[gleny]

my name is gleny I am 59 yrs old.I am new here. I have had borderline diabetes for few years. I had bk surgery this winter and stopped smoking last fall..Sept.2007.I have gained weight and I aso need rotor cuff surgery done this summer .My dr put me on Metformin today 500mg 2 times a day.I am so very scared to take this medicine, can anyone help tell me if they been on it and how they felt.I read the side affects and it scraed me to death. I worry alot about meds and this one had alot of side effects.Can anyone help me and tell me what thye felt like when they started it or what side effects they had.I have alot of stress in my life and this sure added to it.I felt angry, alone, and scared..I am starting to eta excatly like I am supposed to and excerise what I can ..walk 15 min 2 times a day for now. I have a bad back and neck so excersie is hard for me right now..I also have pain all the time from my rt shoulder from torn rotor cuff. Hope someone can help me...I need courage!! LOts of it..I am a whimp sorry...Gleny

[Hammer]

I started this thread for Gleny since he was asking questions in another thread that should be asked in a new thread.

Gleny, I'd suggest that you try Metformin. The only sode effect that you may or may not experience that could bother you is an upset stomach. If you experience this, keep in mind that as you take it over time, the upset stomach usually disappears.

Another thing to keep in mind....metformin has been shown to help protect your heart, so that's a good side effect. Why not just try them and see how you feel? You're better off taking something for your borderline diabetes as opposed to taking nothing, and metformin seems to be the drug that a lot of people use for treating situations like yours.

[Harold]

FYI Okay, I moved Gleny's second post to this thread. Which shows up first before Hammer's post because they are listed in chronological order.

Gleny, No one can tell you before hand what reaction you may have to a drug you have never taken. Since you read the warnings and what to look for you are forewarned. This is really the best any of us can do. Now the chances of you having a life threating reaction to metformin are as likely as my winning the big lottery. The odds increase if you drink alcohol, yet they are still very slim unless you really drink a bogus amount. May I suggest you only take one pill a day for 2 or 4 days to see if you have a reaction from that first. Then if not you can try the full prescription amount to see how you react to it. Most people do not even have the common reaction of using more TP. However many do and may switch to extended release if it does not go away in a week or two.

Good Luck!

[gleny]

thank you very much for the post and moving my letter.I am not used to this site aND not sure where to post.I hope I click reply and this gets bk to the right place.I may try 1 pill a day for awhile ...I am still trying to find others who have taken it.I thank you for the info I wish you luck and hope things go well with you. I haven't found out how to make a profile yet lol..But I will try to figure this out.Take care Gleny
type 2..female..maine..59 yrs old

[Holly]

I've been taking Metformin since January. My husband started it in October. I've had almost no problems with it except I'm no longer constipated periodically. (a good benefit) I find I'm not as hungry now that my BG has come down. I find that if I have "greasy" foods, I may get some cramps and "dire rear". It was an easy adjustment for me. My HgAIC came down nicely from 8.5 to 6.0! It does take several weeks to really work on your BG results so don't get discouraged. I started it at 500mg twice a day.

My husband started it in October. He had seven meds that he started at the same time following a stroke. It is harder to tell what gave him what side effect. He initially had a significant problem with "burping" and I suspect that was the Metformin. It would start as soon as he took it. This subsided over the following weeks and now he only "burps" as he did previously to starting it.

Go ahead and give it a try. Not using it will have greater consequences for you and if you find you can't tolerate it - there are other options. If you read about all the potential side effects/complications that drug manufacturers are required to publish - no one with any sanity would take anything!

[patricia52]

Gleny
I am close to your age (56) and I started metformin ER 500 mg 1x per day about 6 months ago. Except for stomach problems, I have tolerated Met all right. The worst was over after the 3rd day. As others stated greasy foods give me problems. It helps eliminate the problems if I take the Met with food. I notice that my fasting #s were lower almost immediately. With in a week I notice that my spikes were not as high. If you are experiencing any serious problems, talk with your doctor. There are other meds out there, if you can not tolerate Met. Good luck.

[xMenace]

Welcome to the club Gleny,

We all know it's a tough situation, but to put it bluntly, living with high blood sugar levels is not an option. The resulting complications are IMO 100% guaranteed for the uncontrolled. These puppies -- blindness, amputation, dialysis, nueropathy, and heart disease -- are much much worse than almost all medication side effects.

Major compications from met happen, but they are rare. Gas is likely. It is most likely that after a couple of weeks you will be feeling great! Pay attention and work with your doctor.

