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Help and Advice

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martfitz

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3
Hi,

I have been a type 2 diabetic for about 9 years now and have some concerns regarding my medication and their side effects.

I have always taken Metformin, I currently take 4 x 500mg per day and I'm not totally happy with how it is regulating my blood sugars. I also take 30mg Piaglitazone once a day.

I also suffer from a bit of bowel trouble, well a lot actually - I don't like to be too far away from a toilet, which can be quite stressful as I spend a lot of time driving and visiting clients.

I just put this down to my diabetes, but looking into side effects with Metformin I have discovered that this could be my medication.

Does the fact that I have this bowel trouble mean that my body isn't digesting food correctly and therefore I'm not getting the right nutritients to help manage my diabetes?

Should I ask my doctor for a complete change of medication? Or would I benefit from just having it changed to slow release Metformin? Are there any benefits with this?

Finally when is the best time to take standard Metformin as I've never really been given any solid advice with regards to this?

Sorry, lots of questions but I need to control my diabetes and not have my diabetes control me.

Many thanks.

Martin
 
Hi Martfitz and welcome to the forum.


martfitz said:
Hi,

I have been a type 2 diabetic for about 9 years now and have some concerns regarding my medication and their side effects.

I have always taken Metformin, I currently take 4 x 500mg per day and I'm not totally happy with how it is regulating my blood sugars. I also take 30mg Piaglitazone once a day.

What sort of diet are you on,Martfitz? Medication alone will not regulate blood sugar,you need to help with reducing the amount of carbs as well.

I also suffer from a bit of bowel trouble, well a lot actually - I don't like to be too far away from a toilet, which can be quite stressful as I spend a lot of time driving and visiting clients.

I just put this down to my diabetes, but looking into side effects with Metformin I have discovered that this could be my medication.

This is a side effect of Metformin but..after 9 years ...maybe you should discuss this with your doctor.The SR may help.

Does the fact that I have this bowel trouble mean that my body isn't digesting food correctly and therefore I'm not getting the right nutritients to help manage my diabetes?

Should I ask my doctor for a complete change of medication? Or would I benefit from just having it changed to slow release Metformin? Are there any benefits with this?

Finally when is the best time to take standard Metformin as I've never really been given any solid advice with regards to this?

Many find taking metformin in the middle of eating helps them.

Sorry, lots of questions but I need to control my diabetes and not have my diabetes control me.

Many thanks.

Martin
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the advice, I intend to see my doctor this week with regard to the change, but I thought some advice from other people with diabetes would help, so thankyou.

My diet isn't too bad, although as I'm sure with most if us there is room for improvement. With my job I deal with nutritionists and dieticians, so I have been able to get advice from them which has been very useful.

What I have found frustrating in the past is the lack of advice and help that surgery's sometimes give, I have moved recently and so far have found my new surgery very proactive, so fingers crossed they will be open minded and positive with regard to a change in medication, my old doctor was frankly a waste of space.

Many thanks - Martin
 
Martinfitz
welcome
I'll try to add a little to the good info you've already been given.
Yes Metformin can cause astric trouble, The SR is gentler.
As already written, you can help yourself considerable with your diet.
Nutritionists and dieticians tend to tell you to eat complex carbs for energy. There is noscientific evidence for this, although people have tried to prove it.
However it is definite that the glucose. in your blood comes mainly from the carbs you eat. ergo: eat fewer carbs, get lower blood glucose.
Metformin alone cannot reduce your blood glucose much more than about 1.5mmol/l. Pioglitazone can, but it beats up your beta cells to do it. It also tends to make you put on weight.
What is your control like?
HbA1c?????
 
The standard NHS advice at the moment to eat starchy carbs with every meal is not the best advice for diabetics!!Many find that their blood sugars just cannot cope with this. Do you test your blood sugars after meals to see the effects the meals are having on you?
 
My last HbA1C was 9.1, so not great. They have normally been between 5 and 7.

I don't test my blood sugar after meals to be honest, I'll start doing this to see what they're like.

My weight hasn't been too bad, when I first became diabetic I did intentionally lose a lot of weight, around 7 stone. (Yeah I know stereotypical candidate for type 2 diabetes).

I have put about 1 and a half stone back on over the past 4 years, but I have started exercising again, so this will go and I know will help.

Another thing I find a little frustrating with dietry advice, even from people whose job it is, is that their opinions differ so greatly, so it's really hard to know what is right or wrong.
 
Another thing I find a little frustrating with dietry advice, even from people whose job it is, is that their opinions differ so greatly, so it's really hard to know what is right or wrong.


Well that is the dilemma that all of us are faced with so we have to read as much as we can and then decide if we follow the "do as I say" brigade or the "do as I do" brigade and that isn't helped by the fact that no two diabetics seem to react the same due to their differing insulin production, insulin reaction and insulin resistance. So the decision is yours I'm afraid.
 
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