Coming off Metformin

Hello to one and all.

I've been type 2 for coming up on 18 years now, the majority of that time I have had reasonably good control with Metformin and a mixture of (recently) Trulicity pump and dapaflaglozin(sp?)

My Hba1C has hovered around 50 for years, I'd like to get it lower but - I have to be honest - I enjoy my food too much.

I drive HGV for a living and about 3 months ago I started with stomach cramps and diarrhea whilst driving, not pleasant. I put this down (initially) to a bit of food poisoning, it never went away.

After a visit to my local diabetic clinic two weeks ago, the nurse put me in for an appointment with my GP, I explained the symptoms and he has taken me off Metformin for two weeks to see if this has been causing the cramps and runs. It's been a week and I haven't experienced anything bad, but please tell me, after such a long time on the drug, how long will it stay in my system?

What are the alternatives to Metformin?

Thanks, and stay safe and well

Kev

Rachox said:

Here’s some info I found, I was interested to find out as I take Metformin too:
https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/how-long-does-glucophage-metformin-stay-in-system-269979/

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Wow... You've done brilliantly to get into remission! I am so envious of your Hba1c levels, how have you managed to get them down to those levels? (If you don't mind me asking, of course!)

Squire Fulwood said:

My DN usually says that it takes about a month for a drug to completely leave your system. I have no evidence to the contrary.

I don't know any alternatives to Metformin. I am not even sure what it does except to cause diarrhea unless you are on the slow release versions of it. The manufacturers have found many reasons to re-patent it but I have said that I will only start taking it again when it fixes teeth.

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I'm on the slow release version, I also take it with food, which is the recommended way... I'm keen to try and start getting a grip of my diabetes now after so long, maybe time for a change or six in the diet I think.

Rachox said:

Hi @pinkfoot and thank you for your kind words.
Thanks to the advice from this forum I managed to get my HbA1c levels down to non diabetic levels and maintained them there. As soon as I was diagnosed I started a low carb diet, I reduced to 100g carbs per day initially then gradually reduced down til I found that 45g carbs per day kept my levels at a range I was happy with. I also bought a blood glucose meter to test food I was eating to see which spiked my blood sugar. Then of course I take Metformin which I’m lucky I tolerate well. I’m sorry you don’t, however many type 2s have managed similar numbers to mine using diet alone.
Just a warning that some medications may need adjusting to prevent hypos on a low carb diet.

Edit for typo

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Thanks for such a detailed reply!

When I moved here to Liverpool some 14 years ago, I was over 100 kilo in weight, I'm sub 90 now but my ideal would be around the 80 mark - I was close a couple of years ago but changed back to a sedentary job and started eating quite a few carbs which hasn't helped..

The thought of low carb again makes me wonder what to take to work to eat, but I guess I'll have to be inventive and change my habits.

I have access to a testing machine, so that may well be getting a run out in the near future.

Somewhere under the bed is a carbs and diabetes book, I'll have to dig that out.