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How to take Metformin

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fiesata

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Hi
Newbie to the forum

Nice to have somewhere to talk to other Diabetics as there is a lot of ignorance and misunderstanding out there - that includes the medical profession in my experience.

Anyway back to my question - my doctor has increase my dose from 1000mg to 2000Mg a day.
On the lower dose it really didn't have any affect.He mumbled about letting the receptionist know about how much my stomach could handle then just changed is mind and gave me a prescription for 2 twice a day

Started this dose - and suffered severe stomach upsets - not something I have very often - My question is can I take the four tablets at intervals throughout the day with breakfast, lunch.afternoon tea and Dinner

I have upped the dose to 500 Mg three times a day and so far am OK.

I don't want to go back to My Doctor or diabetic nurse a I feel more confused each time I have my check up - this time a new diabetic nurse told me to cut down on vegetables when I said I try to eat 3-4 portions a day - I'm so confused what are good foods to eat
 
Fiesata,

I'm on 1500mg a day, I take one 500mg table with each meal, usually just before (if I remember) or during the meal. Had the usual effects when I first started, but soon settled down.

The statement from the DN doesn't sound logical, I would point them at http://www.5aday.nhs.uk/topTips/default.html and judge their reaction for yourself :) Diet is a hot topic. There is a lot of discussion here about diet.

Regards, Tubs.
 
fiesata said:
Started this dose - and suffered severe stomach upsets - not something I have very often - My question is can I take the four tablets at intervals throughout the day with breakfast, lunch.afternoon tea and Dinner
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Hi fiesata and welcome to the forum.
Metformin (not the slow release type) has an action that generally lasts for around 6 hours, which is why the recommendation is to take them with breakfast and evening meal as these will always be at least 6 hours apart. Some people find the higher dose of metformin upsets them badly, but there is an alternative called Glucophage SR. This is just a slow release version of metformin but is much kinder on the stomach. Also more expensive which is why doctors always try the cheaper metformin first.

I don't want to go back to My Doctor or diabetic nurse a I feel more confused each time I have my check up - this time a new diabetic nurse told me to cut down on vegetables when I said I try to eat 3-4 portions a day - I'm so confused what are good foods to eat
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You sometimes hear some pretty stupid comments from health professionals who should know better - but that one takes the biscuit (or it would if we were allowed biscuits!!). Vegetables are packed with vitamins, minerals, fibre and some carbohydrate. They are probably the most perfectly balanced food that a diabetic can eat. When given instructions like this that are just so obviously wrong, just follow what your common sense tells you, which I suspect you are doing anyway?
 
Thank you both for your replies

What I can do then is take 1 tablet with Breakfast 6:30am 1 with lunch - about 12:30pm two with evening meal about 6pm - good advice - thanks

Still not sure how Metformin works - at least in layman's terms - and what is the correlation with Triglycerides - mine have always been OK but my mom's have always been too high.

Thanks for putting my mind at rest about Vegetables I often eat raw veg when feeling a bit peckish rather than eat some sugary or fatty food it's surely better to eat say 1 portion of say celery or carrot rather than a Mars bar :)

Thanks for your support much appreciated

Paul
 
If you're having problems with metformin see if you can be changed to metformin SR, it might help a lot, it did with me.
 
Thanks for the advice again - I did wonder about carrots I shall keep them to an absolute minimum

Also when I increase to the full dose later this week if I'm still having problems I will take your advisce and see my Doctor about Metformin SR

Great advice again - I've learned more here in two days than from DN's and doctors in nearly 4 years :D :)
 
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