This is a discussion on metformin with food question within the Type 2 Diabetes forums, part of the Diabetes category; I've been trying to take my last dose of metformin (1,000 mg) around 8-9 pm to keep it 12 hours ...
Senior Member
I am a: Type 2
I've been trying to take my last dose of metformin (1,000 mg) around 8-9 pm to keep it 12 hours apart from the morning dose. It seems to help with DP too. Since I'm not taking it with my earlier full dinner meal, does anyone know how much food is actually needed to be considered "taking it with food", to get the benefit from that? The past few nights, I've taken it with some blueberries or a teaspoon of almond butter but I'm wondering if that's enough food.
I hope I'm phrasing the question so it makes sense. Thank you!!
A1C: 4/15/12 - 5.7
6/26/12 - 10.1
lost 97 pounds since 6/26/12
low carb, low protein diet
Meds: Metformin 1000 mg
20 mg Benicar
50 mg XL Toprol
Senior Member
I am a: Type 1
It probably depends on the person. I take Metformin and if I don't take quite enough food with it, I get GI symptoms. I'm still experimenting with what is "enough" and it seems to vary by what I am eating.Originally Posted by SueL4
If your BG was good and you had no adverse events, then it probably was enough food!
Kelly
Current A1C: 6.0%
Diagnosed with LADA June 2008
Animas One Touch Ping March 2009
Dexcom Seven March 2010 --> Dexcom G4 November 2012
Apidra
"The ultimate ignorance is the rejection of something you know nothing about, but you refuse to investigate" Dr. Wayne Dyer
Senior Member
I am a: Type 2
This has been discussed here. Metformin - When to take?
My personal thoughts are that any medication that requires that you "Take With Food" does so because the medication can upset an empty stomach, and/or it needs the stomach to produce digestive juices in order for the medication to get into your system. There are also medications that are water soluble, like aspirin, and those that require the stomach to break them down before they enter the colon and get absorbed. The stomach itself absorbs almost nothing...it's pretty much just a mixing bowl. Those juices are only present during digestion. The ratio of how much food to take may depend solely on trial and error.
Let thy food be thy medicine, and thy medicine be thy food.
-Hippocrates, Father of Medicine, 400 B.C.
Senior Member
I am a: Type 2
Thank you both for your responses. What I was questioning was the amount of food needed to take with it - I understand it needs to be taken with food. I agree that it's probably trail and error - to make sure it doesn't cause abdominal distress and to ensure the low numbers. I'll click to the link you sent. Thanks.
A1C: 4/15/12 - 5.7
6/26/12 - 10.1
lost 97 pounds since 6/26/12
low carb, low protein diet
Meds: Metformin 1000 mg
20 mg Benicar
50 mg XL Toprol
Senior Member
I am a: Type 2
I would presume any amount of food would set off some digestion. What might be the concern here is the dilution factor. Just guessing, I would suggest at least 2 to 3 tablespoons of whatever your choosing to start with. See how that works.
Let us know how it goes...
Let thy food be thy medicine, and thy medicine be thy food.
-Hippocrates, Father of Medicine, 400 B.C.
Senior Member
I am a: Type 2
I appreciate the advice. Since I've doubled the MF dose, I'd like to make sure I'm getting everything I should from it.
A1C: 4/15/12 - 5.7
6/26/12 - 10.1
lost 97 pounds since 6/26/12
low carb, low protein diet
Meds: Metformin 1000 mg
20 mg Benicar
50 mg XL Toprol
Senior Member
I find my metformin works better when I take it on an Empty stomach. I take my last dose right before bed and I never eat food with it. In the morning I take my doses 3 hours apart, again without food. Since I spike most in the morning I take 2/3 of my metformins in the morning and the last one right before bed.
HbA1c 5.3 3/11 , HbA1c 5/12 6.1
metformin 2550 mg
low carb diet (20-30 carbs a day)
3 T of Coconut Oil daily
Vit D, CoQ10, Melatonin, Multi vitamin, zinc, B 12
Chia Seeds , Flaxseeds
Exercise- Tennis - 4 hours/week, Power Walking- 4-5 miles most days, Hiking in the summer 7-10 miles on trails and in the mountains
diagnosed Feb 2007
Age 62
Senior Member
I am a: Type 2
Everyone's body is different. I guess it always comes back to the meter. We each have to find what works best for our own body.
