[georgepds]

Originally Posted by princesslinda

...
Like Petrucio says, don't add an extra dose, or you may get more than you've bargained for gastric wise and low blood sugar wise.

Don't know about gastric, but I thought Metformin was one of those drugs that did not have hypoglycemic risk. It's a biguanide, and it's action is to slow the release of glucose from the liver

oral hypoglycemic agents

Which, by the way , has this little tidbit for those of use who struggle with the DP monster every night

"When oral hypoglycemic agents can keep the blood sugar levels down during most of the day, but are unable to keep the fasting (that is; before breakfast) values under control. This situation lends itself nicely to taking pills (particularly glyburide and metformin) during the day and insulin (NPH, glargine or detemir) at bedtime. The bedtime insulin keeps the fasting readings down and the pills keep the readings down the remainder of the day."

[georgepds]

In fact, if you are worried about heart disase and diabetes (if you are not now, you will be someday) Metformin is the least amount of harm you can do to yourself compared to other diabetes drugs

Benefits and harms of antidiabetic agents in patients with diabetes and heart failure: systematic review -- Eurich et al. 335 (7618): 497 -- BMJ

"Conclusion Metformin was the only antidiabetic agent not associated with harm in patients with heart failure and diabetes. It was associated with reduced all cause mortality in two of the three studies"

[georgepds]

Originally Posted by georgepds

Don't know about gastric, but I thought Metformin was one of those drugs that did not have hypoglycemic risk. It's a biguanide,....

The wikipedia article on metformin notes there is no danger of hypogycemia, even at overdosage of 63 g

Metformin - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

"A review of intentional and accidental metformin overdoses reported to Poison control centers over a 5-year period found that serious adverse events were rare, though elderly patients appeared to be at greater risk...Intentional overdoses with up to 63 g of metformin have been reported in the medical literature.... The major potentially life-threatening complication of metformin overdose is lactic acidosis. "

[Samantha]

Thanks for info on lisanopril . My dr. has been after me to take it for couple months now . She told me it also can damage the kidney at first , but then it starts healing the kidneys and protecting them from BG and BP .

Makes no sense to me to mess up a 'so far' good kidney, then fix it ! Not to speak of I already have COPD so last thing is want is more lung damage . And I'm also exercising more than ever, so don't need to be tired !

I am very frustrated abou it all . I was told long term HCTZ can also cause kidney damage . So I cut it in half now until I can find a good BP med . An suggestions on lowering BP ?

Met formin sent me to er with the worse bloating I ever had , not to speak of nausea and lack of energy . I guess I'm just doomed when it comes to medicine and fighting old age .

[Samantha]

My dr. told me I could cut it in half and slowly get use to it . I just took 1/4 of a 500 mg metformin . I will take another 1/4 tonight before bedtime with a small meal .

[Hammer]

I take Hyzaar for blood pressure and it works great for me. My last BP numbers were 118 over 62. I've been taking Hyzaar for several years now with no adverse side effects....well, except that I dehydrate faster if I work out in the hot sun for hours without drinking water, and I have to urinate a lot.(Hyzaar also contains a diuretic.)

[lyadberrios]

I started with Metformin (500mg twice a day). I used it for the first week without any side effects but noticed that my BS was getting very low, especially when I first woke up (low 70's). I have worked very hard to stay off of it by adjusting what I eat and going for 45 minute walks every day. My readings when I first wake up have been steady betten the high 90's and below 110. As I understand it this is a good indicator, is this accurate?

[candy43]

George,

Thanks so much for the very helpful info on Metformin.

Maybe one day, I will get the guts to ask my doc to put me on insulin at night to solve the morning number issue I can't seem to shake. Right now, I am still jittery when I use the glucometer! haha...I'm such a wimp. Have a nice evening.

