Help

[WoodfordGuy]

I am a fairly new diabetic (just over a year) and still trying to understand what I can and can't do.

I have just had my metformin increased to 3 x 500mg which I take with an evening meal.
I often feel very tired and have bouts of dissiness.
I am now becoming concerned as I am cautious not to eat anything with Sugar in it and I eat a fairly healthy diet.

Does anyone have the same problem ? Can anyone advise me on the best diet to follow and what alcohol I can drink

Thank you for your help in advance

WoodfordGuy

 

[hanadr]

I'm a convinced carb controller. My personal target( you'll need to find your owneventually) is to avoid visible carbs, other than the occasional slice of crispbread, the odd tiny new potato or a piece of fruit.
I don't drink, but I believe that dry red wine or spirits don't raise blood sugar and may lower it.
Exercise comes in to the equation too. I go to the gym not less than twice weekly, swim and try to walk at least 25 miles per week.

 

[fergus]

Hi WoodfordGuy,

Glad you could join us and we'll do our best to help.
Can you give us an idea of a typical day's diet and blood sugar levels? While avoiding obvious sugars can seem straighforward at first, glucose can hide in the stragest places!

All the best,

fergus

 

[jenrose]

I take 2 x 500 mg Metformin, one after breakfast and one after the evening meal and thought you could try having having one and half after breakfast, and one a half after the evening meal to see if that helped.

 

[cugila]

I
I have just had my metformin increased to 3 x 500mg which I take with an evening meal.
I often feel very tired and have bouts of dissiness.
WoodfordGuy

Hi WoodfordG.
Are you sure that this is the doseage of Metformin you were advised to take ? 1500mg in one go is a heck of a lot, the max dose in one go is usually 1000mg ? That sort of dose is normally split over 3 meals.

This is the doseage instructions from the BNF

Initially 500 mg with breakfast for at least 1 week then 500 mg with breakfast and evening meal for at least 1 week then 500 mg with breakfast, lunch and evening meal; usual max. 2 g daily in divided doses.

I suggest you check asap with your GP that this is the correct doseage. The symptoms you describe could be because of an overdose. Phone NHS Direct if you cannot speak to a GP now, out of hours.

 

[Sweet enough]

I
I have just had my metformin increased to 3 x 500mg which I take with an evening meal.
I often feel very tired and have bouts of dissiness.
WoodfordGuy

This is the doseage instructions from the BNF

Initially 500 mg with breakfast for at least 1 week then 500 mg with breakfast and evening meal for at least 1 week then 500 mg with breakfast, lunch and evening meal; usual max. 2 g daily in divided doses.

Spot on. My Dr explained this incremental dosage very carefully and insisted I followed it to the letter. It's quite difficult not to speed the process up because of impatience to get blood glucose down and approaching normal.
I'd definately clear the matter up with a medical professional.