Having recently been diagnosed with Type 2, I was put on Sukkarto 500mg. I take 2xtwice daily. I have experienced severe vomitting and diarrhoea and wondered if this is normal.
SICKNESS
- Thread starter nomorecake
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- Insulin
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- Not being able to eat as many chocolate digestives as I used to.
The active ingredient in Sukkarto is Metformin Hydrochloride. Metformin is known for causing these types of side effects in a good number of users. If you were to enter Metformin in the search bar in the top right corner of the page then you will find many threads on this topic.
For some users the symptoms pass, others simply cannot take it. Do you have a slow release (SR) form of the drug? SR is sometimes better so talk to your doc if symptoms persist.
In the meantime, welcome to the forums and I'll ask @daisy1 to give you some info.
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I’m on the standard release Metformin and I didn’t go straight to the final dose of three tablets per day. I started on one the first week, 2 the second etc. I had side effects for a few weeks but tolerate it really well now.
Thanks Rachox. My levels were so high that I was started on 1 per day for 4 days until I saw the Diabetic Nurse. It was then increased to 2x2 per day. The bout of sickness was particularly bad but I will persevere with them.
daisyduck
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Metformin made me really sick. Constant headaches. nausea and tummy troubles. I persevered for 11 weeks as I was told it would benefit me. I got to the point where I was actually gagging as I tried to take it. Spit it out and haven't taken one since. Felt better within a couple of days. I've managed very well on diet and exercise alone.
There are lots of benefits to metformin but some of us just cannot tolerate it.
There are lots of benefits to metformin but some of us just cannot tolerate it.
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- Type of diabetes
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I hope you get to tolerate it in time but there are alternatives and there’ll always be someone here to help you out if you need more advice.
daisy1
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@nomorecake
Hello nomorecake and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it helpful. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will help.
BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS
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 235,000 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:
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 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
Access to blood glucose test strips
The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
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. Most of these are free.
Hello nomorecake and welcome to the Forum
Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it helpful. Ask as many questions as you want and someone will help.BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEWLY DIAGNOSED DIABETICS
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 235,000 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
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 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
- Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
- Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
- 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
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. Most of these are 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.
Resurgam
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I managed about 5 weeks - Metformin and a statin - I was so ill and in despair - and it was just before Christmas 2016.
I stopped taking the tablets and although it took some time to get over the effects my life is so much better - but I do sometimes wonder how much better it would have been if I had never taken them.
My diabetes is well controlled and has been for a long time, so I am thankful for that.
I stopped taking the tablets and although it took some time to get over the effects my life is so much better - but I do sometimes wonder how much better it would have been if I had never taken them.
My diabetes is well controlled and has been for a long time, so I am thankful for that.
Hi Resurgam, I am on them about 5 weeks. I also take a Statin along with other prescribed medications. As this is my 1st bout of sickness, I feel it might be put done to a 'bug' if I go to GP. I will restart them and see how it goes. |I will only let this happen once more though. I have never been so ill. It happened so quickly, without warning.
Nicksu
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I felt vaguely nauseated from the word go - and ended up with sickness and diarrhoea after 3 weeks. Gave it up and stuck with gliclizade with no ill affects. It seems to be a personal thing whether we can stomach Metformin or not.
daisyduck
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- 988
- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
- Treatment type
- Diet only
I had a headache from the first day I took Metformin. It faded to a dull sick ache after 2 weeks but didn't go away until I stopped taking it.
Metformin does not usually cause hypos. I did have one funny turn though. I'd been very low carb all day and did some strenuous exercise.. power walking and running. ( I was out so couldn't measure my BG at the time ) I stopped for a minute then walked slowly home. I was feeling better by then and BG was 4.2, so if it had been a hypo my liver had kicked in and given me a boost.
