Hi Northerner,
I am in metformin 2000mg slow release, I don't test my levels as they advised me not to:
I have felt like this from going up to 2000mg. Strangely I feel better/ more healthy when I DONT take it than when I do? I have asked to be referred to the Diabetes clinic at the hospital rather then be dealt with my my GP surgery. I have been diagnosed about 5 years. I cannot function properly on these pills... Unfortunately I have tried other pills but they have all made me feel the same / like I have severe food poisoning and I have to take to my bed. I would say an extreme reaction. I am at my wits end. Oh by the way I have Type 2.
Hi Sooze, sorry to hear this
It might be that upping the dose has meant you have reached a point where your body doesn't cope very well with it.
It does annoy me when I hear that people have been advised not to test
It is the only reliable way of being able to link your blood glucose levels to the food you are eating, and also how you are feeling - you may be feeling so bad because your blood glucose levels are high, but how would you know? Unfortunately, many healthcare professionals tell their Type 2 patients they don't need to test and the chief reason behind it is to save money on prescribing test strips. Not all think this way, some are actually willing to prescribe and educate their patients in how to use the readings to understand their diabetes and improve their control. It's no coincidence that, in the US where diabetes is funded via insurance, the companies insist on prescribing strips because they know that this will potentially save them considerably more money down the line by helping people to avoid costly (and life-changing) complications.
Have a read of
Jennifer's Advice and
Maggie Davey's letter - these might help to give you a different perspective on Type 2 and how to control it. Getting a handle on what food works well fr you and what your body doesn't tolerate very well is the first step towards living healthily with diabetes - a six-monthly HbA1c might tell you that your levels need improving, but it won't tell you where.
It may be that, knowing more about how to control your blood glucose levels better, you can actually reduce the amount of medication you need. If your GP won't prescribe then it would be worth funding them yourself for a while - many people find that if they can show their GP how testing is helping they are then (sometimes grudgingly!) prescribed strips! If you do decide to test and find yourself then the cheapest option we have come across here is the
SD Codefree Meter with
test strips at around £8 for 50.
