Metformin and t2

[Sweet enough]

Hi
I'm very recently diagnosed with type 2.
My fasting bgl on dx was 15.8, I've already cut out carbs such as spuds bread and rice as per everything I read ! and of course sugars. I've eaten a good tonnage of Veg over the last 2 weeks. My fasting BGL is now around 11.5.
I started 2 days ago on metformin. 1X500 perday for first week 2x second week and 3 x 3rd week.
Im 3 days in right now.

Can I ask a few questions?
Generally How soon should I see results from Metformin ?

I'm guessing it depends on the individual but I'd love to hear from other Metformin users how much their bloods dropped using Metaformin.
Does nerve damage that causes the numb toe/s repair itself when the sugars return to normal.

Thanks

 

[cugila]

Hi sweetenough.
Welcome to the forum. There are many previous posts on here about Metformin, so many that a search shows too numerous to give a result ?? So here goes.

Metformin will not act instantly, it takes time to build up in the body. Typically it will only lower your Bg levels by around 1 -2 mmol/l if you are taking the maximum doseage. You are only on 1500mg daily.

A change in diet and portion control can also be of great benefit, enhancing any effect, however small.

There is evidence both real and anecdotal that once Bg levels are well controlled then certain symptoms can be reversed.

 

[Sweet enough]

Hi sweetenough.
Welcome to the forum. There are many previous posts on here about Metformin, so many that a search shows too numerous to give a result ?? So here goes.

Metformin will not act instantly, it takes time to build up in the body. Typically it will only lower your Bg levels by around 1 -2 mmol/l if you are taking the maximum doseage. You are only on 1500mg daily.

A change in diet and portion control can also be of great benefit, enhancing any effect, however small.

There is evidence both real and anecdotal that once Bg levels are well controlled then certain symptoms can be reversed.

Thanks for taking the time to answer.

What puzzles me is, if there is only a 1 or 2 mmol improvement why prescribe it at all and not something that would be more benificial to someone in constantly in the 11's........or medicinally is that the best modern medicine can offer?
Yes I'm working hard exercising, checking everything I eat, and self testing, so I expect (and hope like hell) my figures will drop quite a bit and my dissapointment is only caused by impatience.
Thanks again

 

[pavlosn]

Hi sweetenough

Sorry about your diagnosis but wellcome to the forum - there are some very knowledgable and supportive people here.

I too am a recently diagnosed T2 diabetic and I have also been prescribed metformin (3x500 mg). As you can read in my sotry (link here: http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-forum/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=10849), through the metformin and healthy lifestyle and diet changes I have been able to bring my fasting glucose level down from over 18 to less than 5 mmol/l within about a month.

I was introduced to the full dosage of the medication over a week rather than the three weeks that you have been prescribed (I understand that they do this to reduce the risk of stomach upsets, the main side-effect of metformin). I also understand that time is needed for metformin to build up in your system, so please be patient. I did not start monitoring my glucose until two weeks after I started on metformin, so I can not tell you what my readings were in this period. My first readings before breakfast in week 3 were about the 9-10 mmol/l but there has been a reasonably steady improvement since and currently my fasting blood glucose is consistently 4-5 mmol/l.

So my experience with metformin has been positive. Our bodies are all different, and the two of us are probably not on the same diet or exercise regime, so do not be too alarmed if your readings show a slightly different pattern to mine. Be patient, from what I can see you are doing all the right things so thngs should get better soon.

Regards

Pavlos

PS I understand that one of the main advantages of metformin is that it does not cause hypos.

 

[wallycorker]

Hi Sweet enough,

You sound to be on the right track just stick with it.

As far as I am concerned, the dietary changes you are making will have a much greater effect than you can hope to get from the metformin.

The improvements usually come fairly quickly just so long as you stay on track with the diet.

Good luck and best wishes - John

 

[diabeticblue]

Metformin & Insulin

I am a recently diagnosed T2 (March 09). I'm currently on 2000mg Metformin daily and 28 Insulin daily. Will I be on the Metformin for life or will I come off it at some stage. Could I also ask, after my diagnosis I was placed under the care of a DN for a few weeks. Following this I was told that I was being referred back to the care of my GP. Having read through many of the posts on the forum it would appear that many people are under the care of Diabetic Clinics,is this the Norm?.

I've also noticed that their appears to be divided opinion on testing. After being diagnosed I was told to test 4 times a day and still do, I have not been told to do anything otherwise. Is there some specific reason that some medics advise testing and some don't?. Thanks in advance


Chris

 

[saz1]

Hi there and welcome! I was diagnosed on January and had my first fasting bs at over 15. I did as you and chucked all pasta,potatoes, bread,rice and starchy veg. I also started on Metformin 2x500mg a week later and my sugars came crashing down in 5 days or so. My morning bs was around 5 then and that where it stays as long as I'm good! :wink:

Metformin isn't a miracle worker but an aid for us diabetics and works well with the required lifestyle changes. It reduces our insulin resistancy and stops our liver from dumping glucose into our bloodstream,which means our pancreas gets a bit of a break and isn't churning umpteen units of insulin into our bloodstream. As stated earlier, metformin doesn't cause hypos but as time goes by, your diet improves, weightloss (if needed) and exercise can reduce your insulin resistance naturally and in addition to medication, hypos can occur as I have experienced. Nothing serious, bs of around 3.3,easily corrected. But just be aware, in these cases the medication may have to be reviewed and reduced.

