can't cope with metformin, so worried

[chrissieworne]

Hi

I feel a fool now as I was saying I was ok on the met sr. How wrong!! I started on 1 met a day and was fine, increased to 2 and couldn't cope with the gut spasms and pain which refused to settle. DN overuled GP and put me on SR Met saying that was tolerated better. Started on one....fine, started on two and within 24 hrs I am as bad as ever, the stomach ache is intolerable, can't concentrate at work etc and I feel utterly defeated.

I called GP who said stop it ...now !!

Seeing DN tomorrow to see where to go from here, what's next do you think?

Am worried she'll say Insulin. Am so depressed.

Chrissie

 

[wallycorker]

Hi Chrissie,

How far have you gone in trying to sort things out through diet?

Personally, I've found diet to be much more effective than the metformin. I was well on my way towards injecting insulin and I seem miles away from having to do that these days. In fact, I'm expecting that I'll be taken off metformin soon and back to diet only.

All that has been achieved through diet as far as I'm concerned. Mainly cutting back dramatically on the starchy carbohydrates - i.e. cereals, bread, potatoes mainly - but big reductions in rice and pasta also.

Good luck - John

 

[hanadr]

Insulin isn't the only option, but it is comparatively cheap, hence popular.
It will depend on your specific circumstances and your nurse
Hana
Ps, just seen Wally's post
A tight low carb diet might be your answer. At least it isn't likely to cause the tummy grumbles. It's worth a try. Especially if you have weight to lose.
Hana

 

[FordPrefect]

Even if you cant get your diet under control there are a number of other drugs they can try you apart from just sticking you on insulin. If this is what they try and do then I suggest that you demand to see a diabetic specialist called a diabetologist or endocrinologist. The names mean the same thing I believe but are somewhat interchangeable. If you can tighten up your diet some more that will also help, try looking at the GI diet and use a meter to test for yourself the effects different foods have on you. But remember you have to find a diet that works for you. Personally low carb would never work for me there is little enough food that I actually like in the first place and whilst I like some fatty and protein based foods generally I am not that keen on them and couldnt eat too much of either. But like I said if you do tighten up on your diet its important you find something that you like and hence can live with. No point in adopting a really great diet if you are sick of it and cant carry on with it in a week or so.

 

[chrissieworne]

Hi folks, thanks (as always) for your wise words. Saw DN tonight and tummy still very bad even tho I stopped the met 48 hrs ago.

She's giving me 3 months drug free to really pull out all the stops and lose some more weight, test regularly and keep a food diary so I can try to get to grips. (yes, I said test regularly)


She advised me she thinks I can make a real difference a sort of kick up the butt pep talk.

Will have HBA1C done again in Feb then if not enough progress she's talking about half??? a tablet of Glicizide as she thinks that would help, bad points being possible weight gain and risk of hypo.

At least I have a reprieve so am determined to try my hardest.

Chrissie

 

[wallycorker]

Hi again Chrissie,

Testing regularly to see which foods send your blood glucose figures high is a good idea. Losing weight will help also.

However, as far as I'm concerned it's the cutting back dramatically on the starchy carbohydrates - i.e. cereals, bread, potatoes, rice and pasta etc that will give you the quickest and biggest improvement in your blood glucose levels.

People get some very big improvements in their HbA1c readings by taking such action.

In my opinion, that's a much better idea than going down the medication route and progression to injecting insulin.

Good luck - John