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Coming off Metformin

pinkfoot

pinkfoot

Well-Known Member
Messages
69
Location
Aintree, Liverpool
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
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
 
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.

I have just remembered why I stopped taking it. Taste Displacement is a listed possible side effect and in my case it made everything taste like burnt plastic, especially vegetables.
 
Last edited:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
pinkfoot said:
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!)
Click to expand...
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
 
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
Click to expand...
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.
 
pinkfoot said:
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
Click to expand...
Yes happy side effect of the low carbing was weight loss as you can see in my profile pic. All the best with your life style changes and I hope your health improves as a result.
 
I gave up on the Metformin as it was trying to turn me inside out.
Some years later I have no problem living off two meals a day, still do some work, though semi retired now I am 70.
It is all down to the carbohydrates, and although I seem to be very sensitive to them and need to stay under 40 gm per day, I can still have a good amount of veges, as stir fries, to substitute for rice in curries, I even make bubble and squeak with mashed swede and what veges I find in the fridge, mixed with beaten egg.
For me normal blood glucose is down to what I eat, I never needed the Metformin.
 
A 10 minute walk after each meal is an alternative, if glucose control is the metric being looked at.
 
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