metformin

[sandmcd]

Forgot to add to my previous post...sorry.... Hate that met !!! I feel as though I am pregnant with morning sickness most of the day!!!!! It has been 17 days of my body adjusting to it!!! I sure hope it is working to have to feel like this. I thought it had gone away but returned the last 2 days.

[vulnerable26]

Yup I was on it for over a month. Started at 2000mg and I never felt well. About 2 weeks ago I just threw it out. I will deal with the high blood sugar rather then feeling that awful.

[sandmcd]

I only take 500 2x a day. I feel better when I eat......don't want to put on any pounds. I will stick it out for the rest of the month and then go and have all my tests done again and see where I am at in this ball game. Also, maybe I'll start feeling normal soon......... Wishful thinking !

[wiseguy]

Yup I was on it for over a month. Started at 2000mg and I never felt well. About 2 weeks ago I just threw it out. I will deal with the high blood sugar rather then feeling that awful.
At last, someone with common sense when it comes to this drug. What's the sense in being healthy if you don't feel healthy. But you don't have to deal with high BG levels. There are other treatments that work well without making you feel terrible.

[vulnerable26]

At last, someone with common sense when it comes to this drug. What's the sense in being healthy if you don't feel healthy. But you don't have to deal with high BG levels. There are other treatments that work well without making you feel terrible.


Yup you quoted on my post about it..as well as many others which made me realize that stuff is no good for some and great for others.. I prefer to just ditch it and try a different route.

[Ronin]

Hi Sandmdc!

With all the problems you are having with the Met, the important question is: Is it working? Simply put, are your daily finger stick test results showing a reduction in BG levels?

If not, you should get the C-Peptide test to determine if you are actually Insulin Resistant. I know I've said this before, but I'm running into more-and-more people being diagnosed as Type-2 by their MD's and when they get a C-Peptide done they find that they are not IR at all, but have low to no insulin production. Met, which increases insulin sensitivity, doesn't do any good if you don't have sufficient insulin to start with - all it does is make you feel miserable.

[sandmcd]

I haven't done a daily anything yet. I was scheduled for more testing the first week in April. At that time, I will request the test you mentioned(c-peptide). My issues now are more bowel related(hate to be so gross). That seems to turn my whole insides into a dither!!! I'm here with metformin because of 136 FBG on the day of testing. My a1c was 6.8. I would like to struggle through until April to see if anything changes in my results as long as I can resolve the bowel issue!!!!

[Ronin]

Hi Sandmcd!

I'm really angry with your MD. You got a diagnosis of being Pre-D, a prescription for Met, and nobody told you that you really need to get a BG meter and start testing your BG levels at home!?!?!? That should be a crime! What is also important to note is that a lot of over 50 folks are being swept into the Pre-D category by MD's that don't have any clue except one high FBG test result. Okay, your A1c is high and that spells trouble, but you must have the tools to manage your BG levels daily.

You can get a good meter at any CVS Pharmacy and their prices are good (Their Meter is actually a True Track and is the brand I have been using.) Please get one and start testing.

Getting results is what it is all about. You should be able to tell, after a few days, if the Met is or isn't working based on your BG levels. The other reason for having a meter is to see how your body reacts to the things you eat.

Most Pre-D's manage their BG levels with diet modification and exercise. Meds should only be used if the diet and exercise process doesn't yield results. I'm not saying that meds don't have a place -- they are important, but they must be the right meds for the right problem.

Pardon the rant, but...

[sandmcd]

Thank you...will look into it!!!!

[SGT Shoutmore]

Ok, deep breath! ;)

Look for an endocrinologist, I am not sure how your insurance deals with it you may need your doc to refer you to one, if your doc is hesitant, INSIST! He can not lawfully refuse to refer you to an endocrinologist.

Why an endocrinologist, you may think? An "Endo" specializes in this very thing while GPs are "shooting blind" more often than not when it comes to pre-diabetes or diabetes. An endo will be better prepared to deal with you as a patient, person and a pre-diabetic. He'll also have enough sense to not give you oral hypoglycemic drugs without a BG meter. he'll more than likely want you to meet with and take a class or two (or more as the case may be) with a CDE (Certified Diabetic Educator) to talk some TRUTHS about nutrition (Very important) tailored for YOU. Every diabetic is different, every pre-diabetic is different too!

