Metformin

[pamd.1952]

I stopped my metformin 3 days ago because I have had diahorrea for the last 8 months. It’s now stopped but my sugars have gone up.
What do I do now. I will contact my nurse next week if it doesn’t come down. What can I do now.

 

[pamd.1952]

To add I have been on Metformin for over 25 years without any problems.
I took ketoacidosis last October due to food poisoning and I was put on insulin with Metformin. I have not lost any weight but my stomach feels funny. I just thought it may be the Metformin.

 

[TriciaWs]

Difficult to advise if you are on insulin, usually for a type 2 I would enthusiastically say go low carb instead but you need to balance the insulin very carefully if you do this.
For the very recently diagnosed, low carb can get many of us into remission quickly but the longer your pancreas has been under stress the harder it gets. Still just about all T2s can reduce meds as a minimum.

 

[LittleGreyCat]

I stopped my metformin 3 days ago because I have had diahorrea for the last 8 months. It’s now stopped but my sugars have gone up.
What do I do now. I will contact my nurse next week if it doesn’t come down. What can I do now.

Normal Metformin or slow release?
Slow release might be kinder to your guts.

 

[EllieM]

What can I do now.

Reduce your carbs, but carefully, since as @TriciaWs said you are at risk of hypos if you reduce too much.

What sort of insulin regime are you on? What sort of blood sugar levels are you seeing?

 

[pamd.1952]

My Metformin is the slow release one. I take Humulin M3 28 units in the morning and 14 units at tea time. My blood sugar levels are much higher now average 10-13 mmols.

 

[Resurgam]

If you are on a fixed amount of insulin don't you have to adjust your carbohydrate intake to match it?

 

[Rich12]

Just a tip here. I’m on two 500ml metformin sr tablets twice a day. I have found by taking one tablet every 4 or 5 hours. The side effects are halved. The toilet problem are a lot less, which is a relief, and my numbers are staying as normal. So I’d say play about with your dose , you may find that’s the way to tolerate metformin . Good luck.

 

[Rich12]

Day 3 of taking my metformin every 5 hours, and I’m thinking of going back to taking 2 in the morning and 2 at night. I now seem to be having a little trouble going. Not had that problem for years. It’s something different.