[lyadberrios]

About 30 minutes ago I experienced a low of 51 and quickly drank two cups of hot chocolate which brought me back up to 100 after about 10 mins. How bad is 51? I was feeling shaky right at two hours after eating breakfast (I ate two slices of whole wheat bread, one egg and an orange), after which time I took 500mg of metformin. I do not know why but I seem to go low everytime I take a regular dose of metformin, when evidently this drug should not induce hypoglicemia.

I have not used Metforming consistently, hoping to control my BG levels with diet and exercise alone and probably my body has not adjusted to the medicine. Any ideas?

[morrisma]

A dangerous low is one you need help recovering from.
Mike

[princesslinda]

The glyburide would be more likely to cause your lows rather than the metformin, as it stimulates the pancreas to produce MORE insulin, while the metformin would help you use the insulin you're already producing.

I would suggest you take the metformin consistently, it does take time to build in your system, so even though you may not have taken it yesterday, you may be getting effects from the last time you did take it. I'd suggest you call your doctor and see if you could maybe try decreasing the glyburide, which would keep your beta cells from being more taxed than they already are. Many T2s make lots of insulin, our bodies just aren't able to adequately utilize it...that's why we are given metformin, to help us use what we already have.

As for lows, under 70 is considered hypoglycemic. I'd suggest you keep a packet of skittles or glucose tabs in your pocket or around your house and office for times like these.

As your blood sugars normalize from all the good lifestyle changes you're making, you may see more lows while on the glyburide.

[Scrabblechick]

That's very true. My body makes plenty of insulin. I just can't use it. Sooo, I take Metformin.

I rarely have what you would call a low, unless I've just been exercising. Last one I had though, I felt like poo for about an hour or two.

I keep a few peppermints on my desk, just in case. I don't like peppermints, ordinarily, so I don't reach for them unless I'm low. LOL.

[lyadberrios]

Is glyburide decreased by using another medication in addition to Metformin?

[princesslinda]

Originally Posted by lyadberrios

Is glyburide decreased by using another medication in addition to Metformin?

I'd assume just the opposite. As the metformin is helping your body use the insulin you're making, the glyburide is stimulating your body to make even more. On metformin alone, your #s would not be nearly as low, as it doesn't usually cause lows at all. It may require more carb control to see the same results if you're only on metformin though.

[Ronman]

My low was 39 and it was at about bedtime. I have had several in the 40's. I can usually tell I am low when I get in the 50's but they usually hit me so quickly I don't have any real warning. Looking at my record, the night I had my 39 I probably ate several pieces of candy and when I felt stabilized I went to bed. My next morning reading was 171. This is what I deal with (not 39, of course) on a daily basis.

[mrDiabetic]

Ronman, 39 sounds scary. Does it feel awful? My lowest is 65 and I felt pretty confused and drained.

[BrianSCohen]

Luis

I've been to 59 as a type 2 on just Metformin, that was an accomplishment. As PrincessLinda noted you are taking glyburide which stimulates insulin production. Being newly diagnosed, you may just have overdone it with the medications. I might suggest you consult with your doctor, perhaps even suggest dropping the glyburide and just seeing if metformin helps. I know you where high when diagnosed, but I really think you are doing the right thing trying to employ diet and exercise as a primary way to manage your diabetes. You may adjust to your medications, but I would feel somewhat unsafe being medicated to the point that I came down to 51. Let us know how it goes.

[Ronman]

Yes 39 did feel awful. But like I said, it came on so quickly it wasn't much different from any other low I have experienced. One minute I feel pretty normal and the next I suddenly feel very cold and shaky. My thoughts become rather muddled and all I can think of is eating something sweet as quickly as I can. I have slowly learned over the past couple of years to eat something and then force myself to wait a bit and see if I stabilize. But it is tough to do.