Type one diabetic on metformin.

[Hollister]

Hello all!

I'm type one diabetic, have been now for eight years.
I'm on novorapid and levemir and take an extremely high dose of this and it barely affects my blood sugars.

My DSN is putting my on metformin, I've read this is for people with type two and overweight.
I'm underweight at the moment, however I'm going on metformin to hopefully increase my sensitivity to the insulin being injected. (60units for a 19 year old is a pretty high amount!)

Has anyone ever experienced this?
Does metformin have any weird side effects?
How will metformin affect my weight?

Thanks all x

 

[noblehead]

There are some type 1's who take Metformin to help with their insulin resistance. As to side-effects, I believe the standard Metformin sometimes causes an upset stomach and people find by switching to the slow-release version (SR) has fewer side-effects, as to it effecting your weight, if you use less insulin as a result of using this drug then you should see some weight loss or it might hold your weight steady, not too sure really on this one.

 

[Juicyj]

Hello all!

I'm type one diabetic, have been now for eight years.
I'm on novorapid and levemir and take an extremely high dose of this and it barely affects my blood sugars.

My DSN is putting my on metformin, I've read this is for people with type two and overweight.
I'm underweight at the moment, however I'm going on metformin to hopefully increase my sensitivity to the insulin being injected. (60units for a 19 year old is a pretty high amount!)

Has anyone ever experienced this?
Does metformin have any weird side effects?
How will metformin affect my weight?

Thanks all x

Hi Hollister,

I was on Levemir until a month ago and was gradually increasing it as wasn't getting good results and felt insulin resistant so I also was put on metformin however my consultant also switched me to Tripbeca and since then I've been getting back to normal, have you discussed changing your basal ? It doesn't sound right that your taking so much and it's not affecting your blood sugars so like me maybe your resistant to Levemir, worth a try.

Good luck

 

[noblehead]

@Juicyj, do you mean Tresiba?

 

[yingtong]

I take Metformin and have done so for over 10 years and it reduced my insulin requirements by over 50 % .It takes a couple of weeks for it to kick in and my weight is very stable and I have not had any side effects whatsoever.I have been type1 for over 52 years.

 

[Juicyj]

@Juicyj, do you mean Tresiba?

Yes sorry my spell checker kicked in !!

 

[Hollister]

Hi Hollister,

I was on Levemir until a month ago and was gradually increasing it as wasn't getting good results and felt insulin resistant so I also was put on metformin however my consultant also switched me to Tripbeca and since then I've been getting back to normal, have you discussed changing your basal ? It doesn't sound right that your taking so much and it's not affecting your blood sugars so like me maybe your resistant to Levemir, worth a try.

Good luck

Thanks for your reply, sounds alot like me actually. May have to discuss this with my DSN.

I'm not sure which insulin it would be but she currently assumes both, as I'm on at least 20 novorapid for just a sandwich or something small, and 52 at night will take me just into good readings.

Doing lots of glucose tests to see when they spike the most.
X

 

[Juicyj]

Reading your thread reminded me of what I went through when i was on Levemir, over time I was increasing my dose but still coming out at +12, I got so fed up I didn't even bother speaking to my DSN I just kept thinking I needed to increase my dose - had never heard of anyone not getting good results from it so thought it was just me - since switching to Tresiba I am back down to around 6-9, and finally am feeling normal again !

My quick acting - novorapid works fine, it was just my background that wasn't working - worth speaking to your DSN/Consultant about trying another basal insulin - let me know how you get on ?

 

[nigelho]

Hello all!

I'm type one diabetic, have been now for eight years.
I'm on novorapid and levemir and take an extremely high dose of this and it barely affects my blood sugars.

My DSN is putting my on metformin, I've read this is for people with type two and overweight.
I'm underweight at the moment, however I'm going on metformin to hopefully increase my sensitivity to the insulin being injected. (60units for a 19 year old is a pretty high amount!)

Has anyone ever experienced this?
Does metformin have any weird side effects?
How will metformin affect my weight?

Thanks all x

I'm type 1 and use metformin SR tablets 6 per day as well as Apidra, Humulin I. I used to use novorapid by my meal ratio went up to almost 1:1 gram of carbs(10:1CP) so after e-mailing my DAFNE nurse I changed to Apidra. I now use a meal ratio of 1:5 grams of carbs (2:1CP) and am trying 4 metformin tablets. So far my BSs seem OK. I was taking 2 tablets at each meal plus my Apidra. If you're still high do you CARB COUNT and if so you may need to change your novorapid and even levemir. Levemir made me extremely ill.i.e. extremely tired/fatigued etc.

