• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Bitter disappointment after repeat GTT

N

Ne1ce

Newbie
Messages
1
Hi there,
Six months ago my GP told me I was prediabetic, and not to worry. I could begin to take metformin if I wanted to and make lifestyle changes . Since then I have lost almost a stone in weight and tried to take more exercise but not commenced the metformin. The GTT was repeated this week and the fasting level is still the same at 6.9, The 2 hour level has gone down from 10.9 to 8.9. I am gutted as I had hope to have made significant difference.
Medical friends have said that metformin has severe side effects and I am reluctant to begin to take this. Is there anything else I can do which can bring my blood glucose levels down into the normal range before it's too late as the thought of insulin treatment horrifies me?
 
Hi Ne1ce

Well done on losing so much weight. I am struggling to lose even a few pounds. I suspect it is going to take some time to get your BS levels down so don't give up. A 2hr level of 8.9 is much better than 10.9 and still reduces your risk. For me, a 2hr GTT of 8.2 was enough to give me a wake-up call. I don't know what the difference between 10.9 and 8.9 is in real terms but its gotta be good. May I ask what your BMI is? And do not give up....
 
I was very reluctant to start on Metformin, as I had been led to believe I was pre-diabetic, then told at the next appointment "No, you are Diabetic!'
I eventually agreed to take 1 twice a day, and was warned to report any side effects (none). When increasing the dose, the diabetic nurse said to increase gradually (from 1 to 2) as if I developed side effects, there are other alternative tablets.
I now take 2 twice a day and have no problems whatsoever, and never have, except when I got the coated ones which I believe are meant to avoid digestive problems, and gave me indigestion ! Clearly, some people do get side effects, but I'm not one of them.
I would still prefer to reduce or stop completely, but unfortunately don't have the willpower at the moment
Good Luck
 
Ne1ce said:
Medical friends have said that metformin has severe side effects and I am reluctant to begin to take this.
Click to expand...

I am surprised to hear that any Health Care Professional has said this as Metformin does not have any "severe or serious" side effects although the list of possible side effects is not short many people do not suffer any side effects at all and most of those who do generally pass though any discomfort relatively quickly, weeks or a few months at most.

Of course their are some people who can not tolerate this drug just as is the case with every other drug, all drugs have possible side effects so some people will always have reactions to them.

You wont know whether you will suffer any side effects until you try it, but if you do try to keep an open mind as the placebo effect can be very strong and if you expect a particular side effects you will probably be more inclined to feel it, whether real or imagined and their effect may feel worse if you have it in your head already that they wont work and this would happen.

Metformin are not a "magic bullet" but they do help in controlling blood glucose levels in several ways, it can help reduce the amount of glucose created and released into your blood by your liver, it can limit the amount of glucose absorbed into your bloodstream from the food you eat and it helps your bodys insulin become more effective in reducing your blood glucose, no other group of drugs have this three way approach to control which is why Metformin is always considered the first line drug. That and the fact that it is relatively inexpensive compared with some others and the fact that it does not have any serious side effects.

Metformim have also been found to prevent against several types of cancer. Metformin is widely accepted as one of the better drugs.

If you have been prescribed it or it has been suggested as a possible course oe action, my advise would be to try it with an open mind.

And perhaps ask your medical friends what their professional qualifications are!!
 
Back
Top