Am I having side effects of metformin?

Jjack

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i was told that I was diabetic type 2 late last year. I had a urine infection that wouldn't go away. I'd been seen by a couple of different GPs who I had asked if I could be diabetic. The answer was always no. Then I was called into the surgery and a Dr said the reason you are here is because you are diabetic. Shocked, upset, etc were just. Couple of emotions. I felt. The Dr put me on Metformin just 2 a day. Never been any good at taking medication and also being in denial I had really only taken 1 a day, occasionally 2. Over the months I've has a few of the side effects, eg upset tummy, excessive wind. The reason I'm here in the early hours is because I'm in excruciating pain. Over the time since being diagnosed I've been getting what were flu type symptoms, aches and pains. These pains would last a couple of days and go. But now for around the fifth time I'm in dreadful pain in my joints, shoulders arms hips and groin but especially my arms at the moment, I just don't know what to do with myself, I'm not sleeping at all. I tried getting an appointment yesterday but the best they could offer me was a phone call back or wait a week to see the Dr. The Dr rang me back, asked if I had a urine infection, which I don't think I do. His advice was to stop the Metformin for 6 weeks to see if this is the cause of the pain, and to see if the pain goes away and told me to contact them at the end of the 6 weeks and we would work out from there what to do. Is this the right advice? Taken paracetamol for the pain, not really helping. Sorry I feel like I'm waffling on but not really thinking straight with lack of sleep.
 

Mike d

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Are you on slow release metformin? Never heard of those side effects, but it might be the drugs. Sounds odd to me and I'm guessing it might be something else. We can't diagnose so get back to your GP and INSIST on seeing him. Ridiculous you are putting up with this
 

Jjack

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Hi Mike thanks for replying so quickly. i don't know what type of Metformin I take? The box doesn't give any clues. It reads Metformin 500 mg tablets, Metformin hydrochloride. I can't hellp feeling like I've been fobbed off!
 

Mike d

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Does it say "SR" anywhere on the package? Everyone reacts differently to this stuff and perhaps others might care to chip in, but those aches and pains sound odd to me. Upset stomach, wind? Yep ..... but the rest of it? Strange indeed.

What are your readings by the way?
 

Jjack

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Type 2
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Tablets (oral)
No, SR on my box so I assume mine isn't slow release. I don't know what my readings are? I was told right at the beginning of this journey I was around 7.2 but I don't have to go and have my blood tested ever? I had to go to casualty for a very odd episode about 6 weeks ago and was told my sugar levels were perfect but had been following slimming world diet at that point. Although lately my diet has not been as good.when I was first diagnosed I saw the practice nurse who checked my feet signed me up for dietary info class and an eye check. I do not have to go back for regular check ups, or blood tests just take the tablets.
 

Mike d

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@Jjack

You must get a meter and you must test and give us an idea of your diet. You need to get a blood test done (HBa1c) so you know what your levels are / have been as an average over the last 3 months weighted toward the last two months.

7.2 isn't tragic by any means (in fact it's pretty good for many) but you should know what agrees and what does not agree with you insofar as food is concerned and you can only do that with a meter.

Mike.
 
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cyclist

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Hi Jjack

@daisy1 will be along with some advice shortly

A meter is a must
Ignore what the nurse told you and start testing yourself to identify foods that spike you
 
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daisy1

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Hi Jjack

@daisy1 will be along with some advice shortly

A meter is a must
Ignore what the nurse told you and start testing yourself to identify foods that spike you


@Jjack

Hi Jack and welcome to the forum :)

Here is the information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Carry on asking questions and someone will try and 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 over 140,000 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

Another option is to replace ‘white carbohydrates’ (such as white bread, white rice, white flour etc) with whole grain varieties. The idea behind having whole grain varieties is that the carbohydrates get broken down slower than the white varieties –and these are said to have a lower glycaemic index.
http://www.diabetes.co.uk/food/diabetes-and-whole-grains.html

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

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 bloodglucose 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.
 
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candiloo

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72
i was told that I was diabetic type 2 late last year. I had a urine infection that wouldn't go away. I'd been seen by a couple of different GPs who I had asked if I could be diabetic. The answer was always no. Then I was called into the surgery and a Dr said the reason you are here is because you are diabetic. Shocked, upset, etc were just. Couple of emotions. I felt. The Dr put me on Metformin just 2 a day. Never been any good at taking medication and also being in denial I had really only taken 1 a day, occasionally 2. Over the months I've has a few of the side effects, eg upset tummy, excessive wind. The reason I'm here in the early hours is because I'm in excruciating pain. Over the time since being diagnosed I've been getting what were flu type symptoms, aches and pains. These pains would last a couple of days and go. But now for around the fifth time I'm in dreadful pain in my joints, shoulders arms hips and groin but especially my arms at the moment, I just don't know what to do with myself, I'm not sleeping at all. I tried getting an appointment yesterday but the best they could offer me was a phone call back or wait a week to see the Dr. The Dr rang me back, asked if I had a urine infection, which I don't think I do. His advice was to stop the Metformin for 6 weeks to see if this is the cause of the pain, and to see if the pain goes away and told me to contact them at the end of the 6 weeks and we would work out from there what to do. Is this the right advice? Taken paracetamol for the pain, not really helping. Sorry I feel like I'm waffling on but not really thinking straight with lack of sleep.
Hi - I had lots of those symptoms, but the aches and pains in my joints, I found that I had to take B12 for. The metformin eats B12 and once I got the level up to around 1000, which took a couple of weeks, they all went away. I had had frozen shoulders for ages and this really helped me. I was told about it when I had a fall in Egypt on holiday and went to the hospital for a check to make sure I had not broken my arm. The doctor there told me about it, but every time I mention it to the people here they are very condescending. Try it - I take the 'sublingual' which I dissolve in my mouth as I have the tummy things you mention. I buy them on ebay and I take one a day. This also helps with my mood/cognitive things as I found I was very low and also couldn't remember what the heck I was doing from one minute to another and it really helped me. I hope it works for you as it is awful enough being diabetic without all the extra stuff. Good luck.
 
