Newbie type 2

[Dee1960]

I've been on metaformin for 2 weeks now and I'm terrified of my mmol going below 5mmol. When you get there does it keep dropping or does it stabilise.

 

[Rachox]

Hi @Dee1960 and welcome to the forum. Metformin doesn’t directly lower blood sugar levels, it works by preventing the liver chucking out so much glucose and improves how your body uses insulin. The incidence of having a hypo (low blood sugar) is extremely rare. I control my diabetes with a low carb diet and a small dose of Rybelsus (prior to this I took Metformin for six years). My blood sugar level is consistently 4.something and I don’t suffer ill effects.
If you have recently been diagnosed you may suffer false hypos, that is your body getting used to normal levels having been at higher levels before being diagnosed, especially if you have lowered your carb intake .

 

[Dee1960]

Thank you. I'm absolutely terrified of them dropping so keep eating to keep them higher

 

[Antje77]

Thank you. I'm absolutely terrified of them dropping so keep eating to keep them higher

Why are you terrified of dropping blood glucose?
Low BG is usually only an issue for people on insulin or gliclazide. Anything you read about hypos doesn't apply to people on metformin, it's just not a thing.

Non diabetics go as low as mid 3's without issue, being in the 4's on metformin only is perfect!

 

[Melgar]

I agree with @Rachox and @Antje77 Type 2 diabetics' blood sugar rarely drop to a point you suffer from hypoglycaemic symptoms. If they do it's because of some other condition or medication. I got hypos because I had undiagnosed coeliac disease . Metformin will not cause hypoglycaemia . Your liver will automatically correct your blood sugar with glucose should your blood sugars drop below a certain level. Blood sugars can drop to around 3.5 mmol/Ls and still be seen as normal after a fast.

The pancreas and the liver work together, like a tag team, ensuring blood sugars do not drop too low. The body is a remarkable and finely tuned machine. There are measuring devices such as continuous glucose monitors (cgms) where your blood sugar is continually monitored. The cgm produces a visual graph plotting the rise and fall of your blood sugars. You can actually see the result of liver releasing glucose when your blood sugars start dropping, usually after something very carby or in the early hours of the morning. It's quite remarkable to see on the graph. Your blood sugars can be seen dropping into the 3's and then all of a sudden your blood sugars rise up on the graph. That is your liver correcting your blood sugars. It really is something remarkable in my opinion.

Ed missing words

 

[LeftPeg]

Natural to be worried as a newly-diagnosed diabetic, but hopefully the above responses prove reassurance.

The risk with Type 2 is not hypos, but nerve damage caused by high blood sugars over the years and decades.

If you’re around 4-5mmol/l you’re doing good. I haven’t been below 10mmpl/l this week (but I’m working on it).

 

[JoKalsbeek]

I've been on metaformin for 2 weeks now and I'm terrified of my mmol going below 5mmol. When you get there does it keep dropping or does it stabilise.

Being newly diagnosed is absolutely terrifying. It was for the bulk of us, I've rarely heard someone here or anywhere, take it in stride. But yeah... Metformin doesn't cause hypo's. You don't have to add in carbs, you can sit comfortably on a 4 or 5 mmol/l or even a little lower, and leave the worries for a different day. You're not likely to have a severe hypoglycemic episode any time soon, so breathe... You're doing well. Like others have said, the medication that does cause hypo's, you're not taking. So you're quite safe.

It gets easier with time, I promise.
Jo