ago: I had a routine set of bloods taken that I have every year because of some of the medication I’m on and it flagged up I had high blood sugars, I was asked to do a wee sample which showed ketones, then sent to hospital in case I needed to be out on a drip, the hospital did loads of blood tests and urine test, then sent back home, got back in touch with my gp who then prescribed me metformin, took one tablet in the morning, developed really bad stomach pains that afternoon, couldn’t keep off the toilet and was passing blood, called 111 who arranged for an ambulance to take me to hospital, my blood pressure was sky high when the ambulance first arrived, the paramedic called the hospital to inform them of my blood pressure, I heard the reply of ‘she needs to come in, she’s at risk of a stroke’ which as you can imagine totally freaked me out. So got to hospital, thankfully my blood pressure had come down, they gave me 2 bags of fluids because I was severely dehydrated, blood tests etc done. They concluded it was a bad reaction to the metformin, I was sent home still having stomach cramps and feeling meh. Now my doctor has concluded it wasn’t a reaction to the medication at all but a separate issue, maybe a bug or something else that will need to be investigated if I continue to have problems. I’ve now been put on gliclazide and am taking 160mg a day. The stomach issues have calmed down a lot thank goodness. So just trying to find my feet really.

 

[Drummer]

Have you been issued with a blood glucose meter to test how you respond to the gliclazide? It is possible to have hypos taking it and you need to test before driving, if you are still going anywhere.

 

[ColinUK]

Welcome to a calm place. Collectively there’s lots of experience here and we can try to help each other deal with the issues diabetes throws our way.
Any questions you may have then fire away and someone might be able to point you in the right direction.

Oh and no questions or concerns are other silly, stupid, or out of bounds.

 

[trophywench]

Oh @CurlySue - what a baptism of fire, poor you. When your GP diagnosed you, can you remember what level your blood glucose was? The lowest diagnosis result is 48 and because you had ketones and he's now put you on not the minimum dose of gliclazide, I'm thinking your result must be more than slightly above 48. It's worth knowing the actual number to see how high a hill you need to climb. Don't worry unduly - many many newly diagnosed Type 2s have an initial result in 3 figures - but even with that, have managed to reverse it!

What dietary and activity has been recommended already?

 

[CurlySue]

Have you been issued with a blood glucose meter to test how you respond to the gliclazide? It is possible to have hypos taking it and you need to test before driving, if you are still going anywhere.

Hi, I’ve bought myself a meter and have been testing my sugar levels before end after every meal. I’ve not been told I can have hypos, I’ve not been told much to be honest

 

[CurlySue]

Oh @CurlySue - what a baptism of fire, poor you. When your GP diagnosed you, can you remember what level your blood glucose was? The lowest diagnosis result is 48 and because you had ketones and he's now put you on not the minimum dose of gliclazide, I'm thinking your result must be more than slightly above 48. It's worth knowing the actual number to see how high a hill you need to climb. Don't worry unduly - many many newly diagnosed Type 2s have an initial result in 3 figures - but even with that, have managed to reverse it!

What dietary and activity has been recommended already?

I don’t know what my glucose levels were at the beginning, my doctor didn’t tell me, to be honest at the time it was a shock to be told I had diabetes, then to be told I had to go to hospital, it was all so scary. I’m going to call my doctor in the morning so I will ask her. I haven’t been recommended any dietary or activity. I have M.E too and activity was a problem before the diabetes diagnosis ! I’ve been trying to tweak my diet, checking how much sugars are in foods, cutting down on snacking.

 

[grovesy]

Hi, I’ve bought myself a meter and have been testing my sugar levels before end after every meal. I’ve not been told I can have hypos, I’ve not been told much to be honest

You should also be checking before driving if you drive.

 

[CurlySue]

You should also be checking before driving if you drive.

