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Skip metformin dose if you haven't had carbs?

L

Languagelearner

Well-Known Member
Messages
143
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi, as I'm now taking 2 metformin tablets twice a day, can I ask the forum if there is any point in having the second daily dose at tea time if that meal will be zero carbs? Thanks.
 
Languagelearner said:
can I ask the forum if there is any point in having the second daily dose at tea time if that meal will be zero carbs?
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Yes, take the metformin regardless of the kind of food you have!
Metformin isn't a medication which acts right away, you need to build up a base level.
The reason you take it around meal times is so it doesn't upset your stomach as much, nothing to do with the carbs.
 
If you want to take it that is.. if you eat lots of zero carb meals (or exclusively) then it's likely to become pretty non essential anyway.
 
Are you testing your FBG levels? If so what range are they in?
 
muzza3 said:
Are you testing your FBG levels? If so what range are they in?
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FBG levels are of hardly any use. Dawn Phenomenon (if strong in a person) will cause the FBG to go up even without any food whatsoever. In my case a zero carb meal will reduce my BG from the FBG level.

I have nothing against metformin either for those who need medication or for those who like its supposed non-diabetes benefits.
However I didn't require any diabetes medication in order to reverse my T2 - just a Low Carb way of eating (i.e. no calorie restriction).
 
I've got a blood glucose monitor, but last used it six months ago. I don't like doing it, but will try to get a FBG reading tomorrow. The only symptom I have is getting tired and even falling asleep during the day (although getting to sleep at night is a different problem entirely).
 
Languagelearner said:
I've got a blood glucose monitor, but last used it six months ago. I don't like doing it, but will try to get a FBG reading tomorrow. The only symptom I have is getting tired and even falling asleep during the day (although getting to sleep at night is a different problem entirely).
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Have a look at the date on your teststrips!
I wouldn't only get a fasting but also test when you get sleepy during the day.
Sleepyness after food can be a symptom of high BG.
 
When I took metformin, it said on the box take one with food no mention of low carb or whatever
 
Antje77 said:
Have a look at the date on your teststrips!
I wouldn't only get a fasting but also test when you get sleepy during the day.
Sleepyness after food can be a symptom of high BG.
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Thank you Antje, I didn't know that. I'll test both before breakfast and when sleepy.
 
Riva_Roxaban said:
When I took metformin, it said on the box take one with food no mention of low carb or whatever
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It won’t.. they want you to take it whatever. And it’s only recent years that doctors etc have ‘started’ accepting low carb works

There is a coating / binding agent that upsets the stomach for some which is why it’s taken with food.. but as stated above it’s a long term medication that builds up in the system

Some people struggling with stomach issues goto the modified release version as this has a different coating binding agent.

If you skip a meal you could delay metformin until later in the day with you next meal…. Or you could take anyway as it may not affect you. Or you could skip it as 1 missed dies should make much difference in long run.. or just have it with a small snack
 
I know this sounds ridiculously high, but I have just done an FGB reading, and it came out as 13.0 mmol/l.
I often work during the night, and so I haven't been to sleep yet but I haven't had anything to eat for more than 8 hours. I'm going to read it again after I've had some sleep. I just don't know why it came out that high.
I now realise I'm going to have to keep an eye on this in a more systematic way.
 
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I eat low carb, but still need just the one Metformin to keep my levels down.
 
Languagelearner said:
I know this sounds ridiculously high, but I have just done an FGB reading, and it came out as 13.0 mmol/l.
I often work during the night, and so I haven't been to sleep yet but I haven't had anything to eat for more than 8 hours. I'm going to read it again after I've had some sleep. I just don't know why it came out that high.
I now realise I'm going to have to keep an eye on this in a more systematic way.
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How old are your test strips? And how high have your sugars been recently?
 
Languagelearner said:
I know this sounds ridiculously high, but I have just done an FGB reading, and it came out as 13.0 mmol/l.
I often work during the night, and so I haven't been to sleep yet but I haven't had anything to eat for more than 8 hours. I'm going to read it again after I've had some sleep. I just don't know why it came out that high.
I now realise I'm going to have to keep an eye on this in a more systematic way.
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Were your hands clean and were the strips in date? As you say lack of sleep, stress, illness are all also factors as well as food. Yes a systematic approach provides a lot more information to work with.
 
I just had a sleep for around 5 hours and tried it again, and my BG is down to 11.8 mmol/l. The strips are in date (until December) and I washed my hands. So I think this is my real FGB figure, as the other one was pre-sleep.
 
Languagelearner said:
Hi, as I'm now taking 2 metformin tablets twice a day, can I ask the forum if there is any point in having the second daily dose at tea time if that meal will be zero carbs? Thanks.

NewI just had a sleep for around 5 hours and tried it again, and my BG is down to 11.8 mmol/l. The strips are in date (until December) and I washed my hands. So I think this is my real FGB figure, as the other one was pre-sleep.
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Going back to your original question I certainly wouldn't be considering skipping Metformin doses with those BG readings.
 
Riva_Roxaban said:
When I took metformin, it said on the box take one with food no mention of low carb or whatever
Click to expand...
searley said:
It won’t.. they want you to take it whatever. And it’s only recent years that doctors etc have ‘started’ accepting low carb works
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My point is that there are no mention of any types of food to take the dose with, whether low carb, halal, kosher, vegan etc.

As you said it is for helping with any stomach problems that some people get. i was lucky I had no problems with it, and managed to get weaned off of it over a period of time under advice from my GP.

Edit: Clarify a point.
 
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Hi. As others have said. Metformin works in the longer term and the dose shouldn't be influenced by short-term carb intake i.e. take it regardless. Don't worry about FBG as the Dawn Phenomenon will affect results. Test 2 hours after a meal. If your readings stay high you may need further meds. Low-carbing is normally the way to go as well.
 
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