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metformin and no hypos ??

smillingjimmyc

Active Member
Messages
40
Location
northumberland
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi,
Type 2 on insulatard for the last 10 years and recently been blessed with a new diabetes nurse who suggested metformin and a slight reduction in insulin(4 units) would be the way to go.I started metformin(2x500) a couple of weeks ago and I am suffering the oft mentioned side effects though my numbers have dropped from 8s to average 5.1 this last week.Impressive 8)
However I had a medication review yesterday and during this I mentioned concern regards hypos as once or twice last week bs dropped to under 4,the doctor insisted there would be no hypo due to the metformin! Surely one can suffer hypos using insulin/metformin??
 
Hi sj.
As stated on here many times Metformin typically only reduces your Bg levels by around 1 -2 mmol/l and that woud be dependent on the doseage. Do a search on here for Metformin and you will find answers to many Metformin questions asked previously.

Anybody can hypo, diabetic or not. So the Doc is right in that Metformin in itself shouldn't cause a hypo, however it can when used in combination with other drugs (Insulin) be a contributing factor. Another factor is what food you consume ? Had you had any food prior to the low readings ? When was it ? Over medication (too much Insulin) and/or too little food can be the cause of a hypo.

As a T2 you shouldn't really be concerned as you should 'liver dump' when that low and your Bg levels will then rise to more normal levels. Speaking from experience that is what happened to me when I deliberately did not treat my hypo and within an hour my levels were back to normal again. Felt awful for a while but at least it proved my Endo was right !!
What we do in the name of science ?
 
Thanks for that ! ThoughI do seem to getting more than 2 drop in bs with metformin.I normally just test morning first thing before anything to eat, usually around the same time between 6.30-8.00.Basically the last few days pre-metformin read 8.4,8.1,9.2,8.2 that was on 20 units insultard twice daily. The last four days read 5.0,5.2,5.5,5.2 that is on 16 units twice daily + 500 twice daily metformin,just realised thats 8 units less insulin not 4 as indicated earlier.
I have not altered diet/exercise or anything else i can think of, though I do not keep to a strict regime so it would be hard to analyze further.
Not complaining though :wink:
 
Jimmy
It sounds like the Met is doing its work and allowing you to use the Insulotard more efficiently.
If you do go hypo, It's the Insulin what "dun it"
If you are down to only a few units of insulin per day, you could probably get right off it on a Carb controlled diet.
Hana
 
Thanks hana, I was diet controlled until I had heart problems(between 5-7). I was lying in hospital when a nurse turned up with a syringe etc and duly informed me it was insulin from then on, originally telling me it was "hospital policy" of course I whinged which led to a visit from a consultant who then informed me it was "best medical practice" rather than policy.That was 10 year ago, now it seems metformin is the way forward,though as you say it seems to be doing the trick other than the oft mentioned stomache problems,hope they wear off soon
 
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