Candy

[candy43]

Hey Luis,

Well, those morning numbers are impressive. Kudos to you for exercising and watching what you eat. That certainly helps. Do you also take your post-prandial readings 2 hours after your first bite? This is very important too. Of course, if you get an A1C every three months, it also will be an indicator of your average bg readings over the past three months so you will want to do that. Quite honestly, I don't rely on any one test to indicate my diabetes health because people with excellent A1C's have also been known to sometimes fare worse than people with moderate or slightly higher A1C's. Still, tight control with a low A1C reading helps avoid complications so its a fine-line balancing act. Diabetes control is a mixture of heart health...normal Blood pressure, normal kidney function and normal cholesterol as well as good bg numbers. Congrats to the max thought. You are definitely on the right track.

Candy

[candy43]

Hammer,

so glad you are doing well on Hyzaar. It is a very emotional issue for me (BP meds) but that is an ARB right with a diuretic right? Seems to be the lesser evil of a lot of the bp meds) IMHO

having researched all the BP meds out there, an ARB seems to be more safe with less complications, though costly, but idk, really...all the blood pressure meds have scary side effects so I guess we have to weigh what works for us, is cost-efficient if insurance won't cover and gives us least side effects we can tolerate.

I would love to just take apple cider and avoid all this. lol...I know a lady who kept her BG in control 10 years with apple cider vinegar...I can hear all the natural remedy opponents lashing out at me now!!! lol..but I think my blood pressure went up because I was exercising (lifting weights) improperly and taking baby aspirin that caused nosebleeds. My blood pressure has been normal for a week. But last week it was 180 over something with a nosebleed. Then the prior 2 weeks it went as high as 160 once a week. I am going to check it again for a week and if still normal, present this case to my doc b/c quite honestly, I don't want to be on any BP meds. Have a great night.

Candy

[candy43]

Samantha,

You're welcome. Quite truthfully I'm not a good one to ask about BP meds because I despise them all...I just happened to know that tidbit about lisanopril...lol...but seriously,

the drug companies are sure to send me hate-mail now. for bashing BP meds...well, whatever... this is our health and we have the right to be cautious about it. Truthfully, BP meds can be life-saving so deff talk to your doc about them. He seems on the same page now, but if he continues to leave out pertinent info, you may want to get a second opinion from another doc.

I'm certainly not a doc so not qualified to answer your question but I can say this...be sure to weigh all your options first after taking a med and if you experience side-effects that are bothersome, or if the warnings on the meds are scary...deff talk to your doc about the possibility of changing your meds. After personally researching it, the metformin appears to be a safe choice for bg lowering.

For high BP, I personally am leaning towards ARB's instead of ace inhibitors but that is a personal decision. ARBs are costly and are not covered by all insurance. Ace inhibitors are effective, land ow-cost oftentimes but they have side-effects I can not put up with.
I'm told the cough does not appear in everyone but practically everyone I know on ace inhibitors has that annoying cough. I can't have it in the field I am in. If I find anything helpful, I will send your way. Maybe others can respond in the meantime. Have a nice evening .

Candy

[candy43]

Eddie,

Thanks for replying to my post and for info. Glad to hear your diabetes numbers are in control. Have a great night.

Candy

[candy43]

Thanks for responding to my post twyggers. Good luck with the weight thing. Alas, it is a constant struggle to avoid eating chocolate cake, in moderation. *smiles*

candy

[candy43]

Hey Theresa,

Thanks for the info. Metformin really curbs my appetite too. It is good to know that even with a high dosage, you haven't expeienced any other problem with it. For me, it is worth the bathroom visits but maybe I won't be saying this forever. lol..gotta go, gotta go...Have a good night.

Candy

[candy43]

Hey Theresa,

Thanks for the info. Metformin really curbs my appetite too. It is good to know that even with a high dosage, you haven't expeienced any other problem with it. For me, it is worth the bathroom visits but maybe I won't be saying this forever. lol..gotta go, gotta go...Have a good night.

Candy