How Side Effects Sidelined My Diabetes Treatment

I was feeling satisfied with my medication’s results but turned off by the side effects. Here’s how I worked with my doctors to stop taking the drug.

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in my early 30s, specifically on July 31, 1998, and was immediately prescribed two oral medications for my treatment. Within 6 months, I was placed on insulin.

I still remember the first time I received an injection for type 2 diabetes. My doctor injected me in my abdomen about 2 inches below my navel. I was surprised it didn’t hurt.

My doctor told me to test my blood glucose levels several times daily: in the morning, before meals, 2 hours after each meal, and right before bed. That’s a lot of fingersticks. Plus, I was given a stack of papers telling me what I should and shouldn’t eat, how to count carbs, and that I needed to walk 3 miles daily.

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My treatment plan

For the next several years, my treatment plan included insulin, generally the 70/30 mixture, and a revolving door of oral medications, none of which got my A1C to where it needed to be. Soon, we added short-acting insulin to my regimen, and I gradually stopped taking oral medications.

The mixture of short and long-lasting insulin worked better for me, and in combination with eating better and walking, I settled into a routine to help manage my condition. Having a routine was beneficial for me because the constant switching from one medication to the “next best thing” seemed to make me gain weight, have digestive issues, and generally not feel well.

My doctor and I were almost satisfied with my results, but my A1C was still slightly higher than she liked. During our last visit, she advised me that she was moving out of state and that I needed to find a new endocrinologist.

A new doctor and a new medication

One thing I’ve learned from living with a chronic condition is that no two treatment plans are alike. Whenever I switch medical providers, they often propose changing my current plan to something different, usually the “next best thing.” This was the case with Invokana.

My new endocrinologist suggested adding Invokana to my plan in addition to my insulin. However, he advised cutting back on the amount of insulin I took because, at the time, the research indicated that people taking Invokana could experience hypoglycemia if they took too much insulin.

Additionally, my doctor said it could help me lose some weight. Initially, I was reluctant to take Invokana, but my weight was starting to creep up on me, so I decided to give it a try.

How I knew something was wrong

Invokana was the first of its kind when introduced in 2013. According to the prescribing information, Invokana lowers blood sugar by flushing it out in the urine, lowering blood glucose levels, improving systolic blood pressure, and reducing body weight. 

It took several months before I started noticing changes in my body, and I was pleased with the results. In the first 3 months, I lost about 10 pounds, and the only side effect I experienced was an increased urgency to go to the bathroom.

As the months passed, my body became more sensitive to the medicine, and I noticed additional side effects. I experienced hypoglycemia on several occasions. My stomach hurt, and I was constantly fighting a yeast infection.

I was pleased with my weight loss and my lower A1C, but I didn’t feel good more often than not.

Weighing side effects vs. benefits

My next appointment with my endocrinologist wasn’t scheduled for several months, so I reached out to my primary physician because I’d had a yeast infection that wouldn’t go away.

It was my third request for a prescription medicine to treat my yeast infections, and my doctor asked about any changes I’d made recently that could be contributing to my problem, other than starting Invokana.

Along with a prescription that day, my doctor told me that I might want to consider stopping Invokana if I continue to suffer the side effects. He said my A1C was lower, but the reduction wasn’t significant and could’ve been due to eating better and exercising more. I took his advice, and gradually, the issues I’d been having disappeared.

Takeaway

I lost about 20 pounds when taking Invokana, which made me feel good about how I was managing my type 2 diabetes. Similar to those taking GLP-1 medications today, Invokana helped me lose weight and lower my blood glucose levels, but the side effects became unbearable.

The treatment for type 2 diabetes is constantly changing, and what the “next best thing” is now might not be in the future. If you’re taking something that doesn’t agree with you, don’t be influenced by what others are doing. In a few years, the “next best thing” may be here, and it may just be what works best for you.