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Blood sugar reading seem higher when on metformin

M

mysterylady

Active Member
Messages
33
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Doctor put me on metformin 1500mg and 40mg simvastin I was on this for 3 months and went back to see my doctor I told my doctor that the sugar testing seem to be going higher not lower the doctor changed my metformin to a longer release version but its not making any difference im not losing any weight with the tablets either
is there any one else having the same problems
 
Hello,

I'm sorry you are struggling to keep your levels down. Metformin is an appetite suppressant, so that should help you lose weight, but unfortunately it doesn't do much to lower blood sugars. May I ask what sort of diet you are following? Have you seriously reduced your carbs, especially potatoes, rice, bread and pasta? Your diet may be the reason you aren't seeing an improvement.
 
HI I didnt know that I thought the metformin was to help reduce the sugar levels I have to admit that my diet is all over the place at the minute ive tried having no bread potatoes or rice and the levels didn't alter then I tried a high fat low carb
some times at work I just have a sandwich which I know cant be good for me
yesterday I had 2 scrambled eggs 2 pieces of bacon for breakfast took a reading 2 hours after it was 7.5 on my lunch break I had 2 sausage on a teacake took a reading 2 hours after and it was the biggest reading ive ever had at 15 I was so shocked at that reading that I took it again on a different finger and it read 14 that's incredibly high my readings in the mornings used to be 7.2 to 7.5 now that im on the medication there 9.7 9.9 something isn't right ive finally got an appointment with a diabetes dietician and hopefully she can point me in the right direction
I did read in other posts that others have experienced the same thing happening one person said the simvastatin they were taking was the problem
I started on both tablets at the same time thanks for your reply bluetit
 
I believe it is very common for people to think Metformin will solve all blood sugar problems. This is most likely due to doctors not explaining things properly. It does help a little with insulin resistance but has very limited effect on sugar levels. Medication isn't a cure that allows you to eat what you like. The only way you can get your levels down on Metformin is by a suitable diet. Simvastatin can increase sugar levels, but again not by very much and not in every person. They certainly wouldn't make the differences you are seeing.

You must know why your lunch reading was high - it was the tea cake and possibly the sausages if they weren't high meat content ones. (most have a lot of cereal in). If you make a real effort with your diet, and avoid or GREATLY reduce bread, potatoes, rice and pasta, plus reducing other carbs and sugary stuff (I include fruit and milk in that), you will see an improvement and you should also lose weight.

I recommend that you keep a strict food diary of everything you eat and drink (including portion sizes), then record your blood readings alongside. This way you can perhaps see where you are going wrong.
 
Hi. I agree completely with Bluetit. The right diet will have the most effect and the meter will help you find the food baddies
 
I was overweight.
I found losing some of it, and taking up exercise did a lot for me as well.
 
Metforum did make my sugar rise .. But it settled down after a few weeks with the LCHF diet
 
I found that my readings increased when I was put onto statins so they put me onto Sitagliptin to help control them again. I had to stop taking the statins because they made me feel quite ill and my readings have went down again. In fact my new Diabetic nurse and I are trying an experiment in that I've come off the Sitagliptin for about 3 months to test the theory that it was the statins that caused the increase. Find out the results in November!
 
Something to be considered is that we are all different. Although Metformin has been recognised as an appetite suppressant, eating less is not a guarantee that weight will be lost. I took Metformin when I was first diagnosed type II in 1997 and I didn't realise the quantity I was eating was so low until I started looking at my diet seriously and was expected to eat considerably more than I had been eating. So I had been eating less than my Basic Metabolic Rate (as calculated by using the Harris Benedict equation) and my weight stayed the same. In fact I was eating 1,000 cals a day less than my BMR without weight loss. Weight loss for me didn't occur until I cut out pasta/rice/bread/ potatoes which means I'm now eating about 1,000 cals a day now, 900 less than my BMR and I haven't even factored in my exercise levels. I've now plateaued at that level as well. I have tried all the tricks known to the dieting industry, but no joy yet. The good thing is that I now only take metformin, I was able to stop gliclazide and januvia within 3 months of low(er) carbing. An added bonus was I that I was also able to stop taking Atorvastatin. My last HbA1c was 6.4 and total cholesterol was 5.4, higher than they like but I can fix that without the dreaded statin.
 
Thanks for replying Daphne
I was wondering if the statins was causing it because I was put on both tablets at the same time I know that something is causing it
will you let me know if your experiment works it will be interesting to know
Its good to know that its not only me who has higher readings after starting the medication
thanks again michelle
 
It is a known fact that statins can cause an increase in glucose levels in some people. It even gives a warning about this on the NHS Choices website:

The following side effects have been reported in people who have had medicines similar to Simvastatin. The frequency of these side-effects in people who take Simvastatin is not known

  • diabetes or worsening of diabetes
 

Thank you for replying to my post
I agree with you every one reacts differently to medication I Know that some people have said that it works well for them and they lose weight
But this doesn't seem to happen for me Im trying again to have no bread, rice, potatoes, or pasta and see if that helps
last time I tried this the reading were still the same sometimes even higher so I just thought whats the point if nothing is changing
Some times I eat very little and the readings are still high
I think I will feel a little better when I speak to the dietician and she can answer a few questions
Thanks again For replying
 
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