Trulicity, if You Are Taking it Please Share Your Experience

[MIGrandma]

My doctor prescribed Trulicity for me and I took my first weekly dose this morning. A bit nervous about it but know I have to do something to get my blood sugar back in check. I have been Type 2 diabetic for 20 years. Have been taking Metformin 750 ER much of that time. Was also taking Glyburide, then added Actos. My A1C held pretty steady for many years between 6.9 and 7.2 but for the past 3 years it has been steadily climbing. My last one was 12.9 and the doctor put me on Jardiance. Nothing seems to be helping anymore so hopefully the Trulicity will help. I’ve lost quite a bit of weight, in about a year and a half from 202 down to 154. I think it’s mostly due to the high BG, but I do try to eat better most of the time. A lot of salads with fresh vegetables, some protein like chicken and beef, lots of fresh vegetables, but my weakness is sweets and although I have cut way down it isn’t helping. I exercise some, but not enough I know. I don’t smoke, rarely have an alcoholic drink, but just can’t seem to completely cut out sugar. I do eat fresh fruit, and sugar free jello. Really hoping the Trulicity helps, but I know I have to do my part better too. Would love to hear other people’s experiences with this drug please.

 

[china mom]

Many do well on it but I had a horrible experience with Trulicity. I have no issues with self injecting - I am on Tresiba daily and Ozempic weekly.

Issue 1 was always feeling somewhere between nauseous and queasy. I men all the time. Of course I lost weight because I had no appetite at all. I had to force myself to try to eat. Certain food smells would really make me nauseous. I have it about six weeks and told the doctor I wasn't taking it anymore.

I also came to hate the aerosol assisted injection and could not bring myself to administer that last dose at six weeks. An it is not like I had a problem with injecting myself. I did 5 rounds of IVF and have been on Tresiba for years. I hated the Trulicity.

But, that was just me. I know of people who have done well on it so give it a try.

When is comes to sugar and carbs, in my experience, high blood sugar actually makes you crave sugar (I know, cruel irony). If you can manage to kick the carbs, it actually gets easier to stay off of them. When I first went carb free, I even totally stayed away from fruits for a while and then slowly re-introduced higher fiber fruits back into my diet but with limited portions. Plus, always pair your carbs with protean. For example, apples with peanut butter or grapes with cheese.

Try Russel Stover sugar free chocolates for cravings. Try different sugar free ice creams (they have improved over the years). My favorite is Rebel. Halo is good but actually as more carbs than Rebel so it is a rare treat.

My number one piece of advice is ask your doctor for a prescription for a continuous glucose monitor. I use the Freestyle Libre. Mine is covered by insurance but if it is not, you can find it for $70 a month if you research. I give it 100% credit for my 6.5 a1C

 

[happily single]

I’ve been on Trulicty for about 8-9 months. The first 2 months or so were a bit difficult as I would be nauseous and had a belly ache for 1 day after every injection. However it wasn’t terrible and it went away. I am now at the mid dose and have had zero issues.

i don’t notice any decrease in my appetite any long (I did in the beginning) but according to my scale I am down 15 pounds.

when I began I was also taking metformin. I believe by A12 was 6.5, I was just below diabetic. I just had an A1c done and it was gone down to 6.2.

 

[lanejudy]

A family member used to take Trulicity, and in fact would still but we had a problem getting supply this winter (an impact of the Ozempic supply chain issue). He'd been on Trulicity for a few years and while I don't recall if there was any side effects initially, he apparently adjusted well to it.

He also uses the Freestyle Libre mentioned by a PP and really likes it.

 

[luvthatduke]

I've taken it for a few years & have had no side effects.
I also take Pioglitazone which plays tug of war
with Trulicity - Tru=weight loss/Pi=weight gain.
Because I have limited mobility & can't burn off
as many calories as I need to I limit myself to 1500
calories per day, but the Pi just keeps the pounds on.
My Dr. put me on the typical first level of .75 mg,
then upped me to 1.5, but after fighting my losing
battle with the scale he recently bumped me to 3.0.

One caveat: Trulicity injection sites are notorious for
giving a raised bump immediately after injecting.
I have experienced this but it is not very often.
Some are still there while others disappear over time.
It's worth it to me.

 

[MIGrandma]

I've taken it for a few years & have had no side effects.
I also take Pioglitazone which plays tug of war
with Trulicity - Tru=weight loss/Pi=weight gain.
Because I have limited mobility & can't burn off
as many calories as I need to I limit myself to 1500
calories per day, but the Pi just keeps the pounds on.
My Dr. put me on the typical first level of .75 mg,
then upped me to 1.5, but after fighting my losing
battle with the scale he recently bumped me to 3.0.

One caveat: Trulicity injection sites are notorious for
giving a raised bump immediately after injecting.
I have experienced this but it is not very often.
Some are still there while others disappear over time.
It's worth it to me.

So there are different levels of Trulicity? I took my first dose (0.75) on Monday, just a touch of nausea a couple times but nothing severe so, so far so good. My fasting blood sugar yesterday morning was 222, today 164 so I was happier to see that number. Still too high but better than it has been (220 - 320 or so). I didn’t notice a bump after the injection, but like you it would still be worth it if the medication gets my blood sugar back in a good range.

 

[Pea-n-Me]

I’m glad you got your BG down, Grandma, I’ve been worried about you.

They often prescribe one of these type meds not just to lower blood glucose, but because it’s been shown to help cut the risk of heart attack and stroke in diabetics, which go up when sugars are that high over time.

To minimize any lumps, after the injection, put your palm over the site and keep the warmth of your hand there for 30 seconds or so, then, in the same position, gently massage it. This will help disperse the medicine and prevent lumps.

 

[china mom]

So there are different levels of Trulicity? I took my first dose (0.75) on Monday, just a touch of nausea a couple times but nothing severe so, so far so good. My fasting blood sugar yesterday morning was 222, today 164 so I was happier to see that number. Still too high but better than it has been (220 - 320 or so). I didn’t notice a bump after the injection, but like you it would still be worth it if the medication gets my blood sugar back in a good range.

The preloaded pen comes in different doses. My doctor had me start with a lower dose for a week and then go to the higher dose. I do not know how many different doses there are but I only had two.

 

[luvthatduke]

So there are different levels of Trulicity? I took my first dose (0.75) on Monday, just a touch of nausea a couple times but nothing severe so, so far so good. My fasting blood sugar yesterday morning was 222, today 164 so I was happier to see that number. Still too high but better than it has been (220 - 320 or so). I didn’t notice a bump after the injection, but like you it would still be worth it if the medication gets my blood sugar back in a good range.

Yes: .75, 1.5, and 3.0.

I'm glad you saw such an immediate result!

 

[EACarlson]

I'm on a medication called Soliqua that is long acting insulin and a Trulicity like medication called lixisenitide. I've lost a few pounds but the biggest thing I've noticed is that I'm not hungry like I was before. I'll occasionally have to force myself to eat before I go exercise or I know I will go Hypo. I've got a Freestyle Libre2 system and my sugar levels are much more contained than they were before I started this drug. My last a1C was 8.5, but I'm thinking I'll be somewhere down in the low 6 range when I get it done again next month.
Completely agree with @china mom the CGM changed things completely for me. Seeing what certain foods did to my sugar levels was eye opening, and with my insurance, I pay less for it than I did lancets and testing strips. My FIL tried to get it, but Medicare won't pay for it unless you're on insulin.

 

[lynxstch]

Yes: .75, 1.5, and 3.0.

I'm glad you saw such an immediate result!

There is also 4, which my husband was on. Had horrible violent bathroom issues and stopped taking it entirely.