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Metformin help needed

V

vansteps

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Hi all,

I am in my 7th year as a type 2 diabetic and until around November I was in good control with 86% of my blood glucose levels in target (4.0/6.0mmols/l) by diet and just two Metformin a day.

However over the winter I had real trouble with both upper and lower respiratory infections. I have been on antibiotics and steroids as I suffer from asthma too. I have been off the treatments for over 6 weeks now, and was having blood glucose readings from 12/19mmols/l.

Just over two weeks ago my Doctor decided to double my doseage of Metformin to four a day to be taken two in the morning and two in the evening. This has lowered my readings now to 9.0/12.5mmols/l this is random tersting through out the day.

My question is this, how long should it take to get the full benefits of the new doseage? I have an appointment with my diabetric nurse on Wednesday morning (31st march) so could rasie it there if need be.

Oh and nothing else has changed e'g my diet, drinking habits or exercise.
 
Not sure about the time it should take to get the full benefits of your new metformin dosage, but I can tell you that when I was weaned off prednisolone last year it took about 3 months for my bg levels to drop to there current 'norm' levels, so you may find that your numbers improve over the next 6 weeks anyway. Hope your chest problems are over now :D
 
van
Metformin cannot lower your BG by much even at max dose. It reaches peak efficiency in about 3 weeks.
It's normal for BG to go up when suffering from an infection.
You probably need to control your carbs somewhat too. The extent to which you do this is personal to you. The options are;
cut portions, cut carbs, go low GI/GL.
one or more of these will be best for you, but you nee those numbers DOWN
Hana
 
hanadr said:
van
Metformin cannot lower your BG by much even at max dose. It reaches peak efficiency in about 3 weeks.
Hana
Click to expand...

I started on Metformin last week after 4 years Type 2 diet controlled only. Was feeling rough, and on testing (which I had't been doing recently,) found my bgs were seesawing between 12 and 25 and all stations in between (HbA1c 9.7). I've been on the metformin now for seven days, 500mg twice daily, initially no effect, but then bg began to fall and is today between 8.2 and 13.2. That seems a pretty big fall to me on the minimum dose. Obviously it's still too high, but I'm hopeful the present dose may continue to bring it down, or a modest increase in dosage when I go back to the doctor in another fortnight really ought to do the trick.
 
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