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Help please!

Grasscutters

Member
Messages
10
Type of diabetes
Family member
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Husband newly diagnosed t2 Diabetes. 850mg x 2 a day Metformin. He has been taking this for just under a week, but is suffering horrendous belching and retching about an hour after eating and taking the Metformin. Gaviscon seems to help a bit but this making it difficult for him to leave home. Will this calm down? He is following the LCHF diet, and is having a cooked fried breakfast.
Thank you for your contined support through this difficult time of adjustment!
 
This is a common side effect of Metformin and normally passes after a couple of weeks, but if it is too bad or lasts longer, ask his GP for the slow release version as this is kinder on the tummy.

Keep going with the low carb etc.
 
When i was first diagnosed with type 2 the nurse started me on 500mg per day of metformin which was slowly increased over a 4 week period to 2000mg per day due to the side affects possibly being a major shock to the system, despite the weaning i still initially had side affects which were the first few days a bit of acidity in the stomach of a morning and also had a bit of diarrhea and loads of farting for a few weeks thereafter. That greasy breccy is not ideal especially as he's new to the metformin so it might be an idea to change diet for a while then have a few spoilers after the body gets used to the change. In my case i have shredded wheat with a slice of melon and it's lovely with skimmed milk mmmm
 
When i was first diagnosed with type 2 the nurse started me on 500mg per day of metformin which was slowly increased over a 4 week period to 2000mg per day due to the side affects possibly being a major shock to the system, despite the weaning i still initially had side affects which were the first few days a bit of acidity in the stomach of a morning and also had a bit of diarrhea and loads of farting for a few weeks thereafter. That greasy breccy is not ideal especially as he's new to the metformin so it might be an idea to change diet for a while then have a few spoilers after the body gets used to the change. In my case i have shredded wheat with a slice of melon and it's lovely with skimmed milk mmmm


But what do the shredded wheat and melon do to your BS levels? Do you test out your breakfast? I know it would send my levels sky high.
 
I can't understand why doctors and nurses still prescribe the normal Metformin most people have tummy problems with it especially when taking the full dose straight away. So many have to go on the slow release ones they might as well give them in the first place My husband was put straight on the slow release Metformin and had to build up to the full dose over four weeks so he had no tummy problems at all
 
Yes, do ask for the SR version. Although the NHS saves a few pence, it costs them to have a return visit from the pateint for a new script; stupid. I was lucky as my GP gave me the SR version from Day 1
 
As I have IBS and no gallbladder I requested the SR version from Day 1. It still took me *months* (about 4, if I recall correctly) to get used to it. I am on 2000 mg x day. It took me two months to work up to that level.

Your husband is on a fairly high dose, is on I assume the regular version, and has changed his diet, so it is bound to upset his stomach. As the others said, have your hubby ask for the SR and be gentle (and low-carb) with his meals for the next few weeks until his system gets used to both changes. I know I had a very hard time eating a fry-up during those first 4 months. (It didn't bother me though, as I'm not a big fan of bacon, sausage or eggs.) I also cut down my portions simply because the thought of food was making me sick. Even if he has to stick to the same few basic meals that won't upset his stomach for a few weeks, it is far better than vomiting all the time!
 
Yes, I too can identify with the tummy problems. It can take quite a while for the situation to settle down, but as others have suggested, do go back to the doctor - at least phone - if it becomes too unpleasant or debilitating. I also wonder about what he is eating for breakfast. If not used to a fried start to the day, what about a more continental style offering: say, hard boiled egg and ham? (if my more knowledgeable friends here agree) Breakfast was the hardest meal for me to sort out. Have a look at the LOW CARB DIET FORUM (scroll down the forum home page) there is a thread "What have you eaten today?" which I found it helpful to read just for some meal ideas!
BeeGee
 
Mine is fine with that. Maybe i'm a hybrid that's been bumped up the evolution scale

That's 2hybrids then! I can eat shredded wheat and weetabix (not together) with only a one point rise Melon spikes me though so I keep to berries






Mine is fine with that. Maybe i'm a hybrid that's been bumped up the evolution scale
 
Husband newly diagnosed t2 Diabetes. 850mg x 2 a day Metformin. He has been taking this for just under a week, but is suffering horrendous belching and retching about an hour after eating and taking the Metformin. Gaviscon seems to help a bit but this making it difficult for him to leave home. Will this calm down? He is following the LCHF diet, and is having a cooked fried breakfast.
Thank you for your contined support through this difficult time of adjustment!
Hi grasscutters , might be good to phone your doc' and ask for the slow release metformin, or ask if you could cut the dose back to say 500 and see how you handle that,all the best
 
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