Getting pi$$ed off, while normal, won't help, actually, it can and often will jack your blood sugars UP, which in turn will make you feel worse, and the problem feeds itself, grows bigger and becomes even more difficult to control.

Sound strategy -v- Anger parties

Anger parties are two or more people that will sympathize with you, it feels good to identify the problem, get mad, shout, yell and look for sacrificial lambs to punish. While theraputic in the sense that you are feeding the center of the brain that deals with who shall be assigned blame, but does nothing to resolve the root issue.

Sound strategy will deal with the root issue, after your BGs are better controlled, you can then work on the anger party and decide if it is a must to dent the dome of the GP. There are no shortage of diabetics that will cheerfully form a lynch mob to hate your goofball GP with you. My former GP, if brains were dynamite, he couldn't blow his nose. The meat-whistle kept me on metformin and a cocktail on other oral hypoglycemic drugs while my BG's were in the 400s and 500s for several years until I was re DX'd by an endo and treated with insulin. This may very well NOT be the case for YOU. Treatment's are as varied as you can imagine, which should encourage you. Regardless of what your treatment plan becomes, you will get answers, which is what you clearly want and need. Finally, you will be a PART of your treatment team, giving details about how you respond to each tool in the arsenal that will form your over all plan.

So, breathe easy, talk to others that are dealing with similiar issues, talk to other actual diabetics too, you will pick up bits of information that when compiled, will offer you more ideas into treatment and maybe even prevention of diabetes in your instance. Your mileage WILL vary.
:cool:

[davef]

Sandmcd,

In relation to the Met, I'm on the same dose as you are, and I can relate to what I call the explosive bowel syndrome (EBS) but it only happens to me if (A) I take met before eating (B) Eat greasy foods (C) Eat a large meal, at which time the world falls out of my bottom (sorry for being crude). That said, I have not had any nausea and only had the EBS about 3 times in last 15 weeks. I'd recommend you always eat first, now I tend to eat a meal and then wait 30 minutes before taking the Met.

In relation to testing, I agree with the others, you have to have a meter in order to know how foods work for you and how your BG levels are doing. For me the meter is THE most important tool, without it you are shooting blind and relying on A1c tests, which will mean it will be hard to improve your A1c results. I'd strongly recommend getting a meter, the manufacturers often just give them away and then you have to get strips. But I feel it is essential to have one to be able to control your BG.

[fgummett]

+1 for the Endocrinologist... that is the kind of specialist you need right now. No matter how good your family doctor/GP they cannot possibly keep up to date with every study or new treatment that crosses their desk.
I'm surprised they make you pay for blood glcucose meters in the States... here in Canada I have never bought one... usually the deal is: buy 100 test strips and they give you the meter for free. Your pharmacist should also be able to show you how to use it... if not, consider changing pharmacists; as they will quickly become a vital part of your health care team.

[sandmcd]

Well, it has been 4 weeks on IT!!!! Still have stomach issues. I haven't had a glass of wine for 4 weeks. I would love to have a glass for Easter. There are so many warnings about drinking while on it. WHY ??? I have been so gassy & bloated and I lost some weight(trying)but you would never know it by the weight I still have on my middle!!!!! HELP!!!!!

[princesslinda]

I have a glass of red wine frequently without problems blood-sugar wise. I did this while on the metformin as well. Alcohol can have a lowering effect on blood sugar, so its important that you test until you know how it will affect you individually.

Also, food will slow the effects of the alcohol, so have your glass of wine with dinner and then check 1 and 2 hrs afterwards to see how it effects you. If you find you are going low or feeling shaky, eat something and you should be fine. And start out with only one glass until you know how it will affect you.

[PoopOnDB]

My endo said a glass of red wine 3-5 times a week with dinner would be a good thing. Would improve my good cholesterol and would actually help lower my BG.

