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Help - 3 weeks on Metformin , and no change in readings

yoda

yoda

Well-Known Member
Messages
66
Location
berkshire
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I am at week 3 now of Metformin , 1000mg per day 2 doses ,,,,,with still high readings pre lunch 11.6 only had one rich tea biscuit for breakfast .
i am also getting thinner ..... Is it possible to be type one now ??
I am nibbling on salad , I know readings will go up .
They are just not like they were , with diet only for 3 years .
Metformin , just doesnt work !! How long should I give it??
Any information , ideas comments would help me !!
Thank you !
 
http://www.drugs.com/pro/metformin.html

scroll down to the bottlom
quote:
Recommended Dosing Schedule
Adults
In general, clinically significant responses are not seen at doses below 1500 mg per day. However, a lower recommended starting dose and gradually increased dosage is advised to minimize gastrointestinal symptoms.

The usual starting dose of Metformin hydrochloride tablets is 500 mg twice a day or 850 mg once a day, given with meals. Dosage increases should be made in increments of 500 mg weekly or 850 mg every 2 weeks, up to a total of 2000 mg per day, given in divided doses. Patients can also be titrated from 500 mg twice a day to 850 mg twice a day after 2 weeks. For those patients requiring additional glycemic control, Metformin may be given to a maximum daily dose of 2550 mg per day. Doses above 2000 mg may be better tolerated given three times a day with meals.
end quote

Your doctor may be slowly getting your dosage up - check with him.her.
 
A rich tea biscuit for breakfast is doing you no favours on so many fronts. Firstly, I doubt it's enough, and secondly, it's unlikely to be the right sort of food to sustain you and put your body into a good state to work properly, and/or lose weight. You need a rethink.

Metformin isn't a silver bullet for reducing blood sugars. It works mainly in other ways. They hard, harsh fact is that for T2 diabetics, diet is the most critical weapon in your armoury. Metformin is the finesse, in my view. (I'll prepare to be shot down on that bold statement. :cool:)

Regarding diet, there are many ways to approach this, but, without doubt, biscuits really have to go, in the early days of change at least. If you search the forum around you will find food and nutrition forums, as well as more specifics on low car, low calorie. There are also a multitude of thread by new posters enquiring.

Personally, I gave up the patently sugary things, plus anything low fat (it usually has sugar added to make it palatable), as well as potato, pasta, most bread and rice. Now I have my bloods in a good place, I find I have been able to add some stuff back in.

Everyone is different, and you need to experiment, and test, but with a sensible hat on. Starving yourself, then fuelling on inappropriate food isn't the pathway to success. I know that sounds harsh, but it's true.

I'm sure there will be kinder people along in a minute with nicer posts, but unfortunately, sometimes the harsh statements need to be made.

Keep posting, and good luck. Just don't pin your hopes on Metformin or you'll be disappointed.
 
Totally agree with And Breathe's comments.
As she said, look at the forums, specifically the ones on Low Carb, it really is the way to go. Metformin helps a little bit, but Diet and Exercise do the job.
The weight loss probably comes from taking Metformin, as it is one of the good "side effects"
Hang in there
 
I understand that Metformin is mostly an appetite suppressant to help you lose weight. It reduces insulin resistance, appetite and the production of glucose from the liver; but all to a small extent. It has little effect on blood sugar levels. It is food that does that. Metformin is good, but will not work on its own. It needs help from you in the way of a more suitable diet. Sorry, but true.
 
THANK YOU ALL !! great information for me , you have all been Honest in your words , and it has made me rethink the situation .........
I feel more positive after reading all your comments !! Some times you just feel your alone in dealing with all this !! Thanks !!
BREATHE - you should be a counsellor !!!! Have a great weekend all !!
 
yoda said:
THANK YOU ALL !! great information for me , you have all been Honest in your words , and it has made me rethink the situation .........
I feel more positive after reading all your comments !! Some times you just feel your alone in dealing with all this !! Thanks !!
BREATHE - you should be a counsellor !!!! Have a great weekend all !!
Click to expand...
My invoice will be in your inbox shortly.

I'm reassuringly expensive. ;)
 
Metformin basically works on the liver enzymes (adenylyl cyclase - bet you wanted to know that) to stop glycogen being broken down by glucagon (another enzyme) into glucose. In other words it attempts to stop the liver dumping glucose into the blood. The liver does this when it senses bg levels are decreasing - e.g. the Dawn Phenomenon) or when first phase insulin secretion is non-existent or too low

It may also trick the body into thinking it has exercised by raising lactate
It may block livers ability to synthesise tryglicerides and promotes fat burning
May boost GLP-1 levels which increase insulin secretion (like byetta)

It can reduce Vitamin B12 levels. These must be replaced by injections if low (and apparently they usually become so). It is a set of six? injections over a week and then one injection every three months as a topup. Another pain.

