I was diagnosed T2 some years ago and have yearly checks but no medication. My check last week showed a reading of 62 as a result of which a doctor called me and prescribed metformin which I understand will be increasing dosages. What I am reading online suggests a low carb diet is best ( and not a problem for me) but I see contradictory advice on what you can and can’t eat. Can I manage this with a low carb diet alone? I am wary of metformin and possible side effects and rather confused.
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Medication and diet
- Thread starter Limelight
- Start Date
Dancing Badger
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- Type of diabetes
- Type 2
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- Diet only
I can't comment on metformin; hopefully more knowledgeable members will be along soon to offer their views. In the meantime, this should be helpful when considering the low carb approach:
The Nutritional Thingy
There’s a few things you should know. 1. Practically all carbs turn to glucose once ingested , so not just straight sugars, but starches...
josekalsbeek.blogspot.com
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- Diet only
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- exercise, phone calls
Hi @Limelight While I have never taken any Diabetes medication, I have exchanged posts in this and in the other major UK based diabetes forum, with many who have taken and some who still take Metformin.
3 things you should know:
1. While Metformin alone is extremely unlikely to put your Diabetes into remission, a Low Carb way of eating (with no calorie restriction) alone has around a 50% chance of doing so. Source: Dr David Unwin's reports on his Type 2 patients on Low Carb.
2. Metformin helps reduce the amount of glucose produced by the liver, but it has no, zero effect on the glucose you make from digesting the carbohydrates you eat.
3. Some people (the minority) get bad digestive system side effects from Metformin. metformin is best taken with food to help minimise these effects. Metformin takes time to work and if you take it the dose will build up over several weeks. If you get the bad side effects on the standard Metformin, there are Sr (slow release) versions available with generally give less side effects.
3 things you should know:
1. While Metformin alone is extremely unlikely to put your Diabetes into remission, a Low Carb way of eating (with no calorie restriction) alone has around a 50% chance of doing so. Source: Dr David Unwin's reports on his Type 2 patients on Low Carb.
2. Metformin helps reduce the amount of glucose produced by the liver, but it has no, zero effect on the glucose you make from digesting the carbohydrates you eat.
3. Some people (the minority) get bad digestive system side effects from Metformin. metformin is best taken with food to help minimise these effects. Metformin takes time to work and if you take it the dose will build up over several weeks. If you get the bad side effects on the standard Metformin, there are Sr (slow release) versions available with generally give less side effects.
Guilty
Well-Known Member
The info from @Dancing Badger and @ianf0ster is good.
Low carb has worked for many people on this forum (myself included in the past). If that's what you decide to do there's loads of info and support here.
I've taken Metformin. Never had any issues with it. If your doctor has prescribed it for you then worth considering taking it. It may have other benefits on top of the blood glucose control as well.
You can do low carb and take Metformin if you choose to. It's not an 'either or' situation.
www.health.harvard.edu
Low carb has worked for many people on this forum (myself included in the past). If that's what you decide to do there's loads of info and support here.
I've taken Metformin. Never had any issues with it. If your doctor has prescribed it for you then worth considering taking it. It may have other benefits on top of the blood glucose control as well.
You can do low carb and take Metformin if you choose to. It's not an 'either or' situation.
Is metformin a wonder drug? - Harvard Health
Metformin, a medicine prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes, also has cardiovascular benefits and is used off-label to treat other conditions. Interest is growing in its potential to help lowe...
www.health.harvard.edu
Last edited:
- Messages
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I’m take Metformin and I do keto and have done for many years, there is very little danger of hypo on Metformin only. I find it helps with fasting readings but keeping my carbs really low is what really controls my BG
aylalake
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Conversely, the food police.
I have taken Metformin SR for years, as well as doing low carb.
It is very important to take your Metformin WITH meals as it works on that food to lower the glucose levels.
I occasionally have a bout of diarrhoea every 4-6 weeks which is quickly controlled with a single tablet of dissolving Imodium. Other than that I have had no problem with it.
It is very important to take your Metformin WITH meals as it works on that food to lower the glucose levels.
I occasionally have a bout of diarrhoea every 4-6 weeks which is quickly controlled with a single tablet of dissolving Imodium. Other than that I have had no problem with it.
I took metformin (ordinary) for a very few months after diagnosis, and stopped as soon as my changed diet was showing good blood results. I have been in the non-diabetic range for nearly 2 years now on diet control alone. It suits me but I am just one person, and others may find differently. However, why not try diet alone and see what happens first? You still have the metformin as a fall-back position, and as you haven't been taking it so far, it would not be a case of going against medical advice, which of course I would not recommend.
