How to increase weight?

Hi. Diagnosed in Feb aged 59 with hba1c of 87, weighing 9st 5lb. Didn’t take prescribed metformin but low Carb option and increased exercise. By May- aged 60 Hba1c 46. Blood glucose monitoring 4.6-8.3. Continued on diet. All seemingly going ok and feeling very well.

Last Wednesday- started with a Virus. Got checked not Covid. I’m bed for 3 days apart from loo trips. suffering with occasional temperature spikes, cough, no appetite and so tired... weight struggling to stay above 8 stone!! Blood sugars all over the place 13-21! Ketones, glucose and nitrites in urine this morning.

Managed to arrange to speak to diabetic nurse on Tuesday for first time. Never been seen by GP just surgery pharmacist.

Should I try metformin?
Any other advice?

ps thank you to those who said my eye sight would improve again - my reason for getting initial Hba1c done. It has. thank you

Many thanks for all the advice and reassurance. You helped me decide to allow the virus time to improve first. I managed a scrambled egg and mushrooms cooked in butter for breakfast. By midday BT 13.9 and urine test had no ketones either. ( am I really writing about my wee on the internet!! )
Simple stir fry for lunch, chicken and lamb scraps, celery and home gown tomato and spinach with small amount of grated Parmesan on top. Also small glass of full fat milk ( I really enjoy dairy! Despite the carbs) did an indoor walk and BT now 14.9 so not great but ok. And I have a small amount of normal energy again.

I am chatting to the Diabetic Nurse next Tuesday so I hope I shall be much better then and with clear questions to ask on long-term management and what to do next time I catch one of my family’s school germs.

thank you all.

NicoleC1971 said:

High sugars and ketones are a classic sign of your body handling a virus so i'd be cautious about taking anything until the viral symptoms are gone. keep checking bloods and drinking plenty though. A small number of people have an autoimmune reaction which causes insulin deficiency (type 1) after a viral illness.
High blood sugars do make you feel lousy and when the blood vessels swell up you'll have fuzzy vision which should normally go back to normal.
Metformin helps to stop your liver making some glucose but it isn't a treatment for insulin deficiency and can cause weight loss (either from upset tum and/or because it means less insulin is needed).
Once your blood sugars stabilise you can work out a strategy for re gaining some muscle and fat (adding more frequent snacking and upping the carbs a little) but this will be impossible whilst your blood sugars are high or insulin is too low (the latter is rare).

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Thank you so much. Very helpful indeed. Please see

Goonergal said:

Well being so ill could explain higher blood sugar readings, and loss of appetite could explain weight loss but the rise of BG and drop in weight are quite steep.

Metformin tends to suppress appetite and supports many to lose weight. It doesn’t have a strong direct impact on blood glucose - it helps increase insulin sensitivity and reduces the amount of glucose that the liver dumps into your system.

Have you already spoken to the nurse or is that next Tuesday? It’d definitely be worth exploring options with her, but in your shoes, I’d be wanting a bit more investigation to understand what is going on.

In the meantime I’d stick with the low carb and try and eat simple, nutritionally dense food.

Let us know how you get on.

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NicoleC1971 said:

High sugars and ketones are a classic sign of your body handling a virus so i'd be cautious about taking anything until the viral symptoms are gone. keep checking bloods and drinking plenty though. A small number of people have an autoimmune reaction which causes insulin deficiency (type 1) after a viral illness.
High blood sugars do make you feel lousy and when the blood vessels swell up you'll have fuzzy vision which should normally go back to normal.
Metformin helps to stop your liver making some glucose but it isn't a treatment for insulin deficiency and can cause weight loss (either from upset tum and/or because it means less insulin is needed).
Once your blood sugars stabilise you can work out a strategy for re gaining some muscle and fat (adding more frequent snacking and upping the carbs a little) but this will be impossible whilst your blood sugars are high or insulin is too low (the latter is rare).

Click to expand...

Thank you so much for your help and advice. Please see long reply to all who responded. Many thanks

Still not going well here. BG now 14.8 and feeling unwell. So do I eat and send BG up more or not eat and have no nutrition? Meal now fried aubergine, tomatoes and mozzarella cheese. Thank you all for your support.

Thank you all. Still unwell. GP appointment this afternoon so she is obviously concerned too.

Hi. Sorry no reply. Still at home. Trainee GP saw me. Arranged Hba1c for Thursday. But still got ketones , although not constantly. Bloods today between 15.6 and 16.4. ( yesterday 12.8 - 20.6)
All very strange. Eg 20.3 before dog walk. 20.6 70 minutes later. after dog walk. Weight 7stone 10/11 today. Obviously not well, but I can get up and potter around. And could do outside walk if I felt it would help. But no appetite at all. Bit of nausea too.
Yesterday pre evening meal 16.7
Meal steak, cream, garlic and broccoli
2 hours later still 16.7 so I’m pleased I was able to eat.
Today I’m hoping to eat some roast chicken and veg.
Main concern is still my weight loss, but can’t add many carbs due to blood sugars.

plan - phone diabetes helpline tomorrow and prepare for Diabetic Nurse Specialist Phone call appointment On Tuesday.

I would like to get things sorted before I deteriorate further.

Also I’m thinking of cancelling my first eye check Appointment tomorrow As I don’t want to take any risks with more infections


Any other thoughts anyone?
Sorry about my slow reply I am just getting used to this resource.

Thank you all.

My biggest immediate question is what do I eat? Do I eat to maintain my health and weight, while also increasing my glucose? I don’t think I can afford not to eat, but just to make good choices. This is all a little overwhelming. Many thanks for your help and support at this time.