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Puzzled by GP advice!

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R

raypev

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi all.
After being on 2 x 500mg Metformin a day for several years and finding it less and less effective (or maybe me not trying hard enough) I was put on 80mg Gliclazide whilst still keeping me on the 1000 mg Metformin. My diabetic specialist nurse warned me to test my BG several times a day to watch for too low BG levels which worryingly happened! with readings of 3.8 and 3.3. Whilst I did not feel unwell I panicked having been told below 4.5 is technically a hypo. Short term I ate some chocolate to get my BG up. My GP practice is a nightmare lately so getting to talk to the nurse did'nt happen but using my own initiative or was it luck I started to break the 80mg Gliclazide in half and take 40mg a day which has worked a treat with my BG readings now around 5.0 to 5.5 HOWEVER here's the really surprising stuff!! I tried bringing my metformin dose down to ONE 250mg tab a day and the readings I have just typed are correct with only the 250mg Metformin and 40mg Gliclazide daily! Eventually I spoke to and informed my Specialist nurse who was happy for me to continue

Now the get to the title of this post 'PUZZLED BY GP ADVICEI
Yesterday I saw my GP on another matter and being so pleased with myself mentioned my reduced meds dose but she was not happy with me reducing the Metformin dose saying 'It protects you' --- but surely all the protection I need is achieved by having normal BG levels! As I say I am puzzed! Any comments/advice please.
Thanks Ray
 
Hi welcome to the forum 🙂 hmmm I've never heard of below 4.5 being a hypo, it's usually anything below 4, advice regarding chocolate to treat - it's not the greatest thing to use due to the fat in the chocolate it takes longer for the sugar to bring your levels up, with regards to what the GP said I know nothing about the medication you are on but if the SN was quite happy for you to continue what you were doing I would be more inclined to listen to them as they do actually specialise in the subject x
 
The 2 drugs act in a somewhat different way, whereas the Add to dictionary stimulates the pancreas to deliver more insulin the metformin regulates the release of glucose by the liver. Metformin also has been indicated in studies to help CVD & certain cancer though no definitive study is touted for this side benefit.
I too started cutting my Glyburide in half, but even that was too much & I quit it entirely (with my Dr.'s approval)
 
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