To eat more

[Newbie777]

Hello,

After understanding and reducing my carbs intake for the nearly a week, I have noticed by BG levels have dropped, especially after lunchtime where the reads were regularly over 15.0, my reads are now around 5.1 in the morning, 7.4 after 2 hours lunch and 7.1 after 2 hours Tea Time.

I take 4x 500mg Metformin, 2 X 80mg Glicizide, 1 X 300mg Canagflorizin.

However, just before I go bed, I chack my reads and they are down to 4.5, and I start to worry and get a snack. I don't want to experience hypo but am sure given that I have 11 hours left to eat again that would happen.

I eat 1 piece Burgen Bread with butter and 1 boiled egg for breakfast, cup of tea with a drop of milk.
2 pieces of Burgen Bread with a curry for lunch.
Grilled chicken, or salmon or tuna with salad for my Tea.
A snack sometimes of an apple or almonds.

Worst still I am not exercising, due my recent eye op, but would like to start soon and am worried that if I do my reads will go even lower.

I am aiming for my HbA1c reads to reduce from 102 to 80 or below, so need to do this for 3 months and know it is for the long run.

I take my Glicizide in the morning and then at lunch and my Metformin in the morning and then at Tea time. I don't think Metform is reducing my BG by that my much, I think Glicizide may be?

Just not sure on whether to increase/add carb intake at Tea time or speak to GP about reducing one of my Glicizide tablets.

Any thoughts? Thank you.

 

[Drummer]

I'd advise reducing medication rather than increasing carb intake anytime - the medication is pushing you to make more insulin, and you don't need it.

 

[grovesy]

It is more likely to be the Gliclizide that is lower your levels, you need to discuss who ever prescribed them with regards reducing.

 

[Newbie777]

I'd advise reducing medication rather than increasing carb intake anytime - the medication is pushing you to make more insulin, and you don't need it.

Thank you, that is good advice and makes sense.

 

[zuludog]

Although you have been prescribed particular medication, doctors cannot monitor you all the time, that's why they have reviews and measure your HbA1c and other things at regular intervals
Both my GP and DSN (Diabetic Specialist Nurse) have said words to the effect of - you're an intelligent man(!), keep an eye on things yourself, and increase or decrease your doses to match

So check your BG (Blood Sugar) and think about how many Hypos you might be having, and reduce or otherwise adjust your medication accordingly

But don't expect everything to be perfect all at once if you start doing that; expect a few highs and lows till you get used to it

When you do start exercising, that will reduce your BG levels, so be ready to check, change and adjust again
Also as your weight and general fitness improves, that will also affect your BG and medication levels

 

[Newbie777]

It is more likely to be the Gliclizide that is lower your levels, you need to discuss who ever prescribed them with regards reducing.

I have had Glicizide increased from 1 to 2 tablets about 2 years ago and the GP was thinking of me taking another one!

 

[zuludog]

I haven't looked back at all the details, but I think when you joined this forum in the Newbie section you admitted that you hadn't been looking after your diabetes very well, so that's probably why your GP increased your medication

Now that you're being more realistic and sensible and have changed your diet, as you have reduced your carb intake and therefore your BG, it could be that you no longer need the higher levels of meds

So keep up the good work, keep checking, and you might be able to reduce them even more
It's not easy, there will be ups & downs, but in the long run you'll get better, more even control

 

[Newbie777]

Although you have been prescribed particular medication, doctors cannot monitor you all the time, that's why they have reviews and measure your HbA1c and other things at regular intervals
Both my GP and DSN (Diabetic Specialist Nurse) have said words to the effect of - you're an intelligent man(!), keep an eye on things yourself, and increase or decrease your doses to match

So check your BG (Blood Sugar) and think about how many Hypos you might be having, and reduce or otherwise adjust your medication accordingly

But don't expect everything to be perfect all at once if you start doing that; expect a few highs and lows till you get used to it

When you do start exercising, that will reduce your BG levels, so be ready to check, change and adjust again
Also as your weight and general fitness improves, that will also affect your BG and medication levels

Thank you, that is so true...I do need to lose upto a stone in weight,.

Like I said I am now in a position I have not been before and have never experienced or want to experience going hypo. I would love to go off Glicizide.

In the past 6 months, I was told by the GP not to check by BG anymore, my reads were around 6.5 (or a bit less) in the morning, but importantly I did not realise that my BG was going above 15 after lunch- due to the high carbs. I was only told quite some time ago that true BG reads are the fasting one in the morning!

I even reduced my Glicizide to one tablet a day, not realising the big spike at lunchtimes.

Unfortunately, this has had a very bad effect on my eyes, rather than anywhere else.

So I am now better informed and better prepared (thanks to everyone in this forum), reducing carbs has done the trick, but I now reailse and consider all the other factors, like taking Metformin not directly with wheat etc.

Going back to my question..

Increasing the carbs, will just mean that they can be burned off, but risky.

Reducing medicine is better, but just wanted to be sure it is Glicizide not Metformin I start with.

The main thing is that I am in a position of control and also realise that this is the start of a long journey.

 

[Newbie777]

I haven't looked back at all the details, but I think when you joined this forum in the Newbie section you admitted that you hadn't been looking after your diabetes very well, so that's probably why your GP increased your medication

Now that you're being more realistic and sensible and have changed your diet, as you have reduced your carb intake and therefore your BG, it could be that you no longer need the higher levels of meds

So keep up the good work, keep checking, and you might be able to reduce them even more
It's not easy, there will be ups & downs, but in the long run you'll get better, more even control

Yes that is correct, the carbs in my diet, especially the chapati at lunchtime was not good.

