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I'm as mad as hell!!

I had to double my Metformin dose last month because of a high sugar level, I had been taking 500g twice a day for 3 years with no ill effects. I am also gradually reducing my Prednisolone steroids, so when I started to have awful diarrhoea I thought it was a steroid withdrawal symptom. After 4 weeks of this problem and having lost a stone in weight I saw my GP, who said it would be due to the extra Metformin, not the steroids, her advice was to go back to the original dose....but I stopped taking Metformin altogether as I don't want to risk an upset stomach over Christmas. I am now feeling much better and today had an HbA1c test, am hoping that the result will be low - maybe I won't have to go back on Metformin, fingers crossed!
 
ckamalu said:
My question is what else can I take for insuline resistance instead of metformin?
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In general most studies shows oral anti-hyperglycemic agents has modest HbA1c reduction between 1-2%.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2909079/
The benefit of initiating an OAD agent is most apparent within the first 4 to 6 months, with A1C levels unlikely to fall more than 1.5% on average. Pretreated A1C levels have a modest effect on the fall of A1C levels in response to treatment
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http://care.diabetesjournals.org/co...b45220faf4b1305f8ee17280&keytype2=tf_ipsecsha
Metformin monotherapy reduced HbA1c by 1.12%, and metformin in combination with other oral antihyperglycemic treatments or insulin reduced HbA1c by 0.95 and 0.83%, respectively, for type 2 diabetes, and these effects were sustained at 24 weeks.
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So one may want to consider that effective dietary/lifestyle changes...carbs reduction, time restricted feeding, fasting, increased physical activity...these can have a greater HbA1c reduction,more lasting and pleasant effects...

Insulin resistance may be improved by
1) lowering our circulating insulin levels
2) activities that increases fats loss and muscles gain.

http://www.ditchthecarbs.com/2015/11/13/low-carb-for-diabetes/


A recent small scale study also shows that dietary fats may be less inflammatory/insulinogenic(stimulate/increased insulin releases) than carbs and proteins.
https://nutritionj.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12937-016-0219-0
 
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Sorry to hear that you had problems with Metformin. I was put on Metformin about 2 years ago, I didn't want to go on this medication as I had heard stories of it giving people the runs. With me having IBS and hiatus hernia I was really concerned, so I mentioned to my diabetic nurse and I was told Metformin is the starting medication for type II, I was put on a low dose and old if I had any problems to ring straight away, 500mg made me bad only on it for 5 days, was taken off and put on Metformin XL (slow release) which seems to be ok for me, but now I believe it is affecting my levothyroxine medication, I was told by the chemist Metformin did interfere with levothyroxine, so now it's a battle to get my bloods checked with the once a year thing. But Im so glad you found the cause to your problem.
 
Levothyroxine may interfere with blood glucose control and reduce the effectiveness of metFORMIN and other diabetic medications. Monitor your blood sugar levels closely. You may need a dose adjustment of your diabetic medications during and after treatment with levothyroxine.
Metformin and Synthroid Drug Interactions - ...
https://www.drugs.com › drug-interactions
 

Metformin stole 5 years of my life so I know how you feel. I am now on Insulin Nova mix 30 - 20 units twice a day and what a difference. I don't take any other meds for my diabetes. Obviously have a bit more pricking and jabbing but you get use to that. Best control I have had for a long while. Didn't like what I had ready about non insulin injections. My nurse and the diabetic specialist are over the moon with my results and effort as you need to work at it as well if you don't want to take higher does of insulin. I seem to have it right now. Onwards and forwards.
 
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I suffered with all the problems for nearly a year. Stopped Metformin and Statin drugs. Felt better than I had for many a year.. Can now tolerare up to a 1000mg of slow release Metformin, any mord and the stomach issues start to return, and no more chronic joint pain from the statins.
I may have had higher blood sugars for a while, but actually felt better and was able to go outvwith the family
 
There are studies going on at the moment, that have discovered that metformin doesn't actually protect your heart, and can damage it by causing aortic stenosis.

Sent from my RAINBOW using DCUK Forum mobile app
 
Yetiandy said:
Nothing he said stay off them! However the Diabetes nurse has since done my bloods an it was 17.8 whatsits and I'm taking slow release metformin started on 1 a day the 2 and eventually 2 tablets twice a day seems ok at the moment
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Been on SR Metformin for a month or so and I have had a couple of days where it was very stressful looking for a toilet, but otherwise seems fine, bloods are down to 11.6 mmol/l so thats good!
 
bruciebonus said:
There are studies going on at the moment, that have discovered that metformin doesn't actually protect your heart, and can damage it by causing aortic stenosis.

