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hypo on metformin

Peadair O Brionn

Well-Known Member
Messages
451
Location
london
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
having diabetes...... people who wear backpacks on the tube
I'm newly diagnosed Type 2 , on 500mg Metformin once a day .Went out on patricks day and had about 5 pints Guinness and a few whiskeys . When i got home i had 2 ryvitas with cheese and a steak with a cup of tea . went to bed about 11 30 and woke up at 4 am and had a really bad hypo . Never had one of them before only diagnosed 2 weeks ago really frightened me . what do you think caused this was it the alcohol or a combination of metforminand alcohol . Should I have had a higher carb meal before bed . I'm really confused ive drank a lot more than that before and never had what happened to me last night .Only for my missus i wouldve been gone . Fell over couldn't get up ,couldn't see properly , sweating . Nearly passed out . Is this normal
 
What were your blood sugars?
 
You can hypo on metformin although many people say no. I’ve had it before I was on insulin! You have to be careful about alcohol it affects different people differently. You have to keep checking your blood sugars. If you don’t have a meter get one ASAP. a hypo especially your first one can be really frightening and I sympathise been there done that! It’s great to have a partner who can help but just think what would happen if they weren’t. I have glucose tablets in every room and in several bags and jackets too. Take care!
 

Being a 'bloke', I take it you didn't read the Patient Information Leaflet?



Source:
https://www.medicines.org.uk/emc/files/pil.594.pdf
 
Peadair O Brionn said:
I'm newly diagnosed Type 2 , on 500mg Metformin once a day .Went out on patricks day and had about 5 pints Guinness and a few whiskeys
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If you read the information leaflet that comes with your Metformin I think you'll find it discourages mixing alcohol and Metformin. This is because both can lower bg, and the two together can lower it too much, which as you realised can be dangerous. It is a very good idea always to read the info. that comes with medicines, especially for diabetics, as other medicines eg statins can raise bg and GPs don't always think about bad drug combinations. There are also foods that don't mix with certain medicines.
 
Thanks for the reply . Don’t know what my levels are or were doc didn’t tell me and told me I don’t need to test my bloods but been on low carb diet since startin on the Metformin and statin
 
Yeah I agree but don’t think I’ll be on the lash again for a while till I get my head around this thing ... I’m on statins as well . And on a low carb diet so I’ll just keep the booze down to a minimum for a while
 
Peadair O Brionn said:
Don’t know what my levels are or were doc didn’t tell me and told me I don’t need to test
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Many of us here like to know our blood glucose levels and purchase our own meters and strips. Let us know if you want advice on purchasing a low cost meter and strips.

You can ask for your test results from your GP surgery. It is your information about your body. It is important to know and understand exactly what is going on.

Well done on starting a low carb diet so soon after diagnosis.
 
Peadair O Brionn said:
Thanks for that just got me more scared . Loooool
That is scary stuff . I think I’ll stick to the odd bottle of red wine with my dinner in future
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Sorry! I know it’s rare but thought you should know.
 
Done the low carb diet 3 yrs ago and lost 3 1/2 stone then gave up smoking and put on 3 stone 10 . I’ve been medium to low carbing since Christmas and have lost 1 stone 5 lbs hoping when I go back to the doctor I’ll be low enough to do exercise and diet only
 
Peadair O Brionn said:
No problem all information is good thank you
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Peadair O Brionn said:
Thanks for that just got me more scared . Loooool
That is scary stuff . I think I’ll stick to the odd bottle of red wine with my dinner in future
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Alcohol is alcohol. Switching to wine won’t change that especially a bottle of it! I think you need to think about moderation. Although they say no alcohol at all. But you need to find the right balance. It’s a challenge.
 
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