New diagnosed, have a few questions

[Freida_vkfan]

I was recently diagnosed, I was given metformin and I see to not mix it with alcohol, which brings up my first question. My daughter's wedding is coming up, and was curious if I can skip the metformin that day and have some drinks with the toasts and all, or still take it and drink a few? Our families are heavy drinkers and I haven't shared the diabetic news yet, still trying to take it in. My second question is, I just keep taking this and eventually they will test me again? They really didn't provide much information on anything at all and I'm really lost. I'm not even sure I'm asking the question in the proper place, please forgive me if I'm not.

 

[jjraak]

Hi @Freida_vkfan

Welcome to the club no one wants to join

A little background
Metformin does relatively little, when matched against changing your diet.

It has a record of upsetting some who take it with stomach upsets etc.

I however seemed to tolerate it quite well.

In a rush early on we fly off, without sufficient Metformin for the holiday

On realising it, rather then spoilling the holiday, we just soldiered on ..

And yes, that does mean I did drink.
( and would have taken it and drank while away )

I suffered little Ill affects, in fact my numbers with alcohol were actually lower then I expected ( is a reason for that )

We all make these sort of "Risk assessments" every day, type 2 doesn't change that.

So back to YOU.

While we can't medically advise, due to what other ailments/ Medication you might be on

i can say if it was me, just DX'd.
I WOULD, for such a special day just enjoy it, but in moderation.

Skipping the Metformin for the night before and on the day, makes sense, and restart the regime at the same level the next day.

( Metformin is usually one tablet then increases to two tablets, morning & evening )

Though I have to admit I have enjoyed a Christmas first year ( back when we could)
With family, where I ended up slightly the worse for wear, all while taking Metformin.

Recommended for all ?...probably not.

My DX was late 2018..Xmas 2018 was the food limited but not alcohol free, Xmas
.
Still made good HBA1c Jan 2019

Risk assessment, is yours.
I just offer my two bits worth of experience

Enjoy the day.
Life is STILL for living.

 

[jjraak]

Hi @Freida_vkfan

I kept my answers seperate.

Yes, many seem to get a poor/ confused start to T2D life

You get your HBA1c, if in UK at first DX
You should then get another within a month or so ( mine was 8 weeks later)

From then on I believe it's 6 monthly first few years.

That MAY have altered due to Covid, but that was the normal basis, as I understood it
.
I also had a diabetes foot check for feeling, etc which happened each year.
And most importantly I thought, a special eye check*, for any damage to eyes..Also yearly

* It's not the test an optician does, drops are placed in eyes and photos/scans taken.

All done to establish a baseline and keep track of changes or deterioration.

Have read some have had an opticians do an enhanced check for diabetics at a cost £10 ?

So might be worth considering if that test is majorly delayed due to Covid.

NB changes to eye sight ARE normal early on as your diet/ meds can alters your glucose levels,
Affecting your vision.
It's advised to wait a while for this to settle before buying any new glasses

Your have had the upsetting part of being diagnosed (DX)

But you found your way here.

Which is, imho the BEST move you could make other then limiting your carb intake.

So I'd say, dust yourself off and begin your education about what this T2D is, and can do to us.

Find ways to not only survive, but thrive with advise from those who have been RIGHT where you are.

Bedraggled, bemused and recently diagnosed.
That was me, one cold scary August night 2018.

Learn why you shouldn't eat certain foods, learn better choices and even get recipes to try

All based on those who have been there, not those reading from a sheet just ticking boxes

I learned more here in a few days then I ever have in almost 3 years visiting doctors/Desmond's etc.

The road is long, but many on here will be more then willing to offer good advice, lend a hand and often a shoulder to cry on when the day is tougher then expected

Good luck on your journey

 

[Andydragon]

Hi @Freida_vkfan

Welcome to the club no one wants to join

A little background
Metformin does relatively little, when matched against changing your diet.

It has a record of upsetting some who take it with stomach upsets etc.

I however seemed to tolerate it quite well.

In a rush early on we fly off, without sufficient Metformin for the holiday

On realising it, rather then spoilling the holiday, we just soldiered on ..

And yes, that does mean I did drink.
( and would have taken it and drank while away )

I suffered little Ill affects, in fact my numbers with alcohol were actually lower then I expected ( is a reason for that )

We all make these sort of "Risk assessments" every day, type 2 doesn't change that.

So back to YOU.

While we can't medically advise, due to what other ailments/ Medication you might be on

i can say if it was me, just DX'd.
I WOULD, for such a special day just enjoy it, but in moderation.

Skipping the Metformin for the night before and on the day, makes sense, and restart the regime at the same level the next day.

( Metformin is usually one tablet then increases to two tablets, morning & evening )

Though I have to admit I have enjoyed a Christmas first year ( back when we could)
With family, where I ended up slightly the worse for wear, all while taking Metformin.

Recommended for all ?...probably not.

My DX was late 2018..Xmas 2018 was the food limited but not alcohol free, Xmas
.
Still made good HBA1c Jan 2019

Risk assessment, is yours.
I just offer my two bits worth of experience

Enjoy the day.
Life is STILL for living.

Dosage is what is counted on metformin, not number of pills. Usually you start of smaller, maybe 500mg and then increase in dosage to a max of 2000mg although I'm sure I have seen mention if some who take more. Some doctors seem to want this ramped up quickly, others over time. I was the latter, am in fact am now going the other way, from 2000 to 1000 and maybe lower

It comes in a variety of sizes, in the UK often 500mg so you could have 4 a day. It can cause stomach issues, and there is a slow release version to try if so, if continue to be an issue then there are alternatives

But indeed, diet is the main change, Metformin can help and makes some changes but it's not huge.as it is so well tolerated (usually) and has an effect, it is often (and might be NHS guidance) to be the first drug given past diet

I have taken alcohol while on it, And guidance says it's okay. However alcohol can lower bloods so maybe that's the reason, to try and mitigate a small chance of too low

https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/metformin/