Caught Short
September is upon us - traditionally my busiest month of the year, but 2025 has proved to be a year which bucks many of the trends i’ve become accustomed to. It’s been a really desperate start to the month with only a handful of small jobs already undertaken, and an annoying “book early and cancel late” pattern being employed repeatedly by a particular agency client. Hopefully things will begin to pick up as the month progresses.
As part of my ongoing Diabetes treatment I visited my local medical centre for a medication review at the end of August. Although I’m fit and well, have a balanced diet, and I’m moderately active, I still have trouble maintaining normal blood sugar levels, so a tweak to the meds I take was a sensible thing to do. I was recommended a drug called Dapagliflozin (I still can’t pronounce it), which works by blocking a protein used by the kidneys - resulting in excess blood glucose being filtered and pee’d out. Sounds easy, but with all medications there are potential side effects including a most serious one involving the old meat and 2 veg dropping off due to gangrene. Nice.
The more common side effects included occasional low blood sugar, the risk of UTI’s and increased urination frequency/consequential dehydration. Having read about the risks and benefits, and the advice to contact the GP with any issues, I collected the once-a-day tablets and started taking them at 5pm on the last Friday of August.
Three hours later I was overwhelmed by the urgent need to pee, and that continued every 20 minutes or so throughout the evening and overnight. The following day saw the pattern continue, and again the next day. Luckily, I didn’t have any work over the weekend as I had almost no sleep for 3 days. My subsequent working week had me travelling to various jobs, and it presented some difficulties that only the hedgerows of Northumberland could assist with. At times I was so tired, I’d find a spot to park and fall asleep for an hour. Not sustainable.
After a week of torture I decided to cease the treatment. In two days my system was back to normal, and I could sleep through the night without a break once more. My GP contacted me today and advised me that she’s altering my meds to a drug called Gliclazide. This one increases the amount of insulin created by the pancreas, and has it’s own side effects, but is generally a very good diabetic medicine. The risk of hypo’s (low blood sugar) is raised, so I’ll need to carry Lucozade with me at all times, and eat healthy stuff at regular intervals throughout the day.
I’ll get there.