Sent from my RAINBOW using DCUK Forum mobile app
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I can find lists of side effects that do not include aortic stenosis and I can find research in which some people with aortic stenosis take metformin. I am struggling to find research that metformin causes aortic stenosis. Can you point me in the right direction?

Thanks
 
I was in metformin when I was first diagnosed and really couldn't tolerate it and had a constant bad stomach. I spoke to my diabetic nurse and she changed me to a slow release metformin called sukkarto, which I'm fine on.
 
Hi, I was terribly poorly with metformin and stopped taking it for a long time. My consultant recommended slow release metformin which I reluctantly tried. I have been taking that now for several years with no problem at all.
 
I've had IBS for over 20 years and diabetes for 9 years. I started on a low dose of slow release Metformin around 6 years ago, which was slowly increased to 2000mg/day. The IBS became intolerable, and around 4 years ago my dose was halved, and I'm now on Victoza too.

But here's the interesting thing. That year I had suffered from severe anxiety too, despite it being a year between two serious sources of anxiety. I wasn't myself at all. I would worry about things for days in advance, and was snappy. It adversely affected an otherwise consistently good work record. It felt as though live electric wires were clashing in my head. But when my Metformin was halved, all that just disappeared as well. It took me a few weeks to make the connection, and when I did I Googled Metformin and anxiety. Metformin is diagnosed for polycystic ovarian disease too, and I found forum posts relating to that ailment which reported ladies were suffering anxiety when taking Metformin. That was my experience, and it's never returned in that form despite having cause for anxiety over recent years. My doctor was surprised when I explained my experience, and was unaware of that as a side effect, but seemed to give credence to my account.
 
I had that problem with Metformin then my diabetes nurse gave me:
Modified Release Metformin (Diagemet XL 500mg), problems went away and have stayed away.
 
I was on Metformin for 5 years with terrible side effects to the point where I couldn't even travel very far due to needing the loo so frequently. I was encouraged to carry on taking it despite this but it became intolerable so in the end I just refused it. At the time there was a lot of buzz on this forum about forxiga and I asked to be prescribed this instead, been on it a few years now and it's made such a difference. Even so, my last Consultant still tried to persuade me to go back on Metformin as it would 'help my weight' - which it hadn't done anyway!
 
As others have done, you might want to try the extended release formulation of metformin. It is a drug that comes with many benefits.
 
Hello
Just been reading all your posts! and i have been on Metformin for a while now and a few years ago the GP changed me to Slow Release cause of my stomach troubles and i am quite bad with the stomach pains and constant Diarrhoea! and cannot go out...Last year it become so bad! that i was referred to hospital and i had a bowel scan and and the gastric probe down the throat and they found i have Sigmoid Diverticulitis and i am still having tests and over the last three weeks i have had constant diarrhoea and cannot eat anything without rushing to the loo! it has ruined my life and i am sure it is the Metformin...Hubby has tried to get me a earlier appointment to see the consultant as i have a appointment in April but none earlier for me so i am really depressed! and suffering badly and are at the end of my tether and also think the worse...I don't know what else to do....I take two metformin in the morning and two in the evening...500mg each tablet....
Val.....
 
Hi Val

This speaks to possible causes of your complaint. I am not aware of any connection with metformin.

"The cause is uncertain.[1] Risk factors may include obesity, lack of exercise, smoking, a family history of the disease, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).[1][2] The role of dietary fibre is unclear.[2] Having pouches in the large intestine that are not inflamed is known as diverticulosis.[1]Inflammation occurs in between 10% and 25% at some point in time and is due to a bacterial infection."

Hope this helps.

Doug
 

Just an update on my previous post, I felt so much better after stopping Metformin over Christmas, my HbA1c test was 52 (or 6.9) and my diabetic nurse was very pleased with me (although my 1stone weight loss was more to do with having diarrhoea for 4wks than dieting)! She advised me to go back to 1 Metformin 500g twice a day as I had originally done for 3 yrs and keep on with my diet and exercise. I'm glad to say my weight has stayed off, I feel fine, and am still trying to low-carb and using a floor pedalling machine for 30 mins every day after lunch. She also told me Metformin was good for my heart, hadn't heard this before, and if I did get any more problems, we could probably switch to a slow-release form, but so far....am fine....and still reducing my steroid dose without side effects. Thanks for listening
 
Congratulations on your HbA1c result and your weight loss. Hopefully your exercise and diet will help you achieve even better results.

Metformin helps the heart and research appears to show that it can also help protect against certain cancers.

Take care

Doug
 
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