Blood Sugars on the rise (and fall) again

[winter2342343]

Hello, I am looking for some advice. I was diagnosed with type 2 at the end of 2016. The doctors put me on metformin, 500mg per day and after two weeks to increase to 1000mg.

During taking the metformin I was suffering from really bad insomnia so I decided to stop taking it to see if it would improve, it eventually went and I was able to carry on with year eye, foot and health check with the diabetic nurse. I lost weight during this and got down to about 18 stone, which is still too heavy I admit but it did seem to improve everything. My hbA1c was 76 at diagnosis, within 4 months I had got this down to 40. I basically started by cutting out all sugary snacks, drinks, anything with sugar in it I avoided and really upped my exercise. I didn't think about low carb at the time, I just presumed no sugar would be the best approach (knowing what I know now about low carb diets I wish I'd got that in my head sooner).

Fast forward to covid and I had put on a stone over lockdown, in September my weight was about 20 stone 11 lb (I have gained weight since 2017 - totally my own fault). So last review I was told to go on metformin after my hbA1c was at 74, I started taking 500mg per day with no adverse effects. I was then told to increase to 1000mg per day and subsequently 1500mg per day (3 tablets) at that stage I began to get really bad insomnia again so I agreed to knock it back to 1000mg to see how I coped. Also during this time my tinnitus (I have a hissing sound in both ears since January 2020) has become noticeably more pronounced, so I am worried about that (blood vessel damage) also alongside the insomina. The nurse is saying I should go on a statin to get my cholesterol down and go on meds to reduce my blood pressure, although this is always higher in the doctors to when I test at home (white coat syndrome perhaps)

The flip side to this is I've started to lose weight and exercise a lot more, 7 weeks ago my morning BG reading was 10.4 mmol, as of this week it was 5.6 mmol and I've lost 9.40kg so far, which I think must be the metformin as I have no appetite but I've also been going low carb too, drastically cutting carbs back has maybe helped matters. I know metformin is unlikely to make me lose weight on its own, but combining it with low carb and exercise (I'm going for a 50 minute walk every day) I've read does have a positive effect. I feel pretty depressed at the moment, similar to how I felt in 2016-2017 while I was getting my blood glucose levels down. I know I've got a long way to go, but I'm determined to get this under control for good.

For the past two days I've felt a little light headed and a bit unsteady on my feet, slightly weak feeling arms - not sure what that is.

I guess my questions are should I come off the metformin at this stage to see if my insomnia and tinnitus improves? Or do I keep pushing through it and continuing my weight loss and exercise increase, which I feel is getting me good results. Is my body just adjusting to these changes?

Sorry for the long post! any advice would be really welcome.

Thanks.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Do you have a meter? If you feel lightheaded and unsteady you might be experiencing a false hypo (Feels exactly like one, just doesn't have the numbers to back it up. If that's the case, have some protein. They'll go away as your body gets used to numbers in the normal range). On the other hand, the fatigue/muscle weakness could be due to the metformin, as it is known to cause vitamin B12 deficiency. Get some supplements and see whether that helps, should getting a test done for it through the GP mean jumping through too many covid-related hoops.

I'd say, keep at it with the low carb and exercize, maybe incorporate intermittent fasting if you haven't already. While metformin does reduce hunger, going low carb/high fat also does that, so who knows what is causing the reduced appetite? If they both are, you might not need the met as a crutch.And, well... Metformin can cause anxiety and depression so... Nothing to lose by putting your bets on low carb and exercize and see how you fare. Give it a few weeks or months. Your meter'll tell you how it's working for you.

Good luck,
Jo

 

[winter2342343]

Do you have a meter? If you feel lightheaded and unsteady you might be experiencing a false hypo (Feels exactly like one, just doesn't have the numbers to back it up. If that's the case, have some protein. They'll go away as your body gets used to numbers in the normal range). On the other hand, the fatigue/muscle weakness could be due to the metformin, as it is known to cause vitamin B12 deficiency. Get some supplements and see whether that helps, should getting a test done for it through the GP mean jumping through too many covid-related hoops.

I'd say, keep at it with the low carb and exercize, maybe incorporate intermittent fasting if you haven't already. While metformin does reduce hunger, going low carb/high fat also does that, so who knows what is causing the reduced appetite? If they both are, you might not need the met as a crutch.And, well... Metformin can cause anxiety and depression so... Nothing to lose by putting your bets on low carb and exercize and see how you fare. Give it a few weeks or months. Your meter'll tell you how it's working for you.

Good luck,
Jo

Thanks for the input and advice Jo. I do have a meter, funnily enough I tested it last night when I felt lightheaded and it was 6.8 so it may well be as you say a false hypo.

 

[JoKalsbeek]

Thanks for the input and advice Jo. I do have a meter, funnily enough I tested it last night when I felt lightheaded and it was 6.8 so it may well be as you say a false hypo.

Well, if that's the issue, then it's a good sign and you're well on your way to normal blood sugars. They feel horrible, I know... But it's not without a silver lining, at least!

 

[Juicyj]

Hello @winter2342343 Well done on getting your levels down.

For the past two days I've felt a little light headed and a bit unsteady on my feet, slightly weak feeling arms - not sure what that is.

I would get checked out at the GP with those symptoms, it's easy to confuse false hypo symptoms with other health conditions and under these circumstances it's best to see your GP to make sure you're doing ok. The effect of a false hypo is temporary but if this is ongoing then it's best to consult a professional.

 

[winter2342343]

Hello @winter2342343 Well done on getting your levels down.



I would get checked out at the GP with those symptoms, it's easy to confuse false hypo symptoms with other health conditions and under these circumstances it's best to see your GP to make sure you're doing ok. The effect of a false hypo is temporary but if this is ongoing then it's best to consult a professional.

Thanks. The main concern with me at the moment is the increased tinnitus - I am still trying to work out if that is due to metformin or not, I've read some stuff online about metformin having an effect on it, but there seems to be little consensus of opinion on the matter.