metformin, diarrhea , low carb diet

[Jillycoops5]

Hi,

I have been on a low carb diet for 4 months now which has done wonders for my BG but initially had diarrhea due to the artificial sweetner in some things I am obviously sensitive to large amounts, so thought i had sorted this out but now I find I am getting a bad stomach, diarrhea every week. I am wondering if its the metformin because i am still on my original dose of 1g metformin twice day even though my Hb1ac has gone from originally being 8.6 to 6.2, the nurse said they would leave it until my next review. If I am on reduced carbs is there enough carbs for the metformin to work on and is this why i have stomach problems? Just wondered if anyone else had similar problems.

Jill

 

[connie104]

Metformin is notorious for tummy problems. Ask your doctor to go on the slow release version it sometimes helps. I had terrible problems with both types instant diarrhea !!! There are other medications you can take so don't worry.

 

[Healthy One]

A good probiotic taken with each Main meal should help, also Digestive Enzymes could be useful. Maybe try Silica gastrointestinal gel (Hubner is a good brand) to get the diarrhea under control, and then maintain with probiotics, and digestive enzymes.

 

[irish-colt]

Hi,
I had the same problem.....but mine lasted for 2 years ! We tried so hard to find out what was causing the problems, even to looking at the ingredients on the sweeteners I was taking. This did sort the problem out for a while....but started up again with a vengeance. It got so bad that if I was going out the next day I wouldn't have anything to eat. Then whilst out I would stick to water or green tea. Wait until I got home THEN had something to eat. It was not a good way to live.

I had 2 colonoscopies (?) and and endoscope exam. Polyps were removed but found to be ok. It was only when the consultant said that they would take a further look at the range of medication I was on, even though these were checked out before, that the possible problems that could arise through metformin was pursued.

I had an exam for bowel cancer last November coupled with a complete blood work up. Thankfully these came back negative so we started going through my med's.

Because they had changed some of them around earlier in my treatment this meant that it could only be 1 of 2. They changed me of Metformin on the 29th of November so we could see how I went over the weekend By Monday it was like being in new world.

No more cramps and feeling like I had to go NOW. A few days more and I was eating properly and having better motions. Within the week of starting on Gliclazide (?) I felt like a totally different person.

For 2 years I found it difficult to socialise and enjoy my family home, meals, Christmas dinners, birthdays, births etc. So don't let your Doctor fob you off by telling you that Metformin is safe and very rarely do you get side effects. Whilst this may be true I can promise you that if you do get side effects they are Doozies.

 

[Jillycoops5]

Thank you to every one that has answered my question, I have been scoped from both ends so I know that my guts are ok nothing sinister there! I am gettting to the point of worrying about going out but today took the bit between the teeth and i have an appointment with the doctor Monday morning after being up all night with the dreaded diarrhea, so extremely tired today and also I can't keep having sick daysoff work because of bad bellies. I will try everything thats been suggested.

 

[hornplayer]

Don't know how low carb you are but, if you can take the carbs, an apple or two fixes the problem. - I was having huge problems daily until I indulged my apple craving. Problem gone. There's some sort of enzyme in apple, - or so I'm told(?) I also avoid gluten, no matter what it's carb count.

Hope that helps.


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App

 

[Low Carb Aussie]

Hi,

I have been on a low carb diet for 4 months now which has done wonders for my BG but initially had diarrhea due to the artificial sweetner in some things I am obviously sensitive to large amounts, so thought i had sorted this out but now I find I am getting a bad stomach, diarrhea every week. I am wondering if its the metformin because i am still on my original dose of 1g metformin twice day even though my Hb1ac has gone from originally being 8.6 to 6.2, the nurse said they would leave it until my next review. If I am on reduced carbs is there enough carbs for the metformin to work on and is this why i have stomach problems? Just wondered if anyone else had similar problems.

Jill

Hi - I have recently commenced a Low Carb High/Healthy Fat diet & seem to be having Metformin related diarrhoea - even after taking it for years! I think maybe with lack of carbs my dose might be too high now! I am on 1000mg b.d. - But will seek Endocrinologist or GP advice to try & reduce amount & see if this helps!

 

[Lakeslover]

Yes, for me low carb definitely makes the Metformin issues worse. When I reached the point where I didn’t dare go to sleep in case of sudden diarrhoea in the night I decided that was it! I can’t live like that.

But the low carb has more impact on blood sugar than the Metformin for me, so I'm gradually reducing Metformin. I seem to be able to tolerate 1000mg a day in split dose, but no more than that.

 

[Heatherp85]

Hello. I had the exact problem when I first went onto Metformin and so did my partner (not diabetes related) she gave up on it and i switched t slow release and was grand after that. I used to carry diarrhoea tablets with me as I was working 16-17 hour days and was constantly on the go. Low carbing the first time round helped with my normal tummy problems and i carry indigestion tablets incase I feel sicky (the chalk helps apparently) Good luck

 

[Dave4jackie]

Metformin is notorious for tummy problems. Ask your doctor to go on the slow release version it sometimes helps. I had terrible problems with both types instant diarrhea !!! There are other medications you can take so don't worry.

I am on the slow release version Sukkarto SR, although better than before I still get terrible wind at both ends and then diarrhoea every few weeks where my metabolism speeds up and my tablets go straight through me so my blood glucose go up

 

[1970clea]

I had these issues on Sukkarto - it has a shellac coating which didn’t dissolve consistently for me. I raised it with the GP and got the meds changed to a different SR Metformin brand. Problem instantly resolved.