Young at heart.

[Jim]

I was diagnosed two years ago with type 2 diabetes and have had good luck in those years taking 50mg Cozaar and 5mg Glipazide. My A1C tests have come back between 6 and 7. I have very recently changed doctors and the new doctor has taken me off Cozaar and given me Metformin 500mg. I seem to have a lot of gas and am worried that this could do damage to my stomach. I drink limited alcahol and do not smoke. My weight is just a couple of pounds high - about 6 or 7. I am also 67 years old. Any suggestions or advise out there? Thanks!

[duck]

Why did he take you off of Cozaar?

[Peter Lee]

The gas from the Metformin is a normal side effect. I nearly blew the house down for a few months and then the effect declined - now I only get the occasional bouts of it. I can't see it damaging your stomach unless you have other stomach problems as well - but I wouldn't try and hold it in unless you are really in a situation where you don't want to let it out.

6 to 7 pounds overweight is not a great deal and yes you could do with losing it but do it slowly - half a pound a week, and in 14 weeks it's gone.

Any advice? Well you headed this 'Young at Heart' and that's my philosophy - enjoy your life, accomodate and manage your diabetes but don't let it rule you.

From one senior to another :shakehand

[Phranky]

Hi and welcome!

I've been on metformin now for about 3 or 4 weeks and at first it defineltly gave me some gas and a couple bouts of running to the toilet!

All that's gone now - the key, and it's been said other places in the forum - the absolute key to metformin is you MUST TAKE IT WITH FOOD!

It is only absorbed via food - so I take my 1000mg in the morning right AFTER I eat my breakfast and again at dinner, after I've eaten.

Also - the food will reduce the symtpoms you're experiencing in addition to it seem to be common knowledge here that many on metformin have not been told you must take it with food for it to be effective.

My bs'ers have totally dropped - 3-7 in the morning after fast, then 5-10 approx 60-90 mins after eating.

This from when I'd tested at 17 after a 14 hour fast! Yikes! But my doc said we caught it early with me, he said you've probably been t11 for months now rather than years...

Anyway, hope this helps....

Phranky