How Many Diabetic Medications do You Take?

[MIGrandma]

I've been Type 2 diabetic since 2003. I take two medications for it (Metformin and Glyburide). Unfortunately my last A1C test wasn't good so she wants me to start a third medication. How many do you take?

Looks like I better get more serious about the diet/exercise program. I hate taking all these medications.

 

[M&N]

I've been Type 2 diabetic since 2003. I take two medications for it (Metformin and Glyburide). Unfortunately my last A1C test wasn't good so she wants me to start a third medication. How many do you take?

Looks like I better get more serious about the diet/exercise program. I hate taking all these medications.

I've been Type 2 since 2008. I am on Meformin...500. Do you watch your carbs? I took a class and they told me how many carbs to eat for each meal. It's great when I follow it...I've been slacking off lately and I know my A1C will show it this time. Please do get serious...the consequences are not good!

 

[4nana]

My dr said my glucose was high last month, could you tell me what symptoms you experience with diabetes and is there a particular magic number or AIC they look for? Best wishes to you both and TIA.

 

[heatherwillmom]

I treat a lot of diabetics. Many of them take 3 oral medications depending on their A1C. the 2 medications that you are on are popular ones because they work well. If I have someone on these 2 with an still elevated A1C, I woud recommend adding Januvia. The American Academy of Endocrinologists is now recommending that once the A1C is over 6.5, complications can begin. We are getting more aggressive in lowering numbers. Weight loss & diet make a huge difference. There are 2 drugs that are injectable but aren't insulin. They both lower blood sugar & have a great side effect, weight loss. They are Byetta & Victoza

 

[bumbershoot]

Looks like I better get more serious about the diet/exercise program. I hate taking all these medications.

If you hate the drugs, then YES get serious!

At an endo appointment, DH was reading a trade magazine that was for the doctor. In it it talked about why drugs are prescribed so fast and so often, and it's b/c MDs know that normal humans just won't do what's needed. In the article it said that patients who DO take the diet and exercise seriously have excellent results, but so few will do it, and so drugs are prescribed.

Of course, there's a chicken/egg thing in there, b/c if a person is told they must take a drug, and if the drug helps, then what's their motivation for eating better?

For DH, the side effects of taking metformin for just a week were drastic and highly unpleasant for him and those around him. So he stopped. Plus, the urgent care doc, the family doc, and the endo (had to bypass the family doc for the referral to see the endo, as family doc said he didn't need an endo) all said that the metformin would take AT LEAST 2 weeks to start working, but hubby went on the drastic "food is evil and dangerous" diet common to those newly diagnosed, and his blood sugar started to plummet (by two hundred in a week)...so he figured that he was doing well with diet.

And then we discovered what cinnamon does for his system, and the metformin was dead to him.

His endo still wishes he would take it, but he certainly canNOT complain about hubby's blood sugar numbers and A1c results! But hubby found other hormone problems, and those are the focus right now, since the diet and exercise are working SO well.

Do it do it do it! Our insurance plan let us take a course (we only took half of it, actually) through MultiCare, all covered with no copays, where DH learned about portion sizes and all of that. We knew it from WW, but it was a good reminder, and it was great for DS to sit in and learn it too. Along with cinnamon DH has discovered what helps and what really hurts his own system. For instance, just like DS, he cannot have corn syrup based sugars. They shoot him high and fast, he picks a fight, and falls asleep. Nasty nasty stuff. Cane sugar, however, is much more mellow on his moods and monitor results.

Only by really focusing on your diet can you discover these things about yourself. And once you discover what works and does not work for your body, then you can really start making some headway!

Get serious about it!

 

[DisMN]

I take Metformin twice per day and it works well. I initially lost about 30 pounds and that really went a long way to help lower my numbers.
I take the metformin every single day without fail because with this particular med even one day off and I suffer from the same symptoms I had the first few weeks of starting the med. I also believe it really helps the numbers stay level to be regular with your meds (not time wise necessarily but make sure you take them every day).

I know what you mean about hating taking all these medicines. At age 49 I was on nothing but Tums for heartburn. Now, at 55, I am on 6 different meds for various things. I too hate it. I'm hoping to some day get off the metformin but my doctor insists that will never happen. I'm gonna show him! LOL

 

[We_Love_Disney]

And then we discovered what cinnamon does for his system, and the metformin was dead to him.

Color me stupid, but what does the cinnamon do to him?

 

[minkydog]

I treat a lot of diabetics. Many of them take 3 oral medications depending on their A1C. the 2 medications that you are on are popular ones because they work well. If I have someone on these 2 with an still elevated A1C, I woud recommend adding Januvia. The American Academy of Endocrinologists is now recommending that once the A1C is over 6.5, complications can begin. We are getting more aggressive in lowering numbers. Weight loss & diet make a huge difference. There are 2 drugs that are injectable but aren't insulin. They both lower blood sugar & have a great side effect, weight loss. They are Byetta & Victoza

Hip hip hooray for Byetta! I love this stuff~ I was on Metformin for a year and it really didn't bring my numbers down like I wanted. I felt nauseous all the time and even vomited on occasion. I've been dieting for 18 months and hit a long plateau in May, couldn't seem to budge for several months. In August my doctor decided to try me on Byetta. At first I had a little not-quite-nausea, but mostly I just don't feel like eating especially in the evenings(my most difficult times.) Yay! How great is that! The weight loss has been jump-started and my numbers are GREAT. Giving myself a shot twice a day is sooo not a big deal--pricking my fingers hurts way more. I've been on the Byetta now for about 7wks and I couldn't be happier.