 

[Greglaar1]

Hello I've been type one diabetic for 18 months now and I am on metforin I don't inject I only use metforing now as my pancreas is still producing enough insulin. But in the future will be insulin independent and have to start injecting my doctor told me one patient lasted for years before he had to start injecting as a type one. I know it's strange

 

[sal47]

Hello all!

I'm type one diabetic, have been now for eight years.
I'm on novorapid and levemir and take an extremely high dose of this and it barely affects my blood sugars.

My DSN is putting my on metformin, I've read this is for people with type two and overweight.
I'm underweight at the moment, however I'm going on metformin to hopefully increase my sensitivity to the insulin being injected. (60units for a 19 year old is a pretty high amount!)

Has anyone ever experienced this?
Does metformin have any weird side effects?
How will metformin affect my weight?

Thanks all x

Doctors are now realising that with the metformin working on the liver, it can help with blood sugars. I was originally diagnosed as t2. But i was severely underweight and the drugs didnt work for long. I'm on exactly the same meds as you and also metformin because of the way it works. Doctors are using it more and more. But be warned it can be a vile drug. Stomach problems. Diarrhoea, cramps wind etc xx

 

[sal47]

You are only young so maybe it wont affect you as much. It can inhibit appetite also. I'm on 16 levomir at night and appx 24-28 novo by day. I'm 47. Make sure they explain how metformin works to you. Also research it. It can affect people different, and takes a while to get into your body and for you to tolerate it. Gives me incredible wind lol. X

 

[Jadellis]

Hello I've been type one diabetic for 18 months now and I am on metforin I don't inject I only use metforing now as my pancreas is still producing enough insulin. But in the future will be insulin independent and have to start injecting my doctor told me one patient lasted for years before he had to start injecting as a type one. I know it's strange

You sound exactly the same as me except my specialist nurse said I was very likely to be type 1.5. I'm on metformin too (1500 mg slow release a day) but have been told it will be insulin eventually. I was diagnosed 5 years ago this week and the medics are really surprised by how long I've gone without needing insulin. I think it's because I walk almost every day and never eat anything sweet unless I'm having a low.

 

[Hollister]

You are only young so maybe it wont affect you as much. It can inhibit appetite also. I'm on 16 levomir at night and appx 24-28 novo by day. I'm 47. Make sure they explain how metformin works to you. Also research it. It can affect people different, and takes a while to get into your body and for you to tolerate it. Gives me incredible wind lol. X

Will have a look, I get alot of stomach cramps anyway!
I'm on 25 novorapid and 55 levemir lol, hoping to cut that down as for age and size, that's a fair bit!

 

[Hollister]

Doctors are now realising that with the metformin working on the liver, it can help with blood sugars. I was originally diagnosed as t2. But i was severely underweight and the drugs didnt work for long. I'm on exactly the same meds as you and also metformin because of the way it works. Doctors are using it more and more. But be warned it can be a vile drug. Stomach problems. Diarrhoea, cramps wind etc xx

Try not to scare me! will look into it a bit more, I'm quite sensitive to some medication, just not insulin!

 

[Engineer88]

Why arent you on a pump out of interest @holister? also have you thought about trialing a CGM to see how your insulin is working?

 

[neels]

Hi, I was put on Metformin under similar circumstances as you about 8 years ago ie becoming very insulin resistant and sugars were on the high side. Unfortunately I did not fair well on Metformin, even though I was eventually put on the Slow Release version, it just took longer for the side effects to come, but come they did! I kept on stopping and starting Metformin, and now I have decided to stop taking it altogether.

I am on the pump and started needing a lot less insulin and then less than a year ago, they put me on Forxiga which has taken my sugar levels way down. I need so much less insulin now and blood test results are very good.

 

[Daibell]

Hi. Being underweight with that level of insulin implies to me that possibly you need to change insulin types and/or you may have an unusual variant of diabetes. Metforin (have the SR type if it gives you bowel problems) is very safe and commonly prescribed. It only ever has a small effect on blood sugar and is more helpful for those who are overweight. I think you may need to be referred to a diabetes specialist clinic as you aren't following typical patterns.

 

[Hollister]

Why arent you on a pump out of interest @holister? also have you thought about trialing a CGM to see how your insulin is working?

I have been considered for a pump but it's a lengthy process. Currently doing my carb count classes.

 

[Hollister]

Hi. Being underweight with that level of insulin implies to me that possibly you need to change insulin types and/or you may have an unusual variant of diabetes. Metforin (have the SR type if it gives you bowel problems) is very safe and commonly prescribed. It only ever has a small effect on blood sugar and is more helpful for those who are overweight. I think you may need to be referred to a diabetes specialist clinic as you aren't following typical patterns.

Hiya, I have been on different types of insulin and these were the same. I do go to a diabetes specialist clinic which is where I got the information from. They are trying different things before metformin.
Why my diabetes must be so complicated! X