Feeling awful after stopping Metformin

[123Kiwi]

my Dr says I’m doing so well that she wants me to stop Metformin and control my T2 with diet alone. I took my last tablet Thursday (5 days ago) and had been feeling ok until yesterday. I may have had too many carbs at breakfast because I felt a bit low after 4 hours. It wasn’t a big deal though. But today, about 45 minutes after breakfast (whole grain toast, one egg, one thin slice of ham) I feel awful- headache, palpitations, and generally feeling sick. I tested my BG and it was 12.0! I don’t think I’ve ever tested it that high before! I’m drinking lots of water, feel like I should get out for a walk, but I’m in the middle of something I need to finish. Should I be worried about this?

 

[T2_2018]

Hi,

Great to hear that you are controlling your T2 so well, but sorry to hear the recent problems.

I went through something very similar, though my BG levels didn't go so high. After my last checkup in Jan I reduced my metformin from 2000mg to 1000mg (4 down to 2 tablets) and felt really run down and pretty rubbish for about three weeks. My BG only went up by around 1 though, not as high as your reaction. It may have been more than just reducing the metformin, who knows, but it all happened as soon as I reduced the meds.

I haven't really recovered back to previous feel good levels either, but am definitely better than just after reducing the tablets. It has really knocked me for six, so much so that I might not be so keen to reduce again if (fingers crossed) the next review is a good one.

 

[Guzzler]

Did you do a second test to confirm the 12.0? Metformin doesn't have the greatest affect on bg levels as such, stopping it would possibly make a slight difference but not enough to raise your level to 12. What was the pre prandial reading?

 

[Rachox]

Hi Kiwi, in my opinion it’s your high blood sugar reading that’s making you feel unwell rather than the stopping of Metformin. Your reading of 12 is telling you that the breakfast you had wasn’t suitable for you, what was your blood sugar before breakfast. I place the blame on the toast, too many carbs for most Type 2s.
I notice this is only your second post so I’ll tag in @daisy1 for her useful info post incase you haven’t seen it yet.

 

[Bluetit1802]

my Dr says I’m doing so well that she wants me to stop Metformin and control my T2 with diet alone. I took my last tablet Thursday (5 days ago) and had been feeling ok until yesterday. I may have had too many carbs at breakfast because I felt a bit low after 4 hours. It wasn’t a big deal though. But today, about 45 minutes after breakfast (whole grain toast, one egg, one thin slice of ham) I feel awful- headache, palpitations, and generally feeling sick. I tested my BG and it was 12.0! I don’t think I’ve ever tested it that high before! I’m drinking lots of water, feel like I should get out for a walk, but I’m in the middle of something I need to finish. Should I be worried about this?

What were you before your breakfast? That is what matters - the higher you start the higher you finish. Also, 45 minutes after eating toast (wholegrain or not) it isn't surprising you saw double figures. I appreciate you tested because you felt poorly, and your headache, palpitations and whatnot were most likely because you were in double figures rather than withdrawal symptoms from Metformin. Test again and see if you have come down. No need to be worried at this stage.

 

[Member496333]

I had withdrawal symptoms when I quit Metformin not dissimilar to the side effects I noticed when I first stared using it. Although I agree that it seems the blood glucose concentration is probably why you feel awful. Seems likely that you’ve viewed Metformin cessation as affirmation that you’re cured, and have perhaps gone a little overboard with the carbohydrate?

 

[DCUKMod]

@123Kiwi - when you had the reading of 12 had you had your usual breakfast, or do you usually have something different?

Metformin is quite a gentle drug, in terms of how much it usually impacts blood sugars, so whilst some folks find their numbers go up a small amount for a short while, it's not usually by much, and takes a little time to happen.

 

[Patrick66]

I am not a great fan of suddenly stopping a particular tablet as I have tended to feel rotten and very quick side effects.

I would always advocate (and this is just my opinion, not a medical one) a phased withdrawal over a number of weeks so your body can adjust to the tablets leaving your system.

 

[Deleted member 308541]

I would always advocate (and this is just my opinion, not a medical one) a phased withdrawal over a number of weeks so your body can adjust to the tablets leaving your system.

This what my GP is doing with me @Patrick66, I was on 2 x 500 mg Metformin a day morning and night, but he told me to discontinue the morning one. Next hba1c blood test in three months will see the evening Metformin tablet stopped.

No withdrawal symptoms after seven days.

Edit: Typo.

 

[daisy1]

@123Kiwi
Hello and welcome to the Forum Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it interesting and helpful.

BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

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 147,000 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

Reduce your 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

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)

• Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l

Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)

• Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
• 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l

However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

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.

 

[LindsayJane]

This has been a useful thread! I was wondering if stopping metformin might cause blood sugars to rise and, having read this I believe it will. My DN said I was OK to stop taking it but I'm going to do it gradually, just cut out the morning dose and see how it goes. Thank you folks x

 

[Deleted member 308541]

This has been a useful thread! I was wondering if stopping metformin might cause blood sugars to rise and, having read this I believe it will. My DN said I was OK to stop taking it but I'm going to do it gradually, just cut out the morning dose and see how it goes. Thank you folks x

My bgl is still around the same level after two weeks just on the one Metformin 500, after stopping the morning one. My fasting levels have not risen at all.

Still have no withdrawal symptoms either.

 

[Emma_369]

This has been a useful thread! I was wondering if stopping metformin might cause blood sugars to rise and, having read this I believe it will. My DN said I was OK to stop taking it but I'm going to do it gradually, just cut out the morning dose and see how it goes. Thank you folks x

I think it may vary by person as for me personally I came off my metformin and saw no change in my BG, in fact my latest Hba1c (diet only) is slightly lower now than the last one (i was on metformin then)

 

[LindsayJane]

I think it may vary by person as for me personally I came off my metformin and saw no change in my BG, in fact my latest Hba1c (diet only) is slightly lower now than the last one (i was on metformin then)

I really don't think I'm ready to come off completely yet and this is partly psychological, I know. I hope there will be no change in my BS levels - only time will tell x x