 

[minkydog]

Color me stupid, but what does the cinnamon do to him?

Some people swear by cinnamon. My mother does, even though her numbers are NOT what they should be. I tried cinnamon and it gave me terrible reflux. I decided to take my chances with the drugs.

 

[mickeyplanner08]

Type 2 for 11 years. On 2 insulins-Novalog and Lantus-have never tried oral meds because we were TTC when I finally made the decision to start treating highs. Love the freedom to adjust doses as I increase or decrease carbs at meals. Last A1C 5.7-don't be afraid of insulin-the finger pokes are way worse.

 

[minkydog]

Type 2 for 11 years. On 2 insulins-Novalog and Lantus-have never tried oral meds because we were TTC when I finally made the decision to start treating highs. Love the freedom to adjust doses as I increase or decrease carbs at meals. Last A1C 5.7-don't be afraid of insulin-the finger pokes are way worse.

My sister says the same thing. SHe has type 1 diabetes. She told me she actually felt sorry for me because she could eat a little something and cover it with insulin, whereas I have to really stay on top of my diet or I'll be up in the stratsophere for hours on end.

 

[SkyGirl]

I was diagnosed in March of this year.

I am on Novolin 70/30, two injections a day and adjust my dose as needed.

I initially was on 2000 mgs of Metformin and my body absolutely could not tolerate it. I went off of it for several months and my numbers actually dropped without it. Tried it again at the urging of my Endo and even at 500 mg, my body went crazy. My Endo totally accepted I could not take it and didn't need it when he saw an A1C of 5.1!!!! I've just started carb counting and feel that I'm doing great (although pesky lows still happen ... hooray for Halloween candy!! )

 

[simba20]

I was just diagnosed as a diabetic last month.

When I was pregnant with DD, I was treated as a borderline gestational diabetic. My OB was new and young and combined her care with a high risk OB that I had to see every other week. During the last three months of my pregnancy, I was seeing OB1 every toher week and OB2 every other week.

I have a family history of diabetes. My paternal grandmother was diabetic, my paternal grandfather (later in life although he lived to 97), my father's sister, my father, and my brother.

My father passed away at the age of 60 due to kindey failure. Both diabeties and a kidney disease played a part in his death.

Now my brother.....ugh....you can find my post on the DIS about whether it is wrong for me to feel guilty, but.......

My brother saw my father go through dialysis. My brother was the one who found my father when he passed. My brother knew how much my dad did to manage his diabeties and illness, but....

My brother was diagnosed as a diabetic at the age of 18. For a month he tried to eat all the right things, and then stopped. Just continued to eat sweets. As he got older, he actually said that he could eat WHATEVER he wanted as long as he took his meds (Metaformin). He passed away, after suffering though dialysis, neuropathy, diabetic glaucoma, diabetic fractures, and an amputation of his foot which led to a staph infection in which he passed at the age of 36. Just two days before his 37 b-day. He would have been 41 this year.

So I don;t play around. However, with my family history, diabeties (Type 2) is genetic and well, last month, after my OB (who is my regular physician) gave me an annual GTT...which I failed, I was diagnosed as diabetic.

I see an internist. My numbers are not screming high, and in the past month I have been working out, and really watching what I eat -- namely carbs. Most mornings a fasting glucose level for me is in the low 100;s and my numbers for my two hours after a meal check are in the 130's-140's...however since my fasting number is always high, and my family history, doc is not taking chances....and neither am I.

At my initial appt last month he offered me three choices:
1) Diet and exercise
2) Drugs (metaformin)
3) A new drug that you take my injection -- not insulin.

I chose diet and exercise. He said I was choosing the tough road.

Needless to say I had my 1 month follow up appt this morning, and he was quite pleased. I have lost 8 lbs inthe past month, and glucose levels have been wehre they need to be at all checks (he only requires me to check 2x a day and I don;t have to do it every day -- but I do).

My goal is to lose 50 lbs. I am 4'10" and did start off at 162.

My problem is not sweets. In fact, i can tell when I eat too much sugar or somethign is just too sweet and intense, as I start having this really weird "high" tweaky feeling. My hardship is carbs. I could eat bowls of rice and be satisfied, put a bread basket in front of me and I'll go to town. In the past month, I've been able to pass up the bread basket, and make adjustments and be more aware of the carbs I am taking in.

TL;DR -- No meds for me, just diet and exercise so far.

 

[Boston Tea Party]

Another Metformin slave here, 500 mg, nightly. I was just diagnosed in August and will have my second A1C the week of Thanksgiving. I have taken diet/exercise COMPLETELY seriously as I do not want to die blind and footless. (This is my helpful self-talk, don't judge. ) I have lost 35 pounds so far.

I am anxious to see show I am doing.

 

[2x_dis_dad]

I take 500mg metformin 2x a day and 1mg glimipiride 1x a day in the morning. My sugars were great but I have really slacked off watching what I eat for the last 3 months, and my sugars have crept up. My Dr. is going to give me the what for when I get checked in a month. I have ordered p90x so I will be starting that this week. That should cause some weight loss and some better shape over all.

 

[heatherwillmom]

The injectable medicines that aren't insulin, Byetta & Victoza, both have a great side effect, weight loss. They are wonderful to help both with weight & blood sugar control.