Can you go to low on Metformin

[Bevvie]

Hi All

I am happy to say this was my first day to get a fasting BG of 5.4 :D :D :D :D. However, just to worry myself I began to wonder if it was possible to ever go low on Metformin? :confused:

[princesslinda]

Its unlikely to have a true hypo (under 70/3.89) on metformin if you eat regularly. I was on 500 mg twice daily metformin for quite awhile, and did go down to the 60's a couple of times, but BOTH times it was when i'd skipped a meal or done lots more exercise than usual.

Metformin does not cause you to produce more insulin, but it does help you better use what you are producing. You are more likely to have hypos on the sulfonylures (such as Glipizide) as they actually stimulate insulin production.

[Scrabblechick]

Lowest I've ever registered on Met was 72. But I was used to the lower numbers by then and felt fine.

[Suds]

I am not an MD, so anything I say please research and confirm for yourself. My understanding is that Metformin triggers your liver to produce less sugar. I've personnally never gone to low with Metformin so to be honest I'm not sure if you can go to low with Metformin.

[pdxdennisj]

My understanding is No.

[Bevvie]

Thanks everyone, once again you've answered another niggling question for me. I really appreciate this site and visit every day now. Keep up the good work all you experts:D

[patricia52]

I take metformin and I have been in the 70's and shaking like a leaf. Not a dangerous hypo unless you are driving and not used to being that low.

[shutterbug]

I have been on Met for the past 2 months. I've never gone hypo. I kind of feel uncomfortable when I go below 80. I can some how sense when I go below 80. I fix it immediately by a small snack.

I've also read on the internet that met doesn't cause hypo as it doesn't stimulate insulin production. It rather works on reducing glucose absorbtion and improves body cells react better to insulin (for insulin resistance).

[xMenace]

and did go down to the 60's a couple of times, but BOTH times it was when i'd skipped a meal or done lots more exercise than usual.


Yet another reminder that meters are not accurate. In the 60's could actually be 70's. I know you know that, but it's so easy to forget.

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Bevvie you can get what are sometimes termed "false hypos." You have all the symptoms of being hypo, but you're really fine.

A year+ ago someone was on here with a a relative who kept his sugars 25 mmol/l or higher because he'd have violent reactions even in the low 20's.

[Tinki]

I've gotten down into the low 50's with Met before. Horrible story, but I cut my hubby a peice of cake. Then I went to test. I did not wash my hands first. BIG MISTAKE. I tested and was in the 200's. I began going through my mental computer as to what I ate or where I want wrong. I took a met, tested an hour later. Was down to the 60's. Then it hit me, I had frosting on my hands when I tested the first time. Anyway, I tested every hour after that. We had a heck of a time getting my sugar back up. I took a kit kat candy bar, a regular sugar coke and a half a peanut butter jelly sandwich to get me to 100. I can laught about it now.

[davef]

I've been using Metformina since Nov'07 (500mg twice a day), the lowest I have been is 3.2 (57.6) but that was part of a roller coaster day because I had toasted Hovis bread for breakfast that sent me sky high and then I plummetted. I have had a few 3.7 (66.6), they have been due to missed meals or not enough to eat. I notice it when I get to about 4 (72) and find a small glass of milk really works well for me, rises mg BG nicely without a nasty spike.

[BrianSCohen]

As a type 2, it really depends on how your diabetes is being exhibited. If you have suffered from reactive hypoglycemia, you may have occasional occurences that have been described by others here. You don't really have anything to fear tho, as a type your body has a fairly robust mechanism to protect you from damage. This is not the case for a type 1. As a type 2, when you get low your body naturally sends out a message to your liver, dumping stored glucose into you body.

As a type 2, I have been able to drive myself down to 53 using certain levels of exercise after a meal. I can then either take a measured amount of carbs to get rid of that nasty cold sweaty nauseous feeling, or I can just wait it out. For me, sitting for 5-10 minutes makes it go away.

