Metformin and Fasting diets

[Oldvatr]

@Brunneria posted a link to an external site that was discussing the use of intermittent (5:2) fasting when used in conjunction with Metformin. Only one poster in that thread stated that high carbs cause their colleywobbles, and most of the other posts discuss taking Metformin with meals as per patient advice leaflet, However, I did note one poster who was reporting that they got the colleywobbles some time following the meal that broke the fast, Now it is not clear if the poster was a diabetic (most posters in the thread were not actually diabetic) or what the meal comprised of, but the impression I got was that the meal would not normally result in a problem, It was probably neither LC nor high carb, but we do not know, However, it seems that there may be a link between fasting and metformin that acts as a trigger. This is something I have not seen discussed on DCUK, so maybe warrants its own discussion in its own thread. Since I am not suffering from this myself I will start it, but will not contribute.

Here is that thread discussion for reference:
https://thefastdiet.co.uk/forums/topic/metformin-and-52/

 

[shelley262]

Hi just to add my personal experience to this. I had been taking 2 x Metformin without too many issues before I started serious fasting last October / November when I did a month of one meal a day and no cream or broth just black coffee, tea and water in the 23 hours without food. Boy did I have problems with my guts, I couldn’t get hold of a dn on phone and awAy from home at time so,as my bloods were low anywAy by that stage as I had done LCHF for a month beforehand, I made a decision to ditch the pills and felt so much better. Not advising this to anyone just telling you what I decided for me as I couldn’t live with the gut pain. All pain stopped when stopped meds and at my review in early December when had been off met for 6 weeks my hbaca1 was down to 33 so DN said I didn’t need them any more. Never taken them since will be interesting what this coming review is like in two weeks time after 6 months without Metformin. My guts clearly couldn’t handle Metformin without food. Interestingly too my bloods didn’t go up even though I went cold turkey off the mets.

 

[Brunneria]

Hi,

I have just had a look through some online Metformin Patient Information lealets.
None of them give information on what to do when skipping meals, but each one clearly states that Metformin should only be eaten with snacks or meals, to reduce the chance of 'digestive upset'.

http://www.mhra.gov.uk/home/groups/spcpil/documents/spcpil/con1495774245961.pdf

https://db.cbg-meb.nl/mri/pil/nlh-1170-001-002.pdf

and a website source of the same info
https://patient.info/medicine/metformin-for-diabetes