It can cause stomach upset and I had to take omeprazole - an antacid.

How do I know all this? because I decided just this morning to find out how it works - I refer you to Jenny Ruhl's bloodsugar101 website. www.bloodsugar101.com

Has this information helped me? Goooooood question ! lol

As has been said - it only helps lower the basic glucose level, it doesn't bring down as such the blood glucose level - go for a walk (v effective) or take gliclazide for that. I'm thinking based on my experiments that my average will drop about 1mmol/l when I get fully back into taking it. From 6.5 to 5.5 and that's pretty good to me.

Any errors are due to me being thick!
 
Bluetit1802 said:
I understand that Metformin is mostly an appetite suppressant to help you lose weight.
Click to expand...
I don't know about appetite suppressant but it gave me the most awful diarrhea, I was too scared to leave the house. I hope it doesn't affect everyone that way, and from what I've learned about the way we all react to different carbs in different ways, it probably doesn't, although I'm not alone.
 
graj0 said:
I don't know about appetite suppressant but it gave me the most awful diarrhea, I was too scared to leave the house. I hope it doesn't affect everyone that way, and from what I've learned about the way we all react to different carbs in different ways, it probably doesn't, although I'm not alone.
Click to expand...
Well if it had that effect then for most people that would be an appetite suppressant!
image.jpg
 
Hi. I agree with Bluetit. If you are normal BMI and having a low-carb diet then it's possible you are a Late onset T1 not T2 and there are two tests, c-peptide and GAD that can help confirm it. A biscuit for breakfast makes me wonder whether you are having a good diet!? Do let us know more.
 
yoda said:
I am at week 3 now of Metformin , 1000mg per day 2 doses ,,,,,with still high readings pre lunch 11.6 only had one rich tea biscuit for breakfast .
i am also getting thinner ..... Is it possible to be type one now ??
I am nibbling on salad , I know readings will go up .
They are just not like they were , with diet only for 3 years .
Metformin , just doesnt work !! How long should I give it??
Any information , ideas comments would help me !!
Thank you !
Click to expand...
 
yoda said:
I am at week 3 now of Metformin , 1000mg per day 2 doses ,,,,,with still high readings pre lunch 11.6 only had one rich tea biscuit for breakfast .
i am also getting thinner ..... Is it possible to be type one now ??
I am nibbling on salad , I know readings will go up .
They are just not like they were , with diet only for 3 years .
Metformin , just doesnt work !! How long should I give it??
Any information , ideas comments would help me !!
Thank you !
Click to expand...

Hello Yoda
I was in the same situation as you just before Christmas 2013. I lost over 2 stones in 3 months. My GP put me on Metformin 1000 mg morning and evening. BS remained at around 16 and no one seemed to care. I in desperation went to see a consultant privately. (The wait to see one on NHS would have been far too long.) he immediately prescribed Gliclazide tablets. The difference after 3 /4 days was remarkable. I now feel well and have gained 7/8 lbs. take my tip and make an appointment to see a diabetic nurse - she will know what to do.
All good wishes, Rob Newt
 
Yes metformin can have an adverse effect on some people. In this case ask your doc to try Metformin SR (slow release). Some find this is easier on them.

With gliclazide be careful that you monitor your bg as it can lead to going hypoglycemic (ie.very low blood glucose level < 3.5 or so) If this is the case for you carry around some glucose tablets. However, some people et false hypos which are due to the bg coming down quickly, but not dangerously. Your body panics thinking its in trouble - use your meter and you will soon adjust.
 
robnewt said:
Hello Yoda
I was in the same situation as you just before Christmas 2013. I lost over 2 stones in 3 months. My GP put me on Metformin 1000 mg morning and evening. BS remained at around 16 and no one seemed to care. I in desperation went to see a consultant privately. (The wait to see one on NHS would have been far too long.) he immediately prescribed Gliclazide tablets. The difference after 3 /4 days was remarkable. I now feel well and have gained 7/8 lbs. take my tip and make an appointment to see a diabetic nurse - she will know what to do.
All good wishes, Rob Newt
Click to expand...
Thank you for that Rob . I appreciate your input ! Good to hear from people with similar experience !
 
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