I am on Metformin, and I also have bowel problem when I eat rich or greasy. Pork or anything fried will make me miserable. Right now the Dr. increase my Byetta from 5 to 10 and had my first real go with Nausea this morning, which has subsided. I am hoping that I can start cutting down my Lantus eventually, but for now that has not been the case. Overall, I feel so much better with my BG lower that the mild stomache and bowel issues are worth fighting through. So far it helps keeping me honest on my diet :)

[sandmcd]

Well, you sure can lose weight on this drug!!!! lost 3 lbs. in just over a week. Of course, you feel so gross that you don't want to eat. However, today was better. Happy Easter to me...I could eat!!!

[birdyland]

I was on it for two months of H E double hokey sticks....... I am not afraid of needles, I'm afraid of metformin!!!!!

Went of Met, and went straight for insulin as not much else is safe for a woman who still wants to have kids.

[Jill-O]

I was on Metformin for over a year and liked it...

THEN, I had diarrhea for five (5) weeks and I don't mean mild... At first I thought I had a bug, then lactose intolerance. Finally last Thursday I thought to stop the metformin and it went away! My numbers were higher than I wanted so went back on it on Saturday and diarrhea again on Sunday so NO MORE metformin for this diabetic. I called my Doctor and am waiting to hear about increasing my Lantus and maybe Humalog, too...

Looking online, I did find some references to late onset diarrhea caused by metformin. I'm just so happy it's over though. I was up some nights every 15 minutes and ... Urgh... No one would like to be having for 5 wks.

[Scrabblechick]

Bless you all who have had issues with Met. I did the first couple of weeks and still do occasionally, but in general, I've tolerated it very well.

Definitely get a meter. Walgreen's also uses the True-Track, which is about as accurate as any, and I have an UltraTouch2 I've compared it against. Get the ultra fine lancets, $5.95 for a box of 100 and 50 strips for $25. 100 strips are $48 at Walgreens. And they may have something going that, if you buy 100 strips, the meter is free. Check into it.

If you can't take the Met, you can't. Period. As others have said, what works well for some doesn't for others. It all comes down to what works for you as an individual.

[sandmcd]

I went on line and some of the adverse reactions were: nausea, flatulence, abdominal discomfort, abnormal stools, flushing, and stomach distention among others. I have them all!!!! I thought I would take only the evening pill and omit AM. I am worse from 7-3 each day with all the above. Of course then I will check with the doctor and I am sure we will do some other med. Actos was mentioned before by the DR. I will be going for bloos work at the hospital next week(?) and it will be interesting to see what changes there are if any at all.

[sandmcd]

I guess that 5 weeks on Metformin was helping. Too bad I was so miserable!!!! My A1c went down from 6.8 to 6.6 and my AM fasting BG was 118 instead of 136!!! I spoke with the Dr. after getting results and WE decided that I should try diet & exercise...really watch carbs. The end of June I will test again and see what happens and if I still need meds. It won't be metformin of that I am sure!!!!




3-30-08 A1c 6.6 BG 118
2-05 -08 A1c 6.8 BG 136
7-02-07 A1c 6.8 BG 128
1-26-07 A1c 6.6 BG 120
6-14-06 A1c 6.5 BG 120
1-11-06 A1c 6.8 BG 127
7-9-05 A1c 6.6 BG 113

[Ronin]

Hi Sandmdc!

Interesting. I'll admit to being "Johnny-One-Note" because these results are very similar to those of some other Pre-D's I know personally. You may not be a Type-2. You really need to get your C-Peptide levels checked. I have the weird feeling that your pancreas is in low production of insulin.

Diet modification and exercise will help, but if the underlying problem is low insulin production then your course of action is supplamental insulin.

[dejz]

Forgot to add to my previous post...sorry.... Hate that met !!! I feel as though I am pregnant with morning sickness most of the day!!!!! It has been 17 days of my body adjusting to it!!! I sure hope it is working to have to feel like this. I thought it had gone away but returned the last 2 days.

Metformin is fail.

I took metformin 500mg 2x daily for about a decade, until my heart stopped due to arrhythmia and I got a new doc and endo!

The abdominal discomfort, gas, etc was absolutely horrible - I am very glad to be off it.