Gliclazide + Metformin Tablets to Control Your Blood Sugar Levels

With the increasing number of diabetes cases, several diabetes medications are now available to patients. Such medicines help diabetes patients to keep their blood sugar levels to normal levels and help them to live a healthy life. One of the most widely used diabetes medicines is Metformin. In some cases, Metformin can be taken in combination with other diabetes medicines to manage their diabetes effectively. Gliclazide-Metformin is one such medicine partnership that is popular these days.

Gliclazide and Metformin are oral medicines for diabetes management. The combination of Gliclazide and Metformin works better with diet and exercise to improve blood glucose levels. Ideally used in treating Type 2 diabetes, both medications play a varying role in lowering blood glucose levels. The key difference is that Gliclazide increases Insulin production in your body, whilst Metformin reduces the amount of glucose that the liver produces.

Side effects of Gliclazide + Metformin

These medications will only be administered based on receiving a prescription from your GP. Many doctors recommend a combination of Gliclazide and Metformin to offer a dual action in managing blood sugar levels. It is essential to take the diabetes medications after proper consultation with your doctor in an attempt to prevent any side effects. However, it is prudent to understand that taking such medication can cause some side effects for diabetes patients. In such a case, further consultation with your GP is advised.

Some side effects of Gliclazide-Metformin tablets are:

• Stomach upset

• Nausea

• Diarrhea

• Headache

• Stuffy nose

• Sore throat

Some diabetes patients even experience rash, itching, bruising, weakness, fever, or shivering. These are mild symptoms and often go away without medication.

Ways to cope with mild side-effects

Some of the ways to cope with such mild side effects are:

• For stomach upset or indigestion, take timeout to rest and relax. It’s adviseable to eat and drink slowly. Instead of having a big meal, small and frequent meals may help matters. Naturally, please consider the types of food you’re consuming. Not snacking on carb rich/ calorie dense foods, or at least combing it with some source of protein or fat is advisable.

• If you feel symptoms of nausea, avoid eating rich and spicy foods. Also, take your Gliclazide-Metformin Tablets with your meals. Don’t skip meals and take tablets on an empty stomach.

• Some people taking Gliclazide-Metformin may face symptoms of constipation. Consider increasing your fibre content, including certain fruits and lots of vegetables and pulses in your meal planning. Increasing your consumption of water is always advisable in such circumstances. Simple movement exercises like walking, jogging, yoga or pilates can also encourage relief from constipation.

• Vomiting and diarrhoea are other unpleasant side effects of taking Gliclazide-Metformin tablets.  If you feel like vomiting or suffering from severe loose bowel movements, drink plenty of water to avoid dehydration. Do not take any medicine to treat vomiting or diarrhea without consultation. It can affect your blood sugar levels and worsen the feelings of sickness.

However, you may need to contact your doctor if these side effects continue to persist and become more pronounced.

Serious side-effects of Gliclazide-Metformin

In extreme cases, you may experience more intense and serious side effects whilst taking Gliclazide-Metformin. It’s very important that you involve your GP in addressing issues properly. Consult your GP if you recognise any of the following symptoms:

• Prolonged bleeding, paleness of the face and body, sore throat, or fever can be symptoms of a blood disorder.

• Yellowing of the sclera of the eyes or and appearance of yellow skin can be a sign of a liver problem.

• Sudden swelling of the eyelids, redness, skin rashes, itching and hives. Breathing difficulties are other considerations to watch out for.

• Temporary loss of vision for a short time as a result of low blood sugar levels.

Low blood sugar levels due to Gliclazide-Metformin

The combined action of Gliclazide and Metformin can sometimes cause Hypoglycemia. This is where there is a sudden drop in your blood sugar levels. Sometimes, patients are unable to understand that their blood sugar is getting low. The early signs and symptoms of low blood sugar levels are:

• Sweating

• Confusion or a slurring of words

• Problem in concentrating

• Dizziness

• Feeling hungry

• Trembling

Those living with diabetes may experience hypoglycemia while asleep. It can make them feel sweaty and tired. They may also feel confused after waking up.

Some causes of Hypoglycemia when you are taking Gliclazide-Metformin tablets are:

• Taking too much of Gliclazide

• Irregular meals or skipping meals

• Pre-existing liver and kidney problems while you start taking Gliclazide-Metformin tablets

• Alcohol consumption, especially on an empty stomach

• Combining with other medications that may interfere with the effectiveness of Gliclazide

As a precautionary measure, carry fast-acting carbohydrates along with you, such as Glucose tablets or gels. This will help you react appropriately in rebalancing your blood sugar levels instantly should you experience such symptoms of low blood sugar levels.

Extracts taken from Disha Goyal from www.breathewellbeing.in