I didn’t realise this, thank you

 

[eddie1414]

Hi, I was diagnosed with type2 diabetes 3 weeks ago: I had a routine set of bloods taken that I have every year because of some of the medication I’m on and it flagged up I had high blood sugars, I was asked to do a wee sample which showed ketones, then sent to hospital in case I needed to be out on a drip, the hospital did loads of blood tests and urine test, then sent back home, got back in touch with my gp who then prescribed me metformin, took one tablet in the morning, developed really bad stomach pains that afternoon, couldn’t keep off the toilet and was passing blood, called 111 who arranged for an ambulance to take me to hospital, my blood pressure was sky high when the ambulance first arrived, the paramedic called the hospital to inform them of my blood pressure, I heard the reply of ‘she needs to come in, she’s at risk of a stroke’ which as you can imagine totally freaked me out. So got to hospital, thankfully my blood pressure had come down, they gave me 2 bags of fluids because I was severely dehydrated, blood tests etc done. They concluded it was a bad reaction to the metformin, I was sent home still having stomach cramps and feeling meh. Now my doctor has concluded it wasn’t a reaction to the medication at all but a separate issue, maybe a bug or something else that will need to be investigated if I continue to have problems. I’ve now been put on gliclazide and am taking 160mg a day. The stomach issues have calmed down a lot thank goodness. So just trying to find my feet really.

hi curlysue ive been on metformin for 20 years and it really does work, I think your doctor was right to say it was something else, please stop worrying and persevere with medication ,buy the book Living with Diabetes from Diabetes UK it has all the info you need about Diabetes, You can get through this honestly, I have managed a very long time please think positive Edd.,

 

[grovesy]

hi curlysue ive been on metformin for 20 years and it really does work, I think your doctor was right to say it was something else, please stop worrying and persevere with medication ,buy the book Living with Diabetes from Diabetes UK it has all the info you need about Diabetes, You can get through this honestly, I have managed a very long time please think positive Edd.,

Many do not tolerate Metformin even the Slow Release version.Bowel problems are one of the main complaints people come on here asking about.

 

[trophywench]

Hence why those that know its common side effects, call it Metfartin.

 

[CurlySue]

hi curlysue ive been on metformin for 20 years and it really does work, I think your doctor was right to say it was something else, please stop worrying and persevere with medication ,buy the book Living with Diabetes from Diabetes UK it has all the info you need about Diabetes, You can get through this honestly, I have managed a very long time please think positive Edd.,

Thank you

 

[Ditto]

Hello and welcome to the forum @CurlySue 🙂

 

[CurlySue]

Many do not tolerate Metformin even the Slow Release version.Bowel problems are one of the main complaints people come on here asking about.

Ok, thank you, I’m still not convinced my bowel problem wasn’t a reaction even though my doctor is adamant it was a separate issue

 

[grovesy]

Ok, thank you, I’m still not convinced my bowel problem wasn’t a reaction even though my doctor is adamant it was a separate issue

I would not be convinced either in your shoes.
It is also worth bearing in mind it is not the only medication, it is just one of the oldest , cheapest, the one the use first.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear about your ordeal @CurlySue

As you have been put on gliclazide, a medication that can cause hypos, your surgery should be prescribing you a BG monitor and sufficient test strips I think. Well worth asking the next time you are having a follow-up phone call

 

[CurlySue]

Have you been issued with a blood glucose meter to test how you respond to the gliclazide? It is possible to have hypos taking it and you need to test before driving, if

Sorry to hear about your ordeal @CurlySue

As you have been put on gliclazide, a medication that can cause hypos, your surgery should be prescribing you a BG monitor and sufficient test strips I think. Well worth asking the next time you are having a follow-up phone call

I haven’t been issued with a BG monitor, I will ask when I next speak to my doctor, thank you

 

[grovesy]

Sorry to hear about your ordeal @CurlySue

As you have been put on gliclazide, a medication that can cause hypos, your surgery should be prescribing you a BG monitor and sufficient test strips I think. Well worth asking the next time you are having a follow-up phone call

Not always they sometimes still limit. I used to get 50 a month, and self fund more.

 

[Drummer]

Not always they sometimes still limit. I used to get 50 a month, and self fund more.

I'd ask for a letter signed by the DP to say that you are safe to drive at all times - or failing that enough strips to be able to test myself as required by the law - there is nothing like asking for a signature to make people think about where they stand on any subject.

 

[grovesy]

I'd ask for a letter signed by the DP to say that you are safe to drive at all times - or failing that enough strips to be able to test myself as required by the law - there is nothing like asking for a signature to make people think about where they stand on any subject.

It is a mote point now as I no longer take Gliclazide and they have since stopped the strips anyway.