[gleny]

Hi Holly,
Ty so much for the info.I am so sorry about your husabnd having a stroke.My hubby died 6 yrs ago of lung cancer from asbetoes related. The only worry I have after reading all these posts are I am on Hazar for b/presuure and it has a durtic in it and info on metformin says if taking duertics you can have worse side effects. This whole dieabetes thing scares me to death and i have panic attacks and haven't had one for along time but had one yesterday reading so much about this meds and knowing I am not longer borderline.I like to try 1 a day but my highest readings are in am then daytime it goes down.I have found alot of info on this site and glad I found it.I guess ev1 is scared when they 1st hear they needs nmeds for it now. I wish you both luck and ty for the posts..I wnat to make a profile but haven't found out how yet?? Take care Gleny

[gleny]

Hi Patty,
Thank you for the posts.I am trying to answer ev1s posts and i appreciate all the help.You said you was taking 1 a day? I would like to try 1 a day for week to see how i do but dr said 1 am and 1 at suppertime.I am highest in am so when do you take yours.?It last only 4-6 hrs right? I have these darn things sitting here in front of me and scared to take them.I am scared just knowing my sugars up to where I needs any meds, I guess you all went thru that.Diabetes is scary no matter what.My grandmother died at 52 of it, my mom is borderline. Gessh after 50 it sure goes down hill fast!!Thanks for the help and is the 1 working good for you? How high was your readings in am taking just 1 pill?? thanks Gleny

[gleny]

Hi Menace,
Ty for the post. I know you are right about diabetes. Nothing i can do I know but excersie and eat right..maybe after I lose weight i can go with out meds. I can pray that will happen.I know I am scared and ev1 was when they fiond out they need to go on meds...Thanks for posts again and i am sure I will more questions before I get thru this..Glad I found you all..It helps alot..Take care Gleny

Now to find out how to make a profile on here lol

[xMenace]

Originally Posted by gleny

Hi Menace,
Ty for the post. I know you are right about diabetes. Nothing i can do I know but excersie and eat right..maybe after I lose weight i can go with out meds. I can pray that will happen.I know I am scared and ev1 was when they fiond out they need to go on meds...Thanks for posts again and i am sure I will more questions before I get thru this..Glad I found you all..It helps alot..Take care Gleny

Now to find out how to make a profile on here lol

I know from personal experience what it's like to experience blindness. Knowing what I know now, get those meds in you now and get to work right away weening yourself from them. So many new type 2's on here are amazing their doctors with their progress. (links below) It's all small steps, but you never stop moving. Come here every day and learn something new. I do

The most important thing is for YOU to take control of your condition. You won't always make the right decisions, but keep moving forward. Guilt is not allowed around here!


My doctor is raving

I am so excited.

Got my first follow up lab tests back...

Latest Results!

My check-up results are in.......

[Scrabblechick]

Welcome to the forums, Gleny! Please, please, do as your doctor asks and take that Metformin. Take it with meals and the side effects should be lessened. I had some problems with gas and mild diarrhea for a couple of weeks, but am completely over that now. I also had mild nausea a couple of times. Nothing a swig of Mylanta couldn't knock out.

I take three a day: one in the morning, two at night. When I was on two a day, I took them morning and evening.

Menace is right. There are success stories on this site about people who have followed their diets, exercised, taken their meds and had great success. For your own sake, please do this. I was scared to death the first time I had to stick myself to test my blood. I hate needles, but I did it. I don't enjoy it now, certainly, but I do it so I know what my blood sugar is doing. I know I'm going to be healthier in the long term because of it.

You're not that old and you've got a lot of good years ahead of you if you take control NOW. You just walked into a great group of kind, supportive people who really, really care how you're doing, and are willing to listen to any problems you're having, even if they have nothing to do with this disease.

Take care and let us know how you're getting along.

[Holly]

Gleny - I'm the same age as you are. OK....a year older. I'm sorry to hear about your husband's passing. I'm a retired RN. I found it very hard initially to come here and face my diagnosis. When I was working years ago in emergency - I saw too many come in unconscious but they picked up quickly. This was a pediatric setting so Type 1. If you don't control it - it'll control you. I've poor exercise tolerance from the sedentary life I lived after retirement ten years ago. Now I know why I was always so tired. Walking is about the only thing I can do at present. I have trouble balancing if I'm standing still. Walking is fine except with asthma I get short of breath. I've been borrowing my vet's miniature poodle for daily walks. I'm now walking about 3Km a day. I got myself a pedometer and use it to track my progress. Every month I increase my goal by .5km. Somedays for whatever reason I fall short. Some I go way over. Weight loss is slow - 10 pounds since January. I'm not concerned because as long as I'm heading in the right direction and doing it slowly - hopefully I won't rebound.

This site is very supportive - so keep coming even if initially you find it depressing to face the diagnosis. Initially, I dreaded visiting here - now it is one of the first bookmarks I check. Do you have a Diabetes Management Center near you or a support group where you can go for education etc? I've found everyone very sincere and helpful on this site. Any trolls/michief makers find themselves "poofed" faster than it takes to do a glucose test. Please feel safe asking any questions you might have. There is a lot of experience in this group. I'm still in the learning phase.

[lottadata]

Gleny,

Metformin is actually one of the safest and most effective blood sugar drugs.

The side effects it has are usually limited to the stomach but the one serious side effect, lactic acidosis, turns out not to be a concern unless you have bad kidneys.

On the plus side, metformin lowers your insulin resistance and is good for your heart. It also makes it a lot easier to lose weight.

Most people find the side effects pass after a few days. If they don't, ask your doctor to prescribe the "Extended release" version. It is cheap and available as a generic, too. Many people find they have fewer side effects with it.

[patricia52]

Gleny, I take my metformin ER 500 1x per day and I take it in the morning with my first bite of breakfast. My doctor first told me to take it a night so I would not have as many stomach problems, but I kept forgetting to take it. I changed it to breakfast and told the doctor. She said that was fine.
Since I take Metformin ER I think it works slowly all day long.