I also worked away from home and ate out every night so that did not help.

If I can reduce or finish with Glicizide that would be fantastic.

However my immediate concern is to reduce the HbA1c levels, shame I have wait 3 months and not try it in a months time so I know what how I am doing.

 

[grovesy]

Do you drive?

 

[Newbie777]

Not at the moment and not when I used to work either

 

[grovesy]

Not at the moment and not when I used to work either

That is ok then but if you did on Gliclazide you test before driving.

 

[Newbie777]

Yes, that is true, I think my BG have been on the high side for many years and Glicizide was given until not so long ago.

Also one big issue I found with Glicizide and taking it inthe evening, it was very unpredictable and by BG could drop by 5'units ( Inwoild check at 2am!) so I changed it over to 12pm.BTW, my lowest BG has been 4.1!

Like I said I am hoping to be off Glicizide completely as long as my BG are controlled and my body can still work properly.

 

[Newbie777]

Not good news.

I had a spring roll with my Tea last night (sardines in tomato sauce and salad) and after 2 hours my BG spiked to 8.8, not good but expected.

The previous nights I have reads of 4.5 before going to bed so would have something to eat, my reads would be around 5.1 in the morning.

Last night I could not sleep well and woke up sweating, I checked by BP and it was slightly low, but I thn checked by BG it was 3.5.

OMG first time I had a hypo, had peanut butter on bread, a pear, some rice, a bit too much I know and the BG went up to about 8.8.

This morning it was still high 8.7, but am sure will go down.

I have an appointment with DN today, I want to reduce 1 Glicizide tablet.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi
Sorry to hear you had a hypo. BG should be the first thing you check and you need a more structured approach to treating a hypo if you ever need to again whilst you are on Gliclazide. The recommendation is the 15 rule which means you eat 15 grams of QUICK ACTING carbs (something like jelly babies or dextrose tablets are ideal and 3 of either of those works out to be about 15g carbs so it is worth stashing 3 of them in little bags in the bedside cabinet and in your pockets and in the car if you drive, so that they are easily to hand when you need them. It is a good idea to chew them really well as absorption of the glucose starts to occur in the mouth before you even swallow them. The other half of the "15 rule" is to wait 15 mins after eating the hypo treatment and then retest. If your levels have not come back up above 4 then take some more treatment. Bread and peanut butter are not ideal because the peanut butter is high fat and that can slow the release of the glucose from the bread and the pear (contains fibre which can slow the process) and rice is also not as fast as something containing simple sugars like jelly babies or dextrose tablets and difficult to quantify how much carbs you have ingested. You probably had 3x the amount of carbs you needed, but we all know that feeling of being panicky and ravenous when hypo, which is why having small portions ready for use is so helpful..... I full bag of jelly babies is just a temptation to eat more than 3.... so a little resealable bag with just 3 in it and perhaps a second bag with another 3 as back up in case you need a second treatment helps you to be more controlled.
Hope you never need that info because you don't have any more hypos but always best to be prepared.

I think it is fantastic how quickly you have learned where your dietary problems lie and you are managing so well in improving your readings.... Don't let the hypo derail you, but you have obviously realised that you are now overmedicated and discussing a reduction in Glic would be the thing to do in the first instance, or reducing it yourself if you feel confident to do that.
Isn't it amazing how effective dietary changes are in controlling your BG levels though for you to go from readings in the 15s to having a hypo because you are now over medicated and all in the space of just a couple of weeks!!

 

[Newbie777]

Thank you to that's great advice.

I even have lucozade and didn't think, but like the idea of the jelly beans.

I think hindsight is a great thing, I wish I used this forum earlier and used a bit of common sense and tested throughout the day.

I am sticking to about 120g of carbs a day but can easily go lower, my ibiggest issue is that everynight my BG is 5.0 or below and so needs asap.

I just spoke to the DN and she will speak to my GP regarding reducing the Glicizide and told it is very slow release.

So a big thanks for your advice and tips, I will be much better prepared to cope if get hypo again.

 

[grovesy]

It is very easy to over correct for a hypo. I preferred Glucose Tablets as less likely to overdo than on jelly babies.
Are you on the slowrelease version?

 

[rebrascora]

Just to clarify, jelly babies, not jelly beans.... you would need about 10 jelly beans to add up to 15g carbs but just 3 jelly babies. I buy cheap Lidl jelly babies and 3 of those work fine, but I also have Lift Glucose chews for when my levels drop really low (below 3) and prunes or dried apricots for when my levels are only just above 4. I only have one or two apricots or prunes in that situation as again I find one item is about 5g and obviously, if I am in the 4s I don't need a full 15g carbs to lift my levels a bit. Hope that makes sense. Dried fruit should not be used below 4 as the fibre in them can slow the sugar release, but quite acceptable (if you like them) to raise your levels a little when you are getting close to the red line! Again, portion control is important. One or two is enough and of course the fibre and nutrients in the dried fruit is more beneficial to the digestive system than eating jelly babies when you don't need to.

 

[Newbie777]

It is very easy to over correct for a hypo. I preferred Glucose Tablets as less likely to overdo than on jelly babies.
Are you on the slowrelease version?

Thanks, they just say Glicizide 80mg, but the DN said today slow release ?

 

[grovesy]

If it is the slow /sustiained/modified release it should say on the packet.
I used to take Slow Release and I found for me they were not that slow release.