Saw my endocrinologist on Monday
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| Thu, 03-27-2008 - 10:16pm |
I'm very alarmed about my A1c readings. When I first saw him July 2007 it was 6.0%. In november it had risen to 6.5% and now in March '08 it's at 7.3%.
I was only on Byetta and he added 1 Glumetza after dinner. He said it's a form of Metformin and hopefully it won't cause the stomach upset I had when I took that. I also experienced low BS on Metformin which he said is very rare. I can say for certain that I definitely suffered with it! Do any of you take Glumetza and what do you think of it?
I was having one of my afternoon hot flashes in his office and he convinced me to try a trial of an estrogen patch. I must admit that it has helped that last several days. I hate to add more medicine! I'd hoped that by going to him I'd be able to get off some of the meds but every time I go he adds more. Other than fatigue (thyroid) I am feeling much better. My HDL is low and he told me I must exercise. DH and I have met at the park after work the last 3 days and walked a mile each day. I am so out of shape that it nearly kills me but I am proud that I have done it and DH is very tenacious and he won't take no for an answer. The key to the walking thing is to get it out of the way before I go home.
Anyway, thanks for reading. Let me know about Glumetza and if I should be really concerned about the A1c readings. The doctor wasn't terribly upset by it and I know I can and should do better about taking care of myself. Taking my medicines and testing are really the only things I do right on a regular basis.

Thanks for the update!
Hi Cheryl! Thanks for the reply! I recognize you from the PoT board.
I am taking 10 mcg Byetta and doing fine with it. I honestly think I had more nausea on the 5 mcg dose. Unfortunately, it has not had any effect on my weight like the doc said it would. He mentioned too that he thought the Glumetza would help w/the weight loss. Let's hope it does!
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Julee,
Based upon your A1C you needed to add in additional medication. Luckily many of our drugs have been made in combination now. So instead of having to take 2 pills you will be only taking one additional pill. Please remember diabetes is a progressive disease that gets worse slowly overtime. So periodically you have to change the medicines. It is not your fault.
The only way that you can get your HDL up is through exercise. Exercise also will help with your insulin resistance and with your weight. I am not sure if the glucatrol in the glucomet will cause weight gain but there is that possibility. Supposedly being mixed with the metformin will keep this from occurring.
So don't be discouraged. You really aren't doing that badly IMHO. You will be able to get your A1C back down into the targeted area. I think you will be surprised at your next testing. I was talking to one of my old friends at lunch today and she was commenting on how many medications we need to take now a days. There are 6 classes of drugs to treat diabetes and I never in my life thought I would be on 5 of those classes. You are on three!
Hang in there! You will feel better and keep up that walking! Enjoy the time with your husband also.
Given the hot flashes and now the estrogen trial, that could be having an effect on your A1C and general blood sugar readings. I know that right before my period (when stuff shifts hormonally) I have to be really careful or I'll get really low (I've had numbers in the 70s if I didn't watch it). Likewise, somewhere midcycle I need to watch for highs because things have flipped the other direction and eating exactly the same and all I still get numbers higher than the 'good' range (for example, an after meal reading of 150-160 instead of under 140, even though a week earlier the same meal left an after meal reading of 130 or less).
So, if menopause (also know at our house as "mental pause" lol) is starting or changing gears, that could have thrown you totally out of whack and you'll need a different approach (foods, exercise, meds).
--Deb
Hi Julee -
I don't have much new to add to what everyone else has said already I just wanted to say hang in there. I know how it can feel really hard sometimes. Your husband is great to be walking with you. Exercise is my shortcoming as well and I hope I can start doing better with it as well. I always have a walking buddy in my dog so there are no excuses for me.
Please keep us posted. I know you can get your A1C down and will be feeling better about things with your next reading.