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Metformin question

B

beatlesfan

Newbie
Messages
3
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Diet only
Hi all I am new. I was diagnosed Type 2 in 2008 at the age of 53 & have survived in diet & exercise. My Hba1c readings have always been excellent. I am mortified. My reading is up & I am doing nothing different except I have had incredible stress in the last few months with my 88 year old father who has been very demanding & unpleasant. 10 weeks ago the nightmare started in that he was admitted to hospital very ill with heart failure & sepsis all over his body.Since then he has been in & out 5 times & each time we have been told he will not make the night. However he rallies but is in a very poor state. Heart working at only 20% capacity. He is now in a home as has become very senile.

My GP feels that because I have been on a roller coaster the last few months it has stressed my adrenals & upset my diabetes. My liver enzymes are also slightly elevated, again he feels its the stress He is advising low dose metformin which I have always been violently opposed to because of the side effects. Please can you give me some advice as what would be the best thing to do. My life is all over the place as so stressed over Dad. I am an only child so it all falls on me although my husband is a wonderful support & so are my 2 daughters.

Thank you in advance xxx
 
Gosh, poor you. You do need to take good care of yourself during this trying time. If it were me, I'd give the Metformin a try. Not everyone has side-effects, especially if you get the slow release type. Once this stressful period is over, you can always go back to no meds. Others on here have done that.
 
I have just been diagnosed and am on Metformin...this is week 2. I feel really well in myself but am having some diarreah...for me this seems to be the only side effect. Have just had a chat with my doctor and she says it will level itself out and if things haven't changed by next week we'll look at the alternatives. Stress has played a huge part in my diagnosis and so, I would say give it a go and don't worry to much. I am reading about people here who have come off meds after getting on top of their condition and by the sound of it, you have a good chance of doing just that if you've been managing well till now. Don't beat yourself up about this...you've got enough to worry about x x x x Good luck with your dad, I hope he lives free of pain and that you will be reayd when it's his time to pass x x
 
I agree with the other posters, it might be worth trying the Metformin while you have so much going on. Stress does raise blood sugar levels see attached link. http://www.diabetes.co.uk/stress-and-blood-glucose-levels.htm

I do sympathise I am in a similar situation with my mum, she is also 88. I live100 miles away from her and have been going to see her quite a lot lately and I find the travelling quite stressful and feel very guilty that I can't just pop in and see her. She is almost blind and has now been diagnosed with dementia.

You must try and look after yourself though otherwise you will start to feel unwell yourself if your bg goes too high so give the Metformin a go and see how you get on, you can always come off it at a later date.

You have done so well staying off the meds since 2008 so don't beat yourself up, it is a very trying time for you.

Take care and good luck with you dad.

Marilyn x
 
Thanks for your replies & all the info. I see my GP again Monday. He is very supportive as I had a slight stroke in 2012 caused by BP going really high. Nothing to do with the diabetes. Unfortunately both my parents have been a real problem nearly all my life. Demanding, selfish & always very hard done by. They have both gone very senile & in the home together. My GP actually has advised |I walk away as they are safe in care & now I concentrate on me.Think I may give Metformin a go. I am concerned about tummy problems though.
 
Hi
I'm on Metformin myself I started last month was advised by the dr to take one tablet a day for the first week then to up it to two.
I can honestly say I have had no trouble with them apart from being a little windy.
I agree with the others who have replied
Give them a go, Some people have problems with them some don't, I suspect that you hear a lot more from those who have trouble than those who don't,
Whatever you decide good luck and I hope things work out with your dad.
 
Seen my GP this morning. Very supportive & he also advised not to beat myself up as I have done well for nearly 7 years. Hba1C was 66.He has advised Metformin ( slow release) 500mg one a day increasing to 2 a day in about 3 weeks & repeat Hba1C in 4 months. He said it may be a good idea to take this for around 12-18 months to help the stress over Dad & to also help me through the time when he does. pass & the months following. He agreed that all the stress is upsetting my blood sugars & that is not going to settle any time soon with the situation.

I know this sounds silly but I am SOOOO nervous at taking this drug in case I get all the gastro side effects.
 
You should be fine on the sr version. I had a terrible reaction to the cheap one - typical. But I've been fine on the slow release.
 
Hi Beatlesfan,

How about a two -pronged approach, you are now on metformin which should lower/stabilise your blood sugars. What about trying to minimise the stress. I understand you can't eliminate it completely but using therapies such as yoga, exercise or mindful thinking can help.

My lovely mother-in-law passed away a few weeks ago, she had Alzheimer's, a cruel disease, she was very 'difficult' in the later stages. It was a very stressful two years. Doing an activity such as yoga or walking in green parks won't take away all your stress and worry, but it might help a little.
 
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