T2 Newbie - question about medication

hic36

Newbie
Messages
3
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hi all, I am still relatively New to diabetes, doc put me on Metformin and Atorvastatin, the statin cause my cholesterol was a little above the recommended. My question is this: I was sick last night before bed and had an upset stomach - was sick 2 times but this morning have had the squits!! I think it was possibly something I ate yesterday, I am a bit confused about whether I should take my metformin or not. Have only been sipping water all day. What is the general rules about taking medication when ill. Not sure if I should continue to have it or not. Hoping some of you excellent people on here can give me some advice. Many Thanks. Also what sort of things do you start eating when you start to feel better.
 

Jaylee

Oracle
Retired Moderator
Messages
18,214
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi,

Welcome. Tagging in @daisy1 . She has a great info pack regarding the diagnosis..
Getting hold of a blood test meter to monitor your sugar levels is a must!
Tagging in @Bluetit1802

Unfortunately I don't do the meds you're prescribed, but hopefully there will be someone at hand with your specific enquiry..
 
C

chris lowe

Guest
Hi, Metformin is notorious for causing the quits, sickness may be coincidence. Give it a few weeks for the Metformin to settle in but if you've got the standard pill & there's no improvement you can ask your gp to prescribe the slow release version. It's more expensive that the standard which is why it is always the first choice. Hope you feel better soon
 
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hic36

Newbie
Messages
3
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hi, Metformin is notorious for causing the quits, sickness may be coincidence. Give it a few weeks for the Metformin to settle in but if you've got the standard pill & there's no improvement you can ask your gp to prescribe the slow release version. It's more expensive that the standard which is why it is always the first choice. Hope you feel better soon
Thank you, I have been OK on the meds, after the first couple of weeks, but persevered. This episode seems to have come out of the blue. Do you still take the medication even though you are not eating properly and have the upset tum.
 

hic36

Newbie
Messages
3
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hi,

Welcome. Tagging in @daisy1 . She has a great info pack regarding the diagnosis..
Getting hold of a blood test meter to monitor your sugar levels is a must!
Tagging in @Bluetit1802

Unfortunately I don't do the meds you're prescribed, but hopefully there will be someone at hand with your specific enquiry..
Thank you for taking the time to respond, I do have a blood test meter - bought my own - bought the SD Codefree one.
 
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daisy1

Legend
Messages
26,457
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Cruelty towards animals.
@hic36

Hello and welcome to the Forum :) Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will be able to help.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

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 well over 147,000 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

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.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a free 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

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 blood glucose 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.

Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. They're all free.
  • Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why :)
  • Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
 

Brunneria

Guru
Retired Moderator
Messages
21,889
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi and welcome!

Have a look at the info sheet that comes in your boxes of medications.
they should both give you some guidance about what to do when ill.
I believe (but it has been a while since I read the leaflet on Metformin, so I may be mis-remembering) that it is supposed to be taken with food, and discontinued if the illness means very little food is eaten in a day.
But please, take the advice given by your leaflet, rather than my advice! :)

Afraid, I don't know about your statin.

Hope that helps.
 

Bluetit1802

Legend
Messages
25,216
Type of diabetes
Type 2 (in remission!)
Treatment type
Diet only
I can't add anything to the above. I don't take any medication. It won't do you or your blood sugars any harm if you skip the Metformin for a few days until you are eating properly again. It has hardly any effect on BS.
 

Daibell

Master
Messages
12,642
Type of diabetes
LADA
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi. It will be the vanilla Metformin. If the problem doesn't clear then do ask for the SR (Slow Release) version. Did the GP prescribe the statin on the basis of your lipids ratios e.g. LDL/HDL. Often GPs follow the guidelines and just use the total figure and go for less than 4 which is daft. I would query it next time as these drugs are handed out like sweets and for some they are harmful. I take them but I have had some cardio issues and don't have any statin side effects.
 

Lenah_

Active Member
Messages
37
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Tummy woes are assuredly because of metformin. That levels out after about two weeks, I found.

You're not alone!!!!
 

Jaylee

Oracle
Retired Moderator
Messages
18,214
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Thank you for taking the time to respond, I do have a blood test meter - bought my own - bought the SD Codefree one.

Now, that's good news about the meter!! :cool: