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Low blood sugars on Metformin

L

LadyLibby

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Hi everyone :)

I have just found this forum today.
I was diagnosed with Type 2 in April 2010 and take 500 mg of metformin per day.
My fasting bloods were 8.4 when I was first diagnosed, this reduced to 6 after 8 months with diet and the metformin (I lost one and a half stone) and was slighty higher at 7 on my last review about a month ago. I have put about 10 lb of the weight back on unfortunately. :(

My problem is that a couple of weeks ago I started to cut back on my food intake in order to try and get some weight off for my holidays (off to Majorca a week today) and my blood sugar has started to go quite low, especially mid to late morning. I have been told that I will not have a hypo whilst taking metformin but if my sugars go below 5 I can hardly speak or function and this is very frightening.

Just wondered if anyone had any ideas. I am gong to speak to my diabetes nurse on Monday and see what she can suggest.

Thanks

Libby
 
A blood glucose level of 5 mmol/l is not a hypo... what I expect is happening is that your body has become used to a higher level of blood glucose and as such is displaying hypo symptoms at a higher level. A normal fasting blood glucose range is between 3.6 - 4.5 mmol/l, although it is suggested that as a diabetic you correct if your blood glucose drops below 4 mmol/l.

You should find that now your blood glucose is returning to a more normal level that your body begins to get used to the lower values and these 'hypo' symptoms at 5 mmol/l will slowly disappear.
 
Hi Pneu, thanks for your prompt reply. That makes a lot of sense actually. Do you think the dieting could have also had an effect and maybe upset things a little?
 
Libby,

Your blood glucose levels will be driven for the most part by the amount of carbohydrate that you eat. If as part of your diet you have cut down on your carbohydrate consumption then the insulin that you do produce and the metformin is going to have a greater impact on your blood glucose and bring your fasting levels down to a more normal level.

A lot of type 2 diabetics use reduced carbohydrate diets as a way of keeping their blood glucose "normal" without having to take medication or so much medication.
 
Thanks Pneu, I did try to cut down on my bread intake as the diabetes nurse suggested so that all ties in really. Thanks again for your help. :)
 
No worries... if you want some ideas of diet for type 2 then there is loads of info in the type 2 forum or you could have a look in the Low-Carb diet forum as well
 
Just one word of caution, LadyLibby. Type 2s on Metformin can have hypos. Not very often, but it is possible. In fact anyone, even non-diabetics, can have hypos - it's just rare.

There's lots of info on here about the treatment of hypos. As Pneu suggests, for Type 2s "4 is the floor", and you should really treat for a hypo below 4 unless you feel really well. And even then, keep an eye on things and test more frequently until you're above 4 again. Particularly if you're driving.

I carry glucose tabs with me, and have a packet in the car. A couple of those, followed by a carby biscuit, and I'm okay again. I think I've had to do it twice in the last 8 months, when I've been about 3.4. Don't panic about it, but be aware.

Viv 8)
 
Hi Viv and thanks for your reply.
I do carry glucose tabs with me now but you have reminded me, I must get some more before we travel to Majorca on Saturday. I suspect my blood sugars have gone lower than 4 in the past but I have not been able to test as I was concentrating on getting food. I was in Asda once and stood at the counter in the cafe and could hardly speak to tell them what I wanted to eat, it was so frightening as I was on my own.

I will go and read the information re hypos now just so I am forewarned.

Thanks once again for your help.

Libby :)
 
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