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The wobbles

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
J

Jill-Louise

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Five days ago i was put on gliclazide 80mg as well as the metformin 500mg.
The problem i seem to be having is that without any warning i get what i can only describe as the wobbles !
I'm wondering if it's the new medication. I don't seem to have to be doing anything strenuos as i had it whilst at work (i work in an office).
Today i had a wobble whilst out and about. I don't normally get any sign of it happening but today was different. As i got out of my car i had a real floaty feeling and then within a few minutes i was having a wobble.
Has anyone else felt like this ? :confused:

Thanks in anticipation

Jill-Louise
 
I've no experience of this, I'm sure a Type 2 with experience of gliclazide will be along shortly to help you out.
 
Thanks Nicky for taking the time to read this 🙂
 
Hi Jill

Do you have a BG (blood glucose) meter? Although it's not common, type 2's can and do get hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar).

From DUK website:
There is a risk of hypoglycaemia ('hypo') if your diabetes is treated with insulin or with the following diabetes medications:

* Sulphonylureas (Glipizide, Gliclazide, Glibenclamide, Chlorpropamide, Glimepiride,
Tolbutamide),
* Repaglinide and Nateglinide
* Acarbose, metformin or a glitazone – if taken with one of the tablets listed above,

.....

The symptoms of hypoglycaemia may include feeling hungry, sweating, shakiness, palpitations, feeling faint, dizziness, nausea or a headache. Sometimes you may notice blurred vision or tingling of the lips.

More info: Hypoglycaemia - Diabetes UK
Click to expand...


If you do a blood glucose test and the level is below 4.0mmol/L your body (and specifically your brain) does not have enough glucose to function properly. You can get symptoms at higher levels if you have been running high for some time and begin to come down into 'normal' BG range, but DUK and doctors advise that we should make '4 the floor' and try to stay above that all the time.

If your are hypo then you need to eat something sugary immediately (jelly babies /glucose tablets/ full sugar drinks / lucozade are common treatments). 15-20g of carbohydrate should be enough, but you should test again after 15 minutes to make sure you have come up into range, and may need to follow up with 15g or so of something a bit more starchy (say a slice of toast).

Hope this helps
M
 
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I often get vertigo like spells. I take that many different pills though I don't really know what is causing it.

Have you tested your blood when you have one these spells? Glicazide can cause hypos very easily.
 
If you don't have a meter, you can get one for free but you'll need to be creative with your answers as a non-insulin dependent. The testing strips are expensive, unless you have an understanding GP or nurse to prescribe some for you. Sometimes you can get strips and lancets cheaper on ebay.
 
Thanks M and Sweet Guy

Usually i don't carry my meter with me, guess it looks like i should !

My doctor hasn't really been that helpful and i don't have an appointment to see the Diabetic nurse til March so i'm pretty much winging it all the time.

I had glucose tablets on me today as i am worried about it happening whilst i am out. I'm not sure how many i should have had but i had to have some chocolate also to stop it !

I'm a bit concerned that it is a hypo now......
 
NIcky1970

Which is madness isn't it, since T2 meds can and do cause hypos. The requirement for them to test before driving should be the same as for those on insulin (before driving and every 2 hours on a long journey). I'm not sure I'd be too happy if a loved one was run down by a wildly hypoglycaemic T2 who had been denied access to test strips myself!

M
 
No probs Jill.

Would certainly be a good idea to test as you can get hypo symptoms when sugars are in perfectly good range.

Few things as annoying as a high reading where you've treated a 'hypo' that never existed!

🙄

M
 
When you are put on Glicazide you should really have been briefed about the possibility of hypos and what to do about them.

Anyway make sure you test next time and then you will know if it is that.
 
Now i'm worried.....should i test before driving even though i feel fine at the time ? When should i be testing ?

I had to buy my meter but i have been prescribed test strips and lancets although i don't have that many test strips.

My GP told me i didn't have to test regularly as i'm only a T2 !!!!!!
 
NIcky1970

Which is madness isn't it, since T2 meds can and do cause hypos. The requirement for them to test before driving should be the same as for those on insulin (before driving and every 2 hours on a long journey). I'm not sure I'd be too happy if a loved one was run down by a wildly hypoglycaemic T2 who had been denied access to test strips myself!
Click to expand...
M

Yes it is, perhaps someone should suggest that to the NHS as a cheaper alternative to life support and all that follows.
I've been told that I'll get test strips when I am at risk of a hypo, no idea if gliclazide falls within that interpetation though!
 
I will test next time it happens and no my GP did not say that the gliclazide could cause hypo's.

Thanks for the help and advice guys 🙂
 
I would question if your PCT / GP is meeting the NICE guidelines.

If you are on Type 2 medications that can cause hypo's I believe that they are recommended to have you self monitor. I was told that they are supposed to put all newly diagnosed type-2's on monitoring initially - I'd be surprised if my PCT was doing that out of the goodness of it's heart and not because of a NICE audit trail.

You could always request to be refereed to a consultant (or just get a second opinion other than your doctors).

You GP does sound like he hasn't been trained in diabetes and you really should be getting assessed a bit sooner.

Personally I'd be whinging at the practice manager - but thats just me 😉
 
Jill-Louise said:
Thanks M and Sweet Guy

Usually i don't carry my meter with me, guess it looks like i should !

My doctor hasn't really been that helpful and i don't have an appointment to see the Diabetic nurse til March so i'm pretty much winging it all the time.

I had glucose tablets on me today as i am worried about it happening whilst i am out. I'm not sure how many i should have had but i had to have some chocolate also to stop it !

I'm a bit concerned that it is a hypo now......
Click to expand...

When I was on gliclazide and had problems like this, I took a couple of glucose tablets. Left it a few minutes and if I didn't feel better, took a couple more. I never had a situation when I needed more (but I suppose I would have taken more if I still felt woozy).

Chocolate is not necessarily quite as effective though, because I understand that the fat in it may slow down the glucose hitting the blood stream. But on the good side, it might have given you a bit of a boost a little later?

As others have said, you should have been made aware of the possibility of hypos occurring with gliclazide.

Andy
 
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Thanks Andy, i will make sure i have glucose tablets with me and take some into work and leave some in my car also.

Thank you to all those that replied, it has been very helpful.

Jill 🙂
 
I know nothing to add to this thread but it has been very interesting. I was not aware that type 2s had hypos, it seems that we are usually high readings.

I have no idea what to do if I get a very high reading, type 1s take jelly babies (mmm like the sound of that!!!) what should we do ? lie down? have water? it worries me slightly to be honest.

I hope your hypos sort themselves soon Jill Louise
 
I think the wobbles sound better than having a hypo Rachel 🙂

I'm not sure what T2's do either when we have a high reading Ann but i think if we have any worries or concerns then this is the place to be 🙂
 
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