Type 1: Hba1c and Metformin

[keyne21]

Hi,

So I was diagnosed about 3 years ago. My brother was diagnosed when he was 9 so I was aware of the symptoms so thankfully caught it early and managed to be in and out of hospital with no complications.

I started off religiously caring about hba1c and eating correctly, but over the years and with my job (shift work approx 65 hours a week) I find that my health has taken a backseat.

My most recent hba1c was 75 which is awful and I would like some advice on how I can bring it down!

I have also recently been prescribed metformin to take with my levemir and was interested if any other Type 1 has tried this and if it worked?

Thanks!

 

[azure]

Hi @keyne21

I can't answer about the Metformin as I don't take it, but to get your HbA1C better, test lots so you can spot highs; do a basal test to make sure that's ok; then check your meal ratios are working. You might find bolusing more in advance helps any spikes.

I also recommend the book Think Like A Pancreas.

If you've worked out the reasons why your HbA1C is high then at least you know what areas you can try to improve. I'm guessing the shift work doesn't help. Have you considered a pump? You could have different basal rates depending on your shift.

 

[himtoo]

Hi @keyne21
to me you have made the most important step --- acknowledging that you want to do something to try and get your A1c lower.

my tips would be to start off by trying to get in a routine ( difficult I know )

also , trying to do little small steps is important -- testing at the same time each day , getting a meal at the same time.
any steps you can take are huge ....and if you can keep posting here you will have my support along with many other lovely people.

all the best !!

 

[keyne21]

Hi @azure and @himtoo

Thanks for replying!

To be honest I havent really looked into the pump. Im pretty content with injections at the moment. I think the main problem is that I am not able to have regular meals but I didnt think this would have such an impact as I have had the same job since diagnosed!

I always eat twice a day but it could be 8am and then nothing until 10pm, or 3pm then 6pm.
I am awful at blood tests and only really test when driving.

I did find that having the libre helped but so expensive!

I work in a pub in quite a troublesome area, so I think I keep my levels higher as I dont want to start having a hypo when something kicks off as distinguishing hypo and adrenaline isnt easy.

Thanks

 

[himtoo]

Hi @azure and @himtoo

Thanks for replying!

To be honest I havent really looked into the pump. Im pretty content with injections at the moment. I think the main problem is that I am not able to have regular meals but I didnt think this would have such an impact as I have had the same job since diagnosed!

I always eat twice a day but it could be 8am and then nothing until 10pm, or 3pm then 6pm.
I am awful at blood tests and only really test when driving.

I did find that having the libre helped but so expensive!

I work in a pub in quite a troublesome area, so I think I keep my levels higher as I dont want to start having a hypo when something kicks off as distinguishing hypo and adrenaline isnt easy.

Thanks

wow -- tough one to be working in such a stressful environment-- are your employers aware and do they allow you a bit of leeway to get in a break / eat during a shift \?

I was content on MDI ( multiple daily injections for 18 years and did not consider a pump because I thought why fix it if it isn't broke)--- but since going on a pump a year ago I can honestly say it has been life changing for me-- any hypo's I get now are so much milder and in general I have a lot less of them too.
( to give you some perspective I had A1c's of 5.7% - 6.1% for the 5 years prior to pumping)
since pumping my A1c is now 6.5% so still good control but not running on the edge so much

hope this helps

 

[Lisaclark4]

Hi,

So I was diagnosed about 3 years ago. My brother was diagnosed when he was 9 so I was aware of the symptoms so thankfully caught it early and managed to be in and out of hospital with no complications.

I started off religiously caring about hba1c and eating correctly, but over the years and with my job (shift work approx 65 hours a week) I find that my health has taken a backseat.

My most recent hba1c was 75 which is awful and I would like some advice on how I can bring it down!

I have also recently been prescribed metformin to take with my levemir and was interested if any other Type 1 has tried this and if it worked?

Thanks!

Hi
I have been type 1 diabetic for 25 years and I seem to be increasing my insulin more and more to keep my blood sugars regulated. I have been recently put on metformin twice a day as well as my 4 injections. I have not noticed any difference yet but am due for another blood test soon. So I will be interested to see if my hbA1c has come down.
My weight has increased with the more and more insulin I am taking and it is really making me feel very low. I joined slimming world this evening so I am hoping that I can loose weight and cut down my insulin. I would be interested to know if meformin has helped anyone ?

 

[Sarah21480]

I've been a type 1 for 28 years and have been on metformin for about 4 weeks now. Unfortunately my dawn phenomenon is out of this world, I was on 40 units of tresiba a night and still waking up in the 20's! I'd tried splitting the doses, taking at different times and even upped it slowly to 50 with no avail, my liver obviously just hates me! Anyway, since I've been on metformin my overnight sugars are completely level and I've been able to lower my tresiba to 30 units a night, my bolus has had to be lowered too. I'm hoping they keep me on this as I feel a lot better and can actually get a good nights sleep at last!

 

[RichardR]

Hi
I was diagnosed with T1 17 years ago. Once my sugar levels became stable I began to gain weight pretty fast and with that my insulin dose increased with it. My BMI had reached 40 and at that point my consultant suggested I started taking metformin along with insulin to try and tackle the weight gain and the cycle of increasing insulin doses. I've now been taking metformin for 10 years now with insulin. Of course it wasn't a magic pill regarding weight loss, but it did eventually allow me to halve my bolus doses and with changes in my diet my weight and blood sugar's became much more stable.
Personally metformin has been a major step forward with my management of diabetes and I wouldn't change it, the less I need to inject the better.

Bringing your hba1c down, for me has been trial and error, which I'm sure a lot of people have had a similar experience. As already mentioned testing regularly is important, and definitely chose regular times to start with when trying to find out what might causing spikes/highs.

 

[AmandaD]

I'm type 1 30 years and was prescribed metformin 2 years ago to help with insulin resistance. I use a pump. I have no idea whether the metformin helped me get over the insulin resistance or whether me adopting a low carb diet did, but it did take two years t0 rectify. I'm back at the clinic next week and may ask can I just stop it cos I honestly don't think its doing anything.

 

[Spatta5591]

Hi
I've been type 1 for 9 years now, my hba1c have increased over the last few years so my doctor put me on Metformin... Two weeks ago I saw the diabetes specialist nurse who looked at my meds and asked me why I was on it (cause it can be prescribed for pco) and I told her to help lower my hba1c and she told me to stop taking them immediately as they will have no effect for me as I'm not type 2 and not on the large size which is what it works best with... I have to check my bloods as much as I can so she can see where I'm spiking and hopefully sort this out or something on Monday.
Hope this helps.