Metformin and Metformin slow release

[Annielu]

Has anyone found they just cannot tolerate Metformin, took it for 16 years no problem. After 3 months of unxplained tummy troubles (really bad) finally Dr. put me on Slow release, after 6 months tummy probs started again. I have now stopped taking the tablets , really scared , 3 days now without and I am feel fine but blood sugar is high. Can anyone tell me if they had this problem and what is available without causing tummy problems.

 

[ianf0ster]

Metformin is slow to build up in the body and so slow to go away too. It has only a small effect on Blood Glucose and none at all on BG reactions to what you eat, so there is no reason to be scared.
There alternative drugs, but most of them can also cause digestive problems as well as other nasty potential side effects.
I assume that you are a Type 2 (you don't say) nor do you say how high your BG levels are.

Many people in this forum control their Type 2 using diet alone. By that I mean:
Low Carbohydrate way of eating (not calorie restricted)
Time Restricted Eating (OMAD etc.)
Fasting
5:2
or even periodic very low calorie (Fast 800, Newcastle etc.).

 

[Yellredder]

I stopped taking Metformin a few months back as it bunged me up and I realised it was a different brand. Maintained my HBA1C of 48 despite not taking them, I low carb but not religiously. Bloomin nurse wants me back on them, but the low release ones. Says there’s cardiovascular protection. Currently I’m undecided.

 

[Annielu]

Metformin is slow to build up in the body and so slow to go away too. It has only a small effect on Blood Glucose and none at all on BG reactions to what you eat, so there is no reason to be scared.
There alternative drugs, but most of them can also cause digestive problems as well as other nasty potential side effects.
I assume that you are a Type 2 (you don't say) nor do you say how high your BG levels are.

Many people in this forum control their Type 2 using diet alone. By that I mean:
Low Carbohydrate way of eating (not calorie restricted)
Time Restricted Eating (OMAD etc.)
Fasting
5:2
or even periodic very low calorie (Fast 800, Newcastle etc.).

Thank you for your helpful reply, should have said I am Type2 BG 13.9 mml to 20.mml I know thats two high. I am going to try all of the methods you suggest I really do not want tablets/digesstive problem.

 

[ianf0ster]

You can't do all the methods at the same time.

Here is a link to the blog post which got me started on my path to T2D remission (been in remission over 3yrs now):

The Nutritional Thingy

There’s a few things you should know. 1. Practically all carbs turn to glucose once ingested , so not just straight sugars, but starches...

josekalsbeek.blogspot.com

Either try that one first, or whichever other one takes your fancy -basically once 'fat adapted' I started using Time Restricted Eating as well as Low Carb, but that would have been too hard for me at first. After a few months of low Carb I was no longer hungry for Breakfast, so TRE was then easy.

 

[Annielu]

I stopped taking Metformin a few months back as it bunged me up and I realised it was a different brand. Maintained my HBA1C of 48 despite not taking them, I low carb but not religiously. Bloomin nurse wants me back on them, but the low release ones. Says there’s cardiovascular protection. Currently I’m undecided.

I was put on slow release, ok for 4 months gradually tummy problems started again. I really do not want to take tablets again, although its interesting your nurse saying theres cardiovascular protection, I have not heard that before is it correct.

 

[ianf0ster]

There is certainly some evidence of possible cardiovascular protection, but I don't know how strong the evidence is.
Same with possible longevity effects.

 

[aylalake]

I was switched to SR because I couldn’t tolerate the standard one and I was fine, other than a single incident of diarrhoea once or twice ever 6 weeks or so (Imodium stopped these).
However, my local pharmacy was recently taken over by another company and they have been sending me a different brand each month. I find there is about a week of digestive problems each time. May be coincidental…

 

[Yellredder]

Well I started the slow release ones and I’m getting dreadful bloating. Really quite uncomfortable. Only three days in though.

 

[aylalake]

Well I started the slow release ones and I’m getting dreadful bloating. Really quite uncomfortable. Only three days in though.

I found it took me around a month before things “normalised”. Hang in there, it’s worth it in the end.