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Metformin Raising Blood Sugars?

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Farmerval

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I've been diagnosed for two years or so. Occasionally I get a libre to monitor blood sugars, find it's a good motivator, also if I'm thinking of trying a new diet variation etc. I am on Metformin 500mg twice daily. Blood Glucose was staying high 7's to low 8's with little movement after eating meals. I switched to a Keto diet, for about three days normal levels were high 5's and low 6's couldn't believe it, but after 3-4days back up to 8's and 9's. Skipped the Libre for about 6-8 weeks, stayed on keto most of the time. Got anew libre last week as I wanted to ease from Keto to low carb and was shocked, bloods are 10+ all the time, food is driving up to 14 and 15, those are numbers I'd never seen before, not after normal food, veggie curry etc. Am desperately frustrated, everything seems to be almost anti common sense.
 
Farmerval said:
I've been diagnosed for two years or so. Occasionally I get a libre to monitor blood sugars, find it's a good motivator, also if I'm thinking of trying a new diet variation etc. I am on Metformin 500mg twice daily. Blood Glucose was staying high 7's to low 8's with little movement after eating meals. I switched to a Keto diet, for about three days normal levels were high 5's and low 6's couldn't believe it, but after 3-4days back up to 8's and 9's. Skipped the Libre for about 6-8 weeks, stayed on keto most of the time. Got anew libre last week as I wanted to ease from Keto to low carb and was shocked, bloods are 10+ all the time, food is driving up to 14 and 15, those are numbers I'd never seen before, not after normal food, veggie curry etc. Am desperately frustrated, everything seems to be almost anti common sense.
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Have you double checked with a finger prick?
 
Metformin has only a very small effect on blood glucose. It is limited to only a couple of mmol/l even at full dose of 2000mg. The rises you are seeing are greater than Metformin could repair, which points to something else happening. If you are sure that you are still low carbing, then it may be that your pancreas is not pumping as much insulin as you need. Note: the Libre is known to often read high compared to a finger test, so i believe, but if it correlates with your fingerpricks, then you should go back to your doctor who may arrange a test for pancreas output. You should also measure your ketone levels. The chemists will have OTC wee sticks that are relatively cheap. Levels of up to 4 mmol/l are considered safe if doing a keto diet or fasting, or intense exercise. High levels of 10 or more needs swift medical intervention. Make sure you read the advice on DKA to recognize this if it occurs. Forewarned is forearmed.
 
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