[Scrabblechick]

Funny I should have posted on this thread yesterday. Heh. I had a nice supper last night, ate a piece of dark chocolate and went for a brisk, 30-minute walk about 2 hours after supper. As we were crossing the parking lot to our apartment, I noticed I was feeling what I call "orky." It's a made-up word that describes how I feel when I get a little low.

Got inside, tested, 68. Not horribly low, but enough to make me feel a little yucky. So I drank a little milk, ate half a package of the Oreo 100s. Worked fine the last time. Checked 15 minutes later. Still 68. I felt HORRIBLE by this time. I have to wonder if my meter was a little high, and I was lower than that. I ate another piece of candy, had a swallow of milk and a handful of rather high-carb cereal, then I went to lie down. It took me probably an hour to start feeling "right" again, and I really didn't feel well the rest of the evening.

So yeah, it does happen, but isn't a common thing. Everything has to come together just right. Like it was a couple of hours after eating and I took moderate exercise. Not interested in having that happen again. Ugh.

[Lloyd]

Metformin does not cause you to produce more insulin, but it does help you better use what you are producing. You are more likely to have hypos on the sulfonylures (such as Glipizide) as they actually stimulate insulin production.

I agree 100%, no hypos in 14 years of metformin, occasional hypos from Glipidide, and very rarely hypo from insulin).


-Lloyd

[pdxdennisj]

Well, I take back my post. It IS possible to have a hypo on Metformin, according to various web sites. I have never taken it alone and just recalled a warning about hypo's when taking it with Glipizide and its relatives.

[fgummett]

Rx List.com states... (http://www.rxlist.com/cgi/generic/metformi_wcp.htm)


Hypoglycemia does not occur in patients receiving GLUCOPHAGE (metformin hydrochloride) or GLUCOPHAGE XR alone under usual circumstances of use, but could occur when caloric intake is deficient, when strenuous exercise is not compensated by caloric supplementation, or during concomitant use with other glucose-lowering agents (such as sulfonylureas and insulin) or ethanol.

Elderly, debilitated, or malnourished patients, and those with adrenal or pituitary insufficiency or alcohol intoxication are particularly susceptible to hypoglycemic effects. Hypoglycemia may be difficult to recognize in the elderly, and in people who are taking beta-adrenergic blocking drug

and...
Metformin is an antihyperglycemic agent which improves glucose tolerance in patients with type 2 diabetes, lowering both basal and postprandial plasma glucose. Its pharmacologic mechanisms of action are different from other classes of oral antihyperglycemic agents. Metformin decreases hepatic glucose production, decreases intestinal absorption of glucose, and improves insulin sensitivity by increasing peripheral glucose uptake and utilization. Unlike sulfonylureas, metformin does not produce hypoglycemia in either patients with type 2 diabetes or normal subjects (except in special circumstances) and does not cause hyperinsulinemia. With metformin therapy, insulin secretion remains unchanged while fasting insulin levels and day-long plasma insulin response may actually decrease.

[Achilles]

I'm glad this question came up. I've been on Metformin for about 2 weeks now. Increased dosage to 1000 mg for about a week now.

I came home from work just now feeling a LOT better than I've felt in a long long time. I feel full of energy. For lunch I had a 1/2 low carb tortilla with ham and cheese and a salad with fresh spinach, 1/2 cucumber, 3 mushrooms, and olive oil / vinegar dressing. I tested my blood sugar with two meters when I got home. Ultra Mini was 98 mg/dL and Relion Ultima was 104.

I didn't have an afternoon snack and I'm ready to go work out. I've been working out really hard almost every day weight lifting and cardio. I saw the 98 mg/dL and that is the first time I've tested since diagnosed being under 100.

I think I'll eat 1/2 nutrition bar ~ 8 carbs before I go work out.

It's good to be aware that one can go low on Metformin but I doubt it would be a hypo that an insulin injecting person would have?