• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Level increased after taking oral medication

M

Mike_1

Newbie
Messages
4
Hello,

I am seeking advice regarding my wife's case. She has been diagnosed almost a year ago (at the age of 50). At first her glucose level used to range between 110 and 170 , so the doctor prescribed metformin hydrochloride tablets (750mg dosage). After taking the medication she started experiencing weight loss, and the level started to increase!! The doctor advised to increase the dosage, however she is still experiencing high levels (this week the average was 380) and she is taking 2 tablets now, the doctor’s response was to increase the dosage again to 3 pills.

My questions are:
1- Is it logical that the glucose level spikes up after using the medication rather than lowering?
2- My wife before taking the medication was healthy, now after a year she is very weak, lost 35lbs, and suffers from dizziness at times. Are those normal symptoms? Do people usually get worse off when taking metformin HCL?
3- Is it dangerous not to increase the dosage as the doctor requested? Because the side effects are so severe that might require her to quit her work.
Diabetes changed our life, and we are seeking advise from professionals and those who have experience to help us pass this transition safely.

Cheers,
M
 
Hi Mike, welcome to the forum. Your wife really needs to go and see the doctor again.
What sort of diet does your wife eat ? Carbohydrates in the diet could cause the spikes you describe.
 
Hi Sue,

She is on a low carb low calorie diet. The last time we went to the doctor he just adviced to increase the dossage, and we are noticing that things are getting worse when we increase the dossage.
 
She may have another under-lying medical condition that needs investigation. Does she take any other medication ?
 
Hi Mike,
You say that your wife's levels have risen form 110-170. to an average of 380,I assume you are talking about mg/dl. (perhaps you don't live in the UK?)
If so those levels are very high and may be the cause of the problems rather than any side effects of metformin.
You sound worried about the weight loss but I'm not sure if this is explained by the low calorie diet, that is she's been trying to lose weight or whether she is becoming too thin, too quickly ie unexplained weight loss.
I am not a professional nd no-one could diagnose over the internet but I do think that you are right to be concerned and need to go back to the doctor pointing out that the metformin seems to be having no effect on the glucose levels, the recent rise in levels, and the weight loss (if this is unexplained)
 
I'd go back to your wife's doctor if the level isnt coming down and ask that he do more or refer you to a specialist. Sudden unexplained weightloss is often listed as a symptom of diabetes.
 
Hi Guys,

Thanks for your contributions. Below are my replies:

1- She doesn't take any other medication, and has no other problem. Last year while doing her routine checkup, the glucose level was high, and she was refered to a specialist.

2- I don't reside in UK, the levels are in mg. My worry is not only about weight loss, but about her health in general. When she was first diagonized she was very healthy and slightly overweight ( 5-6 pounds maybe) now she is skinny, and quite tired. As I mentioned earlier we got back to the Dr. and his responce was to increase the dosage to 3 tablets. However my wife thinks that the tablets made her worse off, and increasin the dosage would worsen things even more, thats why I am posting here to see if this is common, and hear from those with experience rather than blindly following the dr. which we have been doing for the past year.

Best,

M
 
Hi Mike.

1. Has she seen the specialist since all this started, if not then she needs to get another appointment with him/her ASAP. Your GP seems to be 'clutching at straws.' Possibly see another GP in first instance ?

2. If at all possible we would prefer it that you convert your numbers so we can see what they are in mmol/l which we use in the UK. It helps us to help you by making it clearer to those who do not know what the numbers mean ? (Divide by 18)

No, her experience is not common and may indicate some other problem. Here in the UK we would recommend seeing an Endocrinologist (Diabetologist). If she is not already seeing one then that is the advice I would give. This is not something to be left and to even think about changing doses without proper medical advice. She definitely needs a second opinion here.

Many of us who have had some problems find that to be the best solution.
 
Are we talking about T2 diabetes?

Has she been assessed for T1? I understand that it isn't always easy to tell to begin with, which sort it is.
 
Given the fact that your wife has been put on metformin this would mean that the doctor in question thinks your wife is type 2, however I have never seen mentioned anywhere that metformin can ever increase Blood sugar it does have some other side effects however. If she isnt responding to the tablets and is indeed has increasing levels then surely its time for the doctor to refer her to a specialist . I'd recommend pushing the doctor for a refferal next visit and if he still persists on pushing a treatment which is ineffective and your wife is continuing to get worse then I would seriously get a new doctor.
 
Uncontrolled diabetes can cause weight loss because of a relative deficiency in insulin. Though metformin can be used to aid weight loss this is only a secondary effect. It is obviously not effective in reducing blood glucose in your wife's case, so it coud be that your wife has insulin deficiency, rather than insulin resistance.
There is a test called c peptide which would show how much insulin your wife is producing.
Another possible test is fo GAD antibodies, high levels of these would suggest that your wife has a gradual onset form of type 1 (LADA); 10-20% of people diagnosed with type 2 actually have this.
(my own experience is with this which is why I mention it)

There are however other possibilities which is why your wife really needs a second opinion.

An average BGL of 380 (21mmol) is very high. It might be a good idea to get some ketone strips from a pharmacy and test for ketones. Ketones are found when fat rather than glucose is being used for energy. Normally only small amounts of ketones are excreted in the urine, even on a low carbohydrate weight reducing diet (3-15mg).

High levels of ketones mostly occur in type 1, but are not unknown in type 2. This link explains about ketones and ketone testing and symptoms to watch out for.
http://www.bayerdiabetes.com/sections/aboutdiabetes/articles/ketonetestingandhemoglobina1c.aspx
edit to correct spelling
 
I'm not a doctor and so not really allowed to diagnose, but the idea that jumps out at me from your problem is "diagnosis by assumption and danger of DKA[diabertic ketoacidosis]". Prescribing Metformin, means the diagnosis was T2 diabetes. the results you are reporting suggest T1 diabetes, which Metformin won't normally help.
Since you are giving numbers, which must be mg/dl and not our mmol/l, I assume you are not in the UK.
I would urge you to get the doctor to check whether it's T1 or T2
In the meantime, I would get some Ketostix from the pharmacy. they don't cost much and get your wife to check for sugar in urine.
If the test is positive and blood glucose high, I would say get to A&E immediately.
Hana
 
Back
Top