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bitofagit

Well-Known Member
Messages
64
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
hello all
diagnosed T2 about 2007 but did not give much regard to it. In following years had a number of annual checks which indicated the T2 but seemed to be 'not that concerning' (my interpretation!)
However ..... recent bloods showed count of 60 as a result of which I was prescribed Metformin, something which I was not impressed with (have dislike of meds), but duly collected same and following day started taking (2 x tabs per day 500 each)
The second day suffered what I would describe as a bubbling tummy, the 3rd day I could not function.
Good grief, is that normal???
My immediate reaction was to bin the tabs and dive into a whole heap of changed diet, oh and bought myself a monitor.
In last week have lost just under 2kg in weight so must be doing something OK, but it is the monitor readings, what is good or bad? Anybody?
 
bitofagit said:
hello all
diagnosed T2 about 2007 but did not give much regard to it. In following years had a number of annual checks which indicated the T2 but seemed to be 'not that concerning' (my interpretation!)
However ..... recent bloods showed count of 60 as a result of which I was prescribed Metformin, something which I was not impressed with (have dislike of meds), but duly collected same and following day started taking (2 x tabs per day 500 each)
The second day suffered what I would describe as a bubbling tummy, the 3rd day I could not function.
Good grief, is that normal???
My immediate reaction was to bin the tabs and dive into a whole heap of changed diet, oh and bought myself a monitor.
In last week have lost just under 2kg in weight so must be doing something OK, but it is the monitor readings, what is good or bad? Anybody?
Click to expand...
Ah, poor you! Yes, metformin can do that to people. For some it abates after two weeks, and if it doesn't, it isn't likely to. If you want to sit through 2 weeks of being locked in the toilet to find out, I commend you. ;) I was rather steadfast in trying to remain on it, which got me dehydration, bloody stool and hemorrhoids about three weeks in.

Things that could help: never ever take it on an empty stomach. That will make things worse. There's a slow release version that might be kinder to the gut. Or... Indeed, what you've already done. Go the diet route and monitor with a meter! https://josekalsbeek.blogspot.com/2019/11/the-nutritional-thingy.html is what I did and what worked for me. I'm still low carb, though slightly fallen off the wagon of late due to some recent stressors, so I suppose medium low carb for the moment rather than keto... But after being low carb for 7 years, my insulin resistance isn't as bad as it was, so I'm not peaking out at 22+ mmol/l on a biscuit anymore. ;) (Will still need to get back in the wagon properly soon, though!) All in all, this means a low carb diet in whatever variation is quite doable and can and will help more than metformin is ever going to be able to.

You're aiming for blood sugars between 4-something and 8-something. Test before a meal and two hours after the first bite, you're looking for a rise of no more than 2.0 mmol/l. If you're 2.0 mmol/l or lower, your over all blood sugars will start dropping in the direction of the normal range, which shouldn't be too hard.... There's worse HbA1c's than 60 who've turned their T2 around.

Good luck!
Jo
 
I went low carb, my HbA1C was 134! There‘s no answer as to why, just suddenly was diabetic. I’ve not reversed it Even though I’d bee very strict. I’m more relaxed, well, sort of. My consultant Endocrinologist said ‘you’ve got to live’! And she’s right. Sadly I’ve got other issues causing problems at mo. But low carb is the way.
 
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