Metformin - BG levels

[KSMG]

I was diagnosed as Type 2 in June and put on 100mg standard release Metformin. I measure my levels and all was going great but after a month or so I was getting high readings and even had a low reading of 3.6 after a gym workout. I was eating healthy and being super good and careful with foods. After a call with the GP they were concerned that the levels had dropped low with Metformin and stopped the standard release and changed me to 500mg ER Metformin as they thought the dose was too high. I have been taking these now for around 3 weeks and am still getting high readings 2 hours after food (eg boiled egg salad sandwich on seeded break was 12.9) and have again had a reading of 3.8 after an hour in the gym. I am due a review middle of Oct, should I just carry on as is or should I speak to my GP again. My daily readings after food primarily 8.6 plus with rare occasions of it being lower and am still being super careful and strict with what I eat and only drink water or tea & coffee with no sugar. I have not been given any DN details as the GP said they will manage my diabetes. Has anyone else been through this, is it normal and am I worrying about nothing?

 

[bulkbiker]

I was eating healthy and being super good and careful with foods.

boiled egg salad sandwich on seeded break was 12.9)

I'm guessing you mean seeded bread.. your high level after that doesn't surprise me.

It's carbohydrate in any form that most of us T2's have problems with so its quite handy to reduce your consumption of it to an absolute minimum ( the essential level of carb consumption is zero).

I'm afraid that what is considered "healthy" by many isn't that great for us T2's.

 

[pinkfoot]

I've been type 2 18 years now, I once went on a low-carb diet when it became popular, it worked, but I didn't have the will power at the time to keep it going.

As @bulkbiker rightly says, try and keep away from carbs altogether, I'm back on the low to no carb diet now and weight is starting to come off and my readings are getting better.

It's strange at first as there are still some GP's that tell you to eat carbs in the form of low GI foods, stay away from them altogether if you can.

Best of luck and very best wishes for your journey.

 

[KSMG]

Thanks, all the advice I was given by my GP was not to cut out carbs but avoid the bad carbs (white bread, white rice etc) but was OK to have the complex carbs. They said no carbs would not be sustainable and would leave without any energy. There is so much conflicting advice everywhere.

 

[simo_M]

Thanks, all the advice I was given by my GP was not to cut out carbs but avoid the bad carbs (white bread, white rice etc) but was OK to have the complex carbs. They said no carbs would not be sustainable and would leave without any energy. There is so much conflicting advice everywhere.

That is advice that is often given in the NHS. Many on this site and elsewhere will vouch that it is entirely possible to have plenty of energy on a low carb diet, and the "not sustainable" argument seems to me to be saying "don't try low carb diet as you might not keep it up".
I have had a very low carb diet for a year now after seeing what effect recommend carbohydrates were having on me (e.g a 13 after soup and wholemeal pitta bread) and personally have not felt this good in a long while.
I would not worry about the occasional low reading if you otherwise feel fine and aren't on any medication other than Metformin. Remember that home meters are generally only accurate to within 15%.