i just picked up my med for my hi sugaar.. the dr put me on metformin 500 per day.. but he did say f

Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
hi i am 72 yrs old..the dr put me on metformin 500..but the info on the bottle dont say when to take the meds..i am so confused
 

daddys1

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,353
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
hi i am 72 yrs old..the dr put me on metformin 500..but the info on the bottle dont say when to take the meds..i am so confused

Hi Virginia & welcome, it is confusing at first & I'm not the most experience to help you here. But regards the Metformin, it is always taken with food, I'm on 1000g & I have take with my evening meal. Some have to take at Breakfast I would imagine Breakfast or evening meal would spread it through the day.

@daisy1 will be along soon I would expect with lots of information for you, so keep looking round the forum things will start to make sense eventually.
 
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daisy1

Legend
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26,457
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Cruelty towards animals.
@virginia h bragg @daddys1

Hello Virginia and welcome to the forum :)

Here is the information (mentioned by daddys1) that we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask more questions and someone will be able to help. As far as your Met is concerned I think you should contact your DN or Doctor to ask when to take it.

BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you’ll find over 100,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.
There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:

  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates

Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes-and-whole-grains.html

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:

  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to bloodglucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
 

Barry05

Active Member
Messages
30
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
When i was first diagnosed a few months ago i started on 500mg of metformin per day to be taken with main meal which is the evening one so i reckon you're on the same path as me.
Thereafter i was weened onto a higher dosage
Week one 500mg with main meal.
Week two 500mg twice a day, one tablet with breakfast and the other with main meal.
Week three 500mg with breakfast and 1000mg with main meal.
Week four 1000mg with breakfast and 1000mg with main meal. So that's how it's been since summer on 2000mg per day. Next month in December i have to go back for a blood test at the surgery to see how i'm doing so dosage may or may not change then !
 
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Daibell

Master
Messages
12,642
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
There should be a label on the bottle but some people take it in the morning and some in the evening usually with food.
 

Cloudlesssky

Well-Known Member
Messages
273
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hello Virginia,
I have been diagnosed for 2 months and agree entirely with Barry.
You need to take Metformin with food to prevent unwanted side effects.
I expect you will also need to build up the Metformin dosage as Barry (and I ) did.
I would phone your GP in the morning and check the dosage.
BeeGee
 

Bluetit1802

Legend
Messages
25,216
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
Hello Virginia and welcome to the forum.

I hope the others have helped with your Metformin question. I'm not on any medication so have no experience of it, but if in doubt ring your doctor and ask him.

It is all very confusing at first, so take a few deep breaths and when you are up to it have a good read the forums then come back with any questions you have.
 

Patricia21

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,764
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Animal crualty
Hi Virginia.
Im a year older than you.
I take only one 500 mg Metformin.I take it with my evening meal.
It did take me a little time to get used to it,didnt feel to good at first but fime now.
I have taken it for eight months.
It would have been increased but I joined this forum and spent a long time looking at posts and getting advice .
I am amazed what diet has done for me and got my blood sugar down,
If I had joined the forum before I started on Metformin I would have not needed them.
All the best
 
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jack412

Expert
Messages
5,618
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
what @Barry05 amd @BeeGee said
cut your breads pasta and flour stuff, fruit and sugary stuff
go back to eggs for breakfast and meat and 3 veg with a dollop of real butter and a lard tin for cooking, go easy on the spuds
http://www.dietdoctor.com/lchf it’s a long page and a video

if your dr wont give you a meter..buy a meter and strips and lancets....you will soon find out what you can't eat
blood testing
http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14045524.php

http://www.homehealth-uk.com/medical/blood_glucose_monitor_testing.htm
 
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