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New metformin dose, im struggling

S

sophadams

Newbie
Messages
2
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I had my second diabetic review on 21/4 which my hba1c levels came back at 68 (previously 67 but was unmedicated) I've already been in remission once after losing 4.5 stone during my pregnancy with severe morning sickness and dehydration. Now originally the nurse asked if I'd be interested in the new tablets, I said sure, when receiving my hba1c results she instead chose to put me on 2x500mg metformin twice a day (4 tablets total) and "threatened" with insulin if I don't get this under control, my issue is... I feel like this was a heavy jump on the dosage, without being too crude, there's 24 hours in a day and I feel like I'm spending at least 16 of those on the toilet which is affecting my daily life and with two children and half hour long school runs to do 4 times a day, I'm just wanting to cry at the thought because I feel like I have zero control. Has anyone else been in a similar situation and can assist? I don't want to question the nurses dosage of course, but I also do, because I have been off these for months now and going back on them straight onto this dose is not doing my stomach any favours whatsoever
 
I had the same reaction to Metformin and slow release Metformin, to the point where it impacted my life because I couldn’t leave the house. Go back to your diabetic nurse and tell her you can’t tolerate this dose. You could ask to try slow release Metformin which works for some. If that doesn’t work then ask her to consider different medication. There are lots of different options.
 
sophadams said:
I had my second diabetic review on 21/4 which my hba1c levels came back at 68 (previously 67 but was unmedicated) I've already been in remission once after losing 4.5 stone during my pregnancy with severe morning sickness and dehydration. Now originally the nurse asked if I'd be interested in the new tablets, I said sure, when receiving my hba1c results she instead chose to put me on 2x500mg metformin twice a day (4 tablets total) and "threatened" with insulin if I don't get this under control, my issue is... I feel like this was a heavy jump on the dosage, without being too crude, there's 24 hours in a day and I feel like I'm spending at least 16 of those on the toilet which is affecting my daily life and with two children and half hour long school runs to do 4 times a day, I'm just wanting to cry at the thought because I feel like I have zero control. Has anyone else been in a similar situation and can assist? I don't want to question the nurses dosage of course, but I also do, because I have been off these for months now and going back on them straight onto this dose is not doing my stomach any favours whatsoever
Click to expand...
I had the same response to metformin, and stayed on it waiting for the storm to subside... Which it didn't, so it was bloody stool, hemorrhoids and dehydration by the time I saw the nurse again, and she put me on something else. There was no slow release metformin available in the Netherlands at the time, but even so.... Metformin doesn't do THAT much to get blood sugars under control.

So, here's basically what I did: https://josekalsbeek.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-nutritional-thingy.html Which also got me off the other medication (gliclazide). Once you know practically all carbs turn to glucose once ingested, it's relatively easy to get blood sugar control: just cut down on the carbs, Your HbA1c is indeed diabetic, but not so high you wouldn't be able to turn this around with diet alone in a matter of weeks/months. Should even be in the metformin leaflet: Try diet first for 3 months, THEN start tablets if that doesn't do enough. It's your diabetes, you decide how to treat it. (Your nurse isn't living in your body, nor in your toilet!) Get yourself a meter, see whether it's working for you, so you know how you respond to foods and whether it's working long before your next HbA1c comes in.

You can suss this without your gut turning inside out, I promise!!!
Jo
 
Hi @sophadams and welcome to the forums. Are you pregnant at the moment?

If not then my limited understanding is that there are lots of meds between meformin and insulin so if you can't cope with metformin (there is also a slow release version you can ask for) then you should get straight on to your doctor or nurse and tell them your issues. Some people just don't get on with it. And I thought people normally started on a low dose and worked their way up to a higher one? (I certainly did when I was on it for a medical trial)

And as @JoKalsbeek has said there are dietary options that may help.

Good luck and once more welcome
 
Unfortunate bowel behaviour is well known with metformin. For me, swapping to slow release was sufficient, and now through reducing the carbs in my meals, I’m off all medication.
 
I saw the impact of metformin on my mother, and how she developed complications over the years. She was one of the people, along with a T2 friend who's had part of her foot removed, who made me determined to go low carb instead of tablets and increasing damage. T2 does not need to be a progressive disease. I got my HbA1c down into the normal range within a few weeks (easier as I started low carb immediately).
It is worth trying!
 
Hi, I am not pregnant no, I have been on slow release before and had the same reactions, albeit not as severe but I believe that's because back then I was only on one tablet. I, for many recent years had a terrible energy drink addiction, overcome that just at the end of April so I'm now low carb and no dependency issues so hoping for much better results next time, I'm going to speak to the nurse tomorrow and see if I can change to slow release again, thank you everyone. Sometimes it's nice to know you're not alone
 
I couldn't tolerate it at all, SR or not. I tried in my 2nd pregnancy 10yrs ago, was horrible.
Tried again in 2016 but couldn't tolerate it, the nausea was horrendous, and the diarrhoea was horrible.
I now take GLP-1 agonist other than nausea and vomiting the first 2-3 weeks, I am doing fine on this.
There are other alternatives, don't let the Nurse scare you!
 
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