A1C: 4/15/12 - 5.7
6/26/12 - 10.1
lost 97 pounds since 6/26/12
low carb, low protein diet
Meds: Metformin 1000 mg
20 mg Benicar
50 mg XL Toprol
Senior Member
I am a: Type 2
I take it three times per day with my meals. I don't think it's so critical to space two doses exactly 12 hours apart. In fact, I think taking it with meals helps with the PP number from that meal. I've only recently switched from Met ER to regular Met so I haven't done enough experimenting (forgot and skipped a dose) to know for sure.
11/10 diagnosed ~ fbg 306 ~ start typical ADA diet ~ no diagnosis A1c
A1c's:
1/11 9.4 ~ 3/11 7.9 ~ 6/11 7.8 ~ 7/11 7.6 ~ 10/11 7.5 ~ 12/11 6.4
3/12 5.9 ~ 6/12 5.4 ~ 9/12 5.4 ~ 12/12 5.3
3/13 5.1
Meds:
30 units Lantus - 2,550 mg Metformin - 2400 mg Ibuprofen
Diet:
LCHF ketogenic 30 to 40 carbs per day and dabbling in Paleo
Exercise:
3+ miles treadmill and lifting most days and some elliptical
Weight Loss:
100.5 Pounds
Senior Member
I am a: Type 2
I used to take my last metformin with my last meal. Since I switched to a few hours later (it's only been a week) my morning numbers are so much better. Then again, it could just be the higher dose and the lower carb eating that did that. Who knows? I'm just happy the numbers are going down!
A1C: 4/15/12 - 5.7
6/26/12 - 10.1
lost 97 pounds since 6/26/12
low carb, low protein diet
Meds: Metformin 1000 mg
20 mg Benicar
50 mg XL Toprol
Senior Member
I originally took my metformin 2 x a day with breakfast and dinner. Then I switched the dinner one to right before bed. My fastings went down a lot. Then I increased the dose and took 3 x a day. I played around with the timing of taking my metformin. Since I started the 2 doses in the morning my bgs have stabalised somewhat. I don't find metformin allows me to eat more carbs at meals. If I overeat I still spike no matter when I take my metformin.
HbA1c 5.3 3/11 , HbA1c 5/12 6.1
metformin 2550 mg
low carb diet (20-30 carbs a day)
3 T of Coconut Oil daily
Vit D, CoQ10, Melatonin, Multi vitamin, zinc, B 12
Chia Seeds , Flaxseeds
Exercise- Tennis - 4 hours/week, Power Walking- 4-5 miles most days, Hiking in the summer 7-10 miles on trails and in the mountains
diagnosed Feb 2007
Age 62
Senior Member
I am a: Type 2
Agree with you. No amount of metformin would make up for eating too many carbs. I learned that lesson and got the 10.1 A1C as a result. I like the later dose too and the lower morning readings.
A1C: 4/15/12 - 5.7
6/26/12 - 10.1
lost 97 pounds since 6/26/12
low carb, low protein diet
Meds: Metformin 1000 mg
20 mg Benicar
50 mg XL Toprol
Senior Member
We went on a 3 week vacation to Spain in June. I started out eating good but as time went on it got harder and harder to eat super Low Carb. So I started adding carbs back into my diet. We were doing tons of walking, some days 10 miles but it didn't help. Fastings quickly went up to 150 and after meal pp's to 180's. I have been home for about 3 weeks and my fastings are still higher than I want. I am trying everything I can to get them back under 100.
HbA1c 5.3 3/11 , HbA1c 5/12 6.1
metformin 2550 mg
low carb diet (20-30 carbs a day)
3 T of Coconut Oil daily
Vit D, CoQ10, Melatonin, Multi vitamin, zinc, B 12
Chia Seeds , Flaxseeds
Exercise- Tennis - 4 hours/week, Power Walking- 4-5 miles most days, Hiking in the summer 7-10 miles on trails and in the mountains
diagnosed Feb 2007
Age 62
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