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taowen

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Type of diabetes
Type 2
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Tablets (oral)
Hi there

I was originally on metformin. I had a few GI problems but my main one was muscle stiffness. When I got up to walk it took a few strides to lossen up I just felt like I'd run a 10k the day before. I think metformin can effect how your body gets rid of Latic acid so whether that was the problem I don't know.

I have since been put on sitigliptin which has removed the muscle stiffness.
 
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dawnmc

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Non-insulin injectable medication (incretin mimetics)
You sound like you are getting really bad treatment. I would go back to the doctor and ask for an Hba1c. The more I hear about bad treatment the angrier I get. Jeez we are paying their wages. I think they forget this.
 
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I had the terrible stomach pains, problems to the extent that I couldn't leave the house in case I couldn't find a loo. To cut a very long story short I suffered for 10 months in agony until I read on a forum that someone else was going through the same, they said it was Metformin. I stopped taking mine and a week later I was pain free. I also had what I call bone pain, I shuffled about like an old woman and would have to get out of bed and soak in the bath every morning to loosen up.... that went too. I will never take Metformin again, instead I control my sugar with diet, my Hba1c is now lower than when I was on that terrible medication.
 
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Hi everyone.....I have read this thread with interest. Diagnosed last year, but I knew for a long time before that it was possible I had diabetes, as I had most of the symptoms. I eventually had to go to my GP, as I had a dreadful yeast-like infection. Was informed a few days later I was T2, and prescribed Metformin....1 per day, then increased to 2, then 3 and eventually 4, which I could not tolerate as I had dreadful stomach pains and diarrhoea to the point where I was scared to leave the house. I was told by the GP and the practice nurse the discomfort would go away, but I still suffered, even though meds were reduced back down to 3 per day, and now down to 2. I was refused the slow release metformin. However, I am starting to feel quite poorly, and seem to be having the symptoms I had before diagnosis - extreme tiredness/lethargy, bloatedness, dry flaky skin, aching joints and a general feeling of unwellness. Scared to go back to the GP. I was also told there was no need to check my levels, but I bought a meter and check them periodically. I've now noticed my sugar levels are rising, due to doubt to the reduction in meds.

Any advice would be gratefully received. Thank you.
 
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Hi Mike thanks for replying so quickly. i don't know what type of Metformin I take? The box doesn't give any clues. It reads Metformin 500 mg tablets, Metformin hydrochloride. I can't hellp feeling like I've been fobbed off!
Hi Jack. I have been diabetic (Type 1) for 30 years this year and on Metformin (in various forms) for 14 of those years. I thought that I was having the same side effects as you, but it turns out that I have Coeliac Disease... Diabetes and Coeliac disease are often related as they are both auto-immune diseases. I Thought for many years that it was just due to the Metformin in all of the forms that I have taken it, but it was something completely different. Since being diagnosed with Coeliac disease I have felt SO much better. I wish you well on your journey. It is a learning curve that never ends, but from it, we can teach others. Get some more blood tests including your HBa1C and a meter to test your sugars. Dependant upon where you live you may (or may not) be prescribed testing strips on the NHS. As you are Type II IDM you should only need to test a couple of times a week. I am also a Specialist Practitioner so not exactly un-used to helping folks out. Good luck my friend :D
 
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Indy51

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I wonder if the OP wasn't also given statins along with the metformin as the muscle aches etc. could be down to those. It's a very common thing to prescribe both to newly diagnosed diabetics.
 
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Mike d

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Hi everyone.....I have read this thread with interest. Diagnosed last year, but I knew for a long time before that it was possible I had diabetes, as I had most of the symptoms. I eventually had to go to my GP, as I had a dreadful yeast-like infection. Was informed a few days later I was T2, and prescribed Metformin....1 per day, then increased to 2, then 3 and eventually 4, which I could not tolerate as I had dreadful stomach pains and diarrhoea to the point where I was scared to leave the house. I was told by the GP and the practice nurse the discomfort would go away, but I still suffered, even though meds were reduced back down to 3 per day, and now down to 2. I was refused the slow release metformin. However, I am starting to feel quite poorly, and seem to be having the symptoms I had before diagnosis - extreme tiredness/lethargy, bloatedness, dry flaky skin, aching joints and a general feeling of unwellness. Scared to go back to the GP. I was also told there was no need to check my levels, but I bought a meter and check them periodically. I've now noticed my sugar levels are rising, due to doubt to the reduction in meds.

Any advice would be gratefully received. Thank you.

You were refused SR metformin? Why on earth was that done? What are your current readings and BTW, well done on taking that initiative in getting a meter.

Mike
 
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Hi Mike....thank you for your reply.

Not sure how to post the correct terminology for readings, but when first diagnosed, my HbA1c was 119, which reduced to 78 then to 58.
My blood glucose readings when first diagnosed was 21.5. I t now fluctuates between 9.0 - 15.0 (first thing in the morning)
The GP reckoned the slow release would not help me (she actually had to refer to her book, as she wasn't sure what I was talking about!!) All she did was reduced my meds from 3 per day to 2, hence my current problems.
 

Mike d

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Well big improvements thus far so well done !!!

I'll leave the SR issue to you but I would insist on it given your comments. It is worth a try going by many comments I've seen and my own experiences

:)
 
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Thanks again, Mike....I intend to make an appointment with another GP in the practice and explain why I think I need the SR.