newly diagnosed

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will2016

will2016

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
I was diagnosed 3 months ago, so HELLO, still very worried, was on metformin but due to really bad side effects, mainly toilet related! I have now just been given Gliclazide, start tomorrow, any help or advice would be really good, i am 50 and type 2, and again hello
 
Hi Will, welcome to the forum.
 
Hi Will, welcome to the forum 🙂 Sorry to hear that you've had problems with the metformin, I think that's quite common so you're certainly not alone there! Has your doctor suggested trying the slow-release form, Glucophage SR? That seems to work better for a lot of people. As for Gliclizide, I've no personal experience of it, but I beleive it works by encouraging the pancreas to produce more insulin, so there can be a risk of low blood sugars - if you drive you need to be aware of this and test before and during a long drive.

If you'd like to read up on ways to help you manage your diabetes, try the following:

Maggie Davey's letter to newly diagnosed Type 2s:

http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=5836

and also Jennifer's good advice:

http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=5835

Plus, a book I always recommend, as do many others here: Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker (amazon link)

Anything you are unsure of, please ask away and we'll try our best to help! The good news is that you CAN get things under control, and may end up healthier because of the diet and lifestyle changes you are now encouraged to make 🙂
 
hi will welcome to the forum ....yes metformin can give tummy problems so is regulary refered to as megaf**tin ...hope the Gliclizide is more suitable x🙂
 
Northerner said:
Hi Will, welcome to the forum 🙂 Sorry to hear that you've had problems with the metformin, I think that's quite common so you're certainly not alone there! Has your doctor suggested trying the slow-release form, Glucophage SR? That seems to work better for a lot of people. As for Gliclizide, I've no personal experience of it, but I beleive it works by encouraging the pancreas to produce more insulin, so there can be a risk of low blood sugars - if you drive you need to be aware of this and test before and during a long drive.

If you'd like to read up on ways to help you manage your diabetes, try the following:

Maggie Davey's letter to newly diagnosed Type 2s:

http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=5836

and also Jennifer's good advice:

http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=5835

Plus, a book I always recommend, as do many others here: Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker (amazon link)

Anything you are unsure of, please ask away and we'll try our best to help! The good news is that you CAN get things under control, and may end up healthier because of the diet and lifestyle changes you are now encouraged to make 🙂
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for your help and to all the others for support/advice, i feel like im in a minefield and need all the help i can get, its like 3 months on Met and its back to the start, had anyone else suffered heart palpitations either on Met or with diabetes itself?
 
Hi Will and welcome.

When I was diagnosed my Simvastin dosage was immediately doubled presumably to prevent palpitations. I had problems with Metformin but instead of coming off it completely I have been allowed to reduce the doseage to 1000mg per day instead of 1500.

When is your next HbA1c?
 
Hi Will

Welcome to the forum 🙂 x
 
sorry for my ignorance but is my HbA1c my blood sugar level? im afraid i have not had much explained to me, it was due for mid July now postponed due to switching med from tomorrow, now going onto Gliclazide 160mg per day, thanks to all for help advice and support so far 🙂
 
Hi Will

HbA1c is used as a measure of your overall blood glucose level.

Red blood cells last about 120 days, and the HbA1c (Glycated hemoglobin) test measures the percentage of haemoglobin in your blood stream that has reacted with glucose, I think.

It gives an overall average picture of your blood glucose levels for the last 3 months or so.

Target ranges vary, but under 7% is usually thought to be OK. Most people seem to aim to keep it lower though some feel lower than 6.5 for T1s puts them at increased risk of too many hypos. Non-diabetic range is 3.5 - 5.5%

Hope this helps
M
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
Hi Will

HbA1c is used as a measure of your overall blood glucose level.

Red blood cells last about 120 days, and the HbA1c (Glycated hemoglobin) test measures the percentage of haemoglobin in your blood stream that has reacted with glucose, I think.

It gives an overall average picture of your blood glucose levels for the last 3 months or so.

Target ranges vary, but under 7% is usually thought to be OK. Most people seem to aim to keep it lower though some feel lower than 6.5 for T1s puts them at increased risk of too many hypos. Non-diabetic range is 3.5 - 5.5%

Hope this helps
M
Click to expand...

Thanks M, a great help
 
Last edited:
Hello Will, welcome to the forum.

When I was first diagnosed I was put on gliclazide to get my blood glucose under control quite quickly. As already mentioned, it stimulates the pancreas to produce more insulin. Because of that, I was quite happy to move off it and on to metformin because the thought of 'forcing' an already suspect pancreas to produce more insulin was not appealing to me!

I was on metformin for a couple of months before I was able to stop taking that too. I was able to do this because my weight loss had helped my body to recover its ability to use the insulin being produced naturally again (i.e. excess weight can cause the body to become 'insulin resistant').

I don't know whether you have any weight to lose (your picture would seem to indicate not!), but at the very least eating a healthy diet and exercising regulary will help your overall control.

Regarding your question about heart disease, diabetics can be at a higher risk statistically and so you need to be talking to your GP about it if you have any symptoms. The good news is that there is evidence that metformin has been shown (again statistically) to provide a protective effect.

Best wishes,

Andy 🙂
 
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