Good luck on your path, it's not that bad really.. :wink:

 

[nannybarbara]

I wish I could take metformin. Tried it a couple of years ago - the upset tummy just didn't go away - ever - and I had to come off it. If it's OK for you, it works really well.

Back to the drawing-board for me.

Barb

 

[wallycorker]

.......I was diagnosed on January and had my first fasting bs at over 15. I did as you and chucked all pasta,potatoes, bread,rice and starchy veg. I also started on Metformin 2x500mg a week later and my sugars came crashing down in 5 days or so. My morning bs was around 5 then and that where it stays as long as I'm good! :wink: ..............

Great stuff saz1 - Another great success for yet one more Type 2 and all so quickly and easily.

It is really starting to look to me as though once Type 2s get the right message it seems as though wonders can be achieved in a very short space of time.

Best wishes - John

 

[cugila]

Re: Metformin & Insulin

I am a recently diagnosed T2 (March 09). I'm currently on 2000mg Metformin daily and 28 Insulin daily. Will I be on the Metformin for life or will I come off it at some stage. Could I also ask, after my diagnosis I was placed under the care of a DN for a few weeks. Following this I was told that I was being referred back to the care of my GP. Having read through many of the posts on the forum it would appear that many people are under the care of Diabetic Clinics,is this the Norm?.

I've also noticed that their appears to be divided opinion on testing. After being diagnosed I was told to test 4 times a day and still do, I have not been told to do anything otherwise. Is there some specific reason that some medics advise testing and some don't?. Thanks in advance


Chris

Hi Chris.

Metformin. I was on the max dose of 3g daily for ages until I came here and changed things around by lifestyle changes, diet etc. I now don't take any Met at all, so no, it isn't for life. But you have to put the work in.

As for care regimes....all depends where you are and what their policies are. I am looked after by an excellent Diabetic Clinic at the local Hospital. I see a specialist and a DSN regularly. I am lucky. I see my GP once in a while but all my Diabetic care has been abrogated to the Clinic/Hospital.

Testing....opinion divided maybe. Costs are a major factor ! On here most but not all people are of the opinion that you need to test frequently. What is the point of testing once daily/weekly ? Tells you absolutely nothing. I test from 4 to 8 times daily. That way I keep tight control and know exactly what certain foods are doing to my Bg levels. I do have days off though. I mean, I could get stressed.... :lol:

 

[Sweet enough]

Thankyou all for your reassurances and sharing some quite exciting results regarding these magic numbers I'm striving to copy.

I have experimented with 100g of boiled potatoes and 1 32g slice of wholemeal toast both of which raised my BGL frighteningly . What is strange is that a few days ago as part of testing what I could and couldnt eat, 2 slices of the same bread with a boiled egg and my blood @ 90mins later was the lowest Ive had since DX which was 8.4 ! Weird but i think it does show that constant testing is a must to find which foods should be avoided by an individual.

My Dr wont prescribe strips so I'm funding them myself. Obviously cost plays a large part of how often I can test so with that in mind what would be the minimum test frequency do you think?
I have read that the aftermeal readings are the important ones.

 

[wallycorker]

Thankyou all for your reassurances and sharing some quite exciting results regarding these magic numbers I'm striving to copy.

I have experimented with 100g of boiled potatoes and 1 32g slice of wholemeal toast both of which raised my BGL frighteningly . What is strange is that a few days ago as part of testing what I could and couldnt eat, 2 slices of the same bread with a boiled egg and my blood @ 90mins later was the lowest Ive had since DX which was 8.4 ! Weird but i think it does show that constant testing is a must to find which foods should be avoided by an individual.

My Dr wont prescribe strips so I'm funding them myself. Obviously cost plays a large part of how often I can test so with that in mind what would be the minimum test frequency do you think?
I have read that the aftermeal readings are the important ones.

Hi Sweet enough,

If you were 8.4 at 90 minutes after eating two slices of bread that means that you are very likely to have been quite a lot lower before you started eating - because two slices of bread is quite a lot of carbohydrate. By the way, that 8.4 at 90 minutes after eating is around where you need to be. Compared with the levels you quote in your original post that is a massive improvement. Keep at it - it is worth it!

As regards testing, you will soon become familiar with the foods that affect your blood glucose levels. That will be speeded up by what you read on this forum. After that you will not need to test very often at all if that is what you'd prefer for whatever reason.

Best wishes - John

 

[cugila]

My Dr wont prescribe strips so I'm funding them myself. Obviously cost plays a large part of how often I can test so with that in mind what would be the minimum test frequency do you think?
I have read that the aftermeal readings are the important ones.

Frankly, that is criminal. :twisted:
Have you tried gentle persuasion as suggested elsewhere here ? Thumbscrews have also been suggested..... :lol:

There is a much cheaper alternative method called Glucoflex-R test strips which are accurate and don't require a meter. Helps to keep the costs down. Available on prescription and at all Pharmacies although you may have to ask for them to be obtained. They are reviewed in Diabetes Product Reviews section. Here is a link.
viewtopic.php?f=4&t=8266&hilit=+Glucoflex#p77067

Test frequency, minimum I would suggest, on waking, then 2 hrs after meals (where does 90 mins come from ?) then before bedtime. Only way to find out what is going on. If you try something new then possibly a 1 hr test to see any spikes. Pasta, Pizza etc then 3 hrs is needed. Just try at various times within those suggetions. Maybe doing it over a few days to spread out the test strip usage.