[kmlpag]

Hello everyone! Thanks again for all your help. I've been testing myself for 2 days now at least 4 times a day. I know that seems minor to some of you but it is BIG to me! I've also been writing down the time I test, the result, the time I eat, what I eat, & when I take my meds. My questions is about meds. When do you take them? I am on Glyburide/Metformen 5/500 2 in the morning and 2 at night. Thats 2000 mg a day. Does that seem high? I am also on Actos which after reading up on it, I am not sure if I am going to take it anymore. Do you take your meds with your breakfast/dinner or 1st thing when you get up and right before bedtime? Does the time you take your meds affect your sugar levels at the 2 hr. after meal mark? After 2 days of watching my carb intake, the highest my blood sugar has been is 217 which is a great improvement! I was getting readings in the 300 hundreds whenever I checked before and I even had the high 400's a few times. I think this forum is great motivation to improve my health!

[art]

I'm on janumet
I take my pills in thr morning and evening right after eating.
I take 2000 mg's a day too.

Your #'s will get even better. Metformin takes a little while to completely kick in.

Welcome to our little club

Srt

[princesslinda]

When I was on metformin 500 mg twice daily, I took one just before I ate breakfast and one at bedtime (but not on an empty stomach). Initially I took the 2nd metformin with dinner, but as my morning numbers were higher, I found taking it later in the even lowered the morning #s somewhat.

I never took more than 500 mg twice daily, but I believe the 1000 mg twice daily is a common dose. You can try taking it at different times and see which works best for you number-wise.

I have heard of some people taking one dose at breakfast, one at lunch, one at dinner and one at bedtime as well....you're getting the same overall daily dose, just spread out differently. Keep in mind if you try different spacings of the dose that this might cause more side effects as well.

I wouldn't think your post-meal #s would be that affected by the metformin, as it works throughout the day and not specifically post meal like Byetta does.

If you are having difficulty with your post meal #s, I'd suggest lowering the carbs at that particular meal...or getting some exercise before you eat.

Also, it can take metformin up to 3 weeks to reach optimal results, so you may not see great results immediately on it, though you should see some.

I have no experience with actos.

[Scrabblechick]

I take my Metformin twice a day: 1 500 mg in the morning with breakfast; 2 500 mg at night with supper. I think that helps my morning numbers more.

[MarcS]

I take my Metformin (1000mg each) 10-15 minutes after eating Breakfast & Dinner. I am on Novolin R & N.

[davef]

Originally Posted by princesslinda

When I was on metformin 500 mg twice daily, I took one just before I ate breakfast and one at bedtime (but not on an empty stomach). Initially I took the 2nd metformin with dinner, but as my morning numbers were higher, I found taking it later in the even lowered the morning #s somewhat.

That's what I'm doing right now, 500mg with breakfast and then 500mg at bedtime, with some food.

As Linda says, it can take sometime for you to see the effect of the Metformin, watching the carbs really helps so much.

[scbobgyn]

with byetta what is the group experience with when to take metformin

[scbobgyn]

wht is your experience with byette.just started.not sure the needle stick is worth the number i get

[princesslinda]

Originally Posted by scbobgyn

wht is your experience with byette.just started.not sure the needle stick is worth the number i get

When I started Byetta, I was still taking metformin twice daily, but started having too many lows after meals. Now I only take Byetta.

As for the injections, they are truly a NON-ISSUE. Much, much less painful than the finger sticks we do to check our blood sugars. I was apprehensive until I did my first stick. I honestly had to check for a mark to make sure it went in.

Byetta does have a side-effect of nausea in some people...for me it was dreadful for the first 7-10 days, then it tapered off. Now, if I overeat i'll get nauseous, but otherwise no problems.

[scbobgyn]

thank you linda what size pen needle do you use.Did you lose weight,

[princesslinda]

Bob, I use the 31g x 3/16" needles and take 5 mcg.

I haven't had the weight loss with it that some have. Before starting the Byetta, i'd lost over 70 lbs since diagnosis, and i've lost about 12 more since starting it last August. Before Byetta, I was on a VERY low-carb diet...with Byetta, I find it easier to tolerate carbs without the blood sugar rise, so I probably eat more carbs on it than I did before starting it.

Have you had problems or pain giving yourself the shot?

[fgummett]

I've been testing myself for 2 days now at least 4 times a day. I know that seems minor to some of you but it is BIG to me!

Good for you... and it does not seem minor to me at all... once you realise how important it is to test yourself it all starts to fall into place... well done!

[kgm0612]

I'm the odd one out.........type 1 pumper, also taking Metformin. I take my morning dose on an empty stomach before leaving for work (7:20) and eat breakfast at my desk by 8:15. I take my evening dose 10-15 minutes prior to eating dinner.

Karen

[xMenace]

Originally Posted by kmlpag

I've been testing myself for 2 days now at least 4 times a day. I know that seems minor to some of you but it is BIG to me!

There is nothing minor about this business.The biggest step up the mountain is always that first one.

I am on Glyburide/Metformen 5/500 2 in the morning and 2 at night. Thats 2000 mg a day. Does that seem high?

2000 mg a day is generally considered the max dose; though some doctors will go to 2500 mg. After 2000 there's generally no additional benefit. The next step is usually insulin. If your numbers stay that high for more than say three more weeks, ask to be put on insulin.

[Hammer]

Originally Posted by princesslinda

Bob, I use the 31g x 3/16" needles and take 5 mcg.

I haven't had the weight loss with it that some have. Before starting the Byetta, i'd lost over 70 lbs since diagnosis, and i've lost about 12 more since starting it last August. Before Byetta, I was on a VERY low-carb diet...with Byetta, I find it easier to tolerate carbs without the blood sugar rise, so I probably eat more carbs on it than I did before starting it.

Have you had problems or pain giving yourself the shot?

I also take Byetta, and you're right, the needle is easy to take. When I get a new box of needles, I guess they give me whatever they have the most of that day, so I've gotten different sizes. Right now I'm using a 31 gauge 5/16" needle for the Byetta and a 29 gauge ½" needle for the Lantus. I don't really notice either needle, although the Lantus injection tends to be a little more painful....not because of the needle, but because it's a bit harder to push down on the pen's plunger, and that causes me to slightly move the pen during the injection, which causes me a slight pain. It's not that big of a deal, it's just a noticeable difference between the two.

As for weight loss, I've never lost anything, whether from the diabetes, the Byetta, or anything else. I weight the same now as I did 6 years ago when I was diagnosed. That figures, most people lose weight from the disease itself, but not me. If I'm stuck with diabetes, I could have at least gotten the one side effect that was beneficial....weight loss, but no such luck.