Metformin and Nutrisystem

SANDMAN · #1 (**permalink**) 01-16-2006, 01:24 PM

Hello, this is my first post. My Dr told me if I do not lose a significant amount of weight very soon I will have diabetes. He said, let's go ahead and say you have it, my non fasting blood sugar reading was 274, I go for a fasting test on Thursday. I'm at 320 lbs now and am 6'0. I got all motivated and bought Nutrisystem. My Dr also prescribed metformin for me. I decided that starting the med on a Sat would be a good thing and also starting the Nutrisystem on a Sat would be a good thing too. Just in case I had any bad feelings. Well sure enough, it's Monday and have felt rotten. Anxious, nauseous, light headed, lethargic and many more bad feelings. I'm wondering if I'm trying to do too much at once. I missed work today because i felt so bad. I might lay off the Nutrisystem to see where I'm at with that. Any suggestions, comments, ideas would be greatly appreciated.

liz32 · #2 (**permalink**) 01-16-2006, 02:18 PM

what dose of metformin are you taking? It's probably that, and not the nutrisystem that's making you feel rotten. It put me on the toliet for a week. It's not pleasant but usually wares off after awhile. Good for you for taking initiative in getting a handle on this. If you have more questions ask away. There's lots of people here with lots of experiences
Liz

SANDMAN · #3 (**permalink**) 01-16-2006, 02:25 PM

I'm taking 500 mgs at morning and 500 mgs at night. I was thinking that maybe this is too much and I have to work my way up. How long do the bad side effects last? I can't function like i usually do. I think I'm going to walk into see my Dr tomorrow.

mrwall · #4 (**permalink**) 01-16-2006, 02:56 PM

welcome sandman, you are very similar to me, i was diagnosed nov 8th, my leval was 274 also, I am 6'1 and weighed 350 pounds, i dug in, and found as much info as possible, using the ada bulletin board, and finding this forum, i also bought gretchen becker (i believe that is the name) first year diabetes, it helped a lot, i started out on the metformin just like you, but the dr. increased it to 1000 in the morning and 1000 in evening.. Go to see a nurse educator and diatition it will help a lot. I have lowered my carbs to 45 per meal and 15 per snack so i am always under 200 per day, the thing the diatition told me to do was to keep it even, dont have 30 for breakfast, 60 for lunch and 50 for dinner, keep the meals the same.. i also cut my calories to 1800 and cut out all red meat (for weight loss purpose and cholesteral) it has been a little over 2 months, and i have lost 43 pounds, and my average blood sugars are under 100, I also started walking 1 mile per day, everyday, now i am up to 2 miles per day and quite a bit faster! I also quit smoking, and that has made me fidgity, so i am more active also... i am not familiar with nutrisystems, but most low fat diets, usually have high carbs!! stay away from anything white!! white bread, sugar, white flour, white rice, potatoes,, I eat a lot of turkey and chicken and salads, i have found orowheat, healthwise sprouted grain bread only has 14 carbs, but has 4 fibers, so only 10 net carbs, so i have a sandwich everyday for lunch with dannons low carb yogurt, breakfast i have 2 eggbeaters, 1 slice turkey bacon, 1 slice same bread for toast, and 1/2 a fruit, and special K low carb cerial with hood low carb milk and splenda, for dinner i have a lot of taco salads,(chicken and turkey) turkey spagetti, with dreamfields noodles, some mixed veg. and salad, i have beef jerkey and sometimes adkins endulge bars for snacks, or a baggie full of cut up veggies and some grapes, it isnt as hard as you think, i also keep a log on an excel spread sheet, everything that i take in!!

good luck, you can do it!! but do it quick before anything bad starts to happen!
mike

SANDMAN · #5 (**permalink**) 01-16-2006, 03:20 PM

Thanks Mike, it's good to hear from someone very similiar to myself. Weren't you hungry? I've tried Atkins/low carb before and could not handle it. That food you spoke of sounds good though.

mrwall · #6 (**permalink**) 01-16-2006, 04:02 PM

i got over the hunger after a couple of days, i was so scared that it didnt matter to me!! i dont like adkins diet, i just use some of their products, Low carb is the key to getting your sugars down, but you do have to have some or your liver will dump, and your numbers will soar high! my diatition told me i could have up to 60 per meal, i just choose 45 to help loose weight quicker.
you will be amazed how quick you will pick it up... do you have a meter to check your levels?? i thought i would wait, til i went to class, but i had the perscription from the doctor, so i went ahead and got it, it helps you to figure out what you can eat, as we are all different...
mike

SANDMAN · #7 (**permalink**) 01-16-2006, 06:19 PM

I haven't gotten a meter yet but will be getting one very soon. I'm wondering if I can forgo taking the Metformin and just get my weight down. I'm having really bad side effects with the med.

mrwall · #8 (**permalink**) 01-16-2006, 07:22 PM

i do to, the nurse educator thought i could keep it at 1000 per day, but the doctor wants the full 2000. try taking a antacid, or a pepcid with it..check with your dr.first, i have acid reflux, and have to take a previced in the morning, and the pills dont affect me too bad, but at night the next ones are killers!! my wife does not want me to even come into the living room! and i agree.. haha
mike

Peter Lee · #9 (**permalink**) 01-17-2006, 01:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SANDMAN

I'm taking 500 mgs at morning and 500 mgs at night. I was thinking that maybe this is too much and I have to work my way up. How long do the bad side effects last? I can't function like i usually do. I think I'm going to walk into see my Dr tomorrow.

When I started the regime was 1 x 500mg for two weeks, then 2 x 500mg for two weeks then 3x 500 mg for two weeks and so on. After two months I was on 3 x 850mg.

The length of time that the side effects last seem to depend on the individual person. In my case I had pretty bad side effects for about three to four months and they then slowly started to decline. After twelve months I now have no side effects whatsoever.

You will also feel bad as the sugar level starts dropping because your body has been used to all that sugar in your system. So you have two sets of circumstances to contend with (apart from losing weight) - side effects from the medication plus your body's reaction to the lowering of your blood sugar.

You are in the 'fun' phase of Type 2 diabetes and we have all been there. I hope you won't get discouraged and give up because with a level of 270mg/dl (15mmol/l) you seem to be part of our clan.

SANDMAN · #10 (**permalink**) 01-17-2006, 10:33 AM

I spoke with my Dr and we agreed I'm going off the Metformin for now. I'm going to try and control this with diet and exercise. If I can't get my readings down perhaps I can try another medicine. I'm 37 and considerably overweight so I think if I can lose a significant amount of weight and do some exercise I can get this under control. I get my meter on Jan 25th so I'll have a better way to monitor everything.

Peter Lee · #11 (**permalink**) 01-18-2006, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SANDMAN

I spoke with my Dr and we agreed I'm going off the Metformin for now. I'm going to try and control this with diet and exercise. If I can't get my readings down perhaps I can try another medicine. I'm 37 and considerably overweight so I think if I can lose a significant amount of weight and do some exercise I can get this under control. I get my meter on Jan 25th so I'll have a better way to monitor everything.

If you are considerably overweight, then you will certainly improve your sugar levels by losing weight. Good luck and all the best - you're doing something that ain't easy and you should command our respect