Newly Diagnosed

[Wendy18480]

Hi there,

I was diagnosed T2 at the end of January this year and given a prescription for Metformin, 500gm in the morning for the first week increasing by 500gm in the second week increasing by 500gm the third week and to the maximum of 2000gm by week 4. I managed week one with no problems but increasing to 1000gm in week two was awful. Headaches, nausea, lightheaded and tired and up every 2 hours in the night I just couldn't cope with it. I've now reduced to 500mg and just having one meal a day (usual, I can't cope with 3 meals a day) and taking my tablet after that meal. I feel better but what if any harm am I doing?

When I saw my GP at diagnosis she gave me so many figures but what I do remember is she said my level was 57 and should be nearer 40.

Since diagnosis I cut right down on carbs and have lost 3/4 of a stone. I feel ok now and am sleeping well but it's all so confusing.

I'v learned so much on here so thank you all.

Wendy.

 

[Resurgam]

Having cut down on carbs you are on the right track.
A prescription for Metformin is - as far as I can work out - a Pavlovian reflex on the part of a GP and as long as you are keeping your blood glucose down you will, with any luck, be fine.
Your numbers for the Hba1c are not very high - I was at 91 at diagnosis, so cutting back should give good results. Do report your reaction to the GP - the more people who complain the better. I was in a terrible state taking Metformin and a statin, and no record was made. It is no wonder that it is considered a safe and effective drug when poor results are disregarded.
Of course it might not be the Metformin - but who is checking on this?

 

[Bluetit1802]

Personally, with an HbA1c of 57 I can see no reason why you should be on such a large dose of Metformin (it is the maximum dose). For one reason - there is no scope for increasing it in the future if your levels deteriorate. Metformin does help, but not a lot and cannot be relied on. If you are overweight it may help a little more as it is an appetite suppressant, but blood sugars will be controlled better by a low carb diet.

Please ring your surgery and ask for a print out of your blood test results. You need to know exactly where you stand, and not just glucose but also cholesterol, lipids, liver and kidney functions. All these are important for us. If you are in England you can also ask if your surgery puts test results on line as they should have done, and how to register for this.

 

[Wendy18480]

Thanks, that's made me feel a little more settled. When I said to the GP about died she dismissed the idea saying I'd need to be on about 800 calories a day (1pizza!!! only joking) for it to have any effect but reading and reading some more, people have good results with low carb so I think that's the way I will go. Years ago I successfully did the Slimming World diet and did much better on the red (meat) days that the green (carbs) day.

What I can't understand is why they put you on a high dose of Metformin quickly, surely it's better to work up that get up with nowhere else to go! Except more tablets which to me is defeating the object unless they are being paid on medication prescribed!!

 

[Bluetit1802]

Thanks, that's made me feel a little more settled. When I said to the GP about died she dismissed the idea saying I'd need to be on about 800 calories a day (1pizza!!! only joking) for it to have any effect but reading and reading some more, people have good results with low carb so I think that's the way I will go. Years ago I successfully did the Slimming World diet and did much better on the red (meat) days that the green (carbs) day.

What I can't understand is why they put you on a high dose of Metformin quickly, surely it's better to work up that get up with nowhere else to go! Except more tablets which to me is defeating the object unless they are being paid on medication prescribed!!

She has been reading up about the Newcastle Diet that has been in the headlines for a few months. That is the 800 calorie a day diet that has seen some success. She clearly has no idea about the role of carbs in controlling T2. There is plenty on this forum about the Newcastle Diet if you are interested (you can use the search box). Your GP seems to be one of those that throws pills at everyone without looking at the bigger picture - and quite honestly the max dose of Metformin as a first line drug is ridiculous with an HbA1c of 57. Let's hope she refers you to a diabetes nurse in the practice for follow up reviews who may have more idea.

 

[Wendy18480]

Well I didn't know I could get a copy of my blood test results. I've just rung the surgery and they will ask the GP if I can have them, did explain why I wanted them. Thank you.

 

[Wendy18480]

Hi all,

I've now got my blood test results, can I ask you what you make of the numbers.
HbA1c level (DCCT allinged) 7.4%
HbA1c level IFCC standardised 57mmol/mol
Serum C reactive protein level 10 mg/l
My kidneys are normal, no action.
My liver function test is up but I've had that before, which comes back into normal range with better diet.
Full blood count is normal, no action.
Bone profile normal, no action.

Many thanks.

 

[Bluetit1802]

Hi all,

I've now got my blood test results, can I ask you what you make of the numbers.
HbA1c level (DCCT allinged) 7.4%
HbA1c level IFCC standardised 57mmol/mol
Serum C reactive protein level 10 mg/l
My kidneys are normal, no action.
My liver function test is up but I've had that before, which comes back into normal range with better diet.
Full blood count is normal, no action.
Bone profile normal, no action.

Many thanks.

Your HbA1c of 7.4% (57mmol/mol) could be better but could be an awful lot worse. As I said before, in my opinion your GP appears to be over medicating you. You need to discuss this with the GP.

The serum c-reactive protein is a marker for possible inflammation (CRP)
https://www.healthline.com/health/c-reactive-protein

Which bits of your liver profile are up? If it is the ALT it could indicate a fatty liver. This can be rectified with a suitable diet.

 

[bobjan]

Thanks, that's made me feel a little more settled. When I said to the GP about died she dismissed the idea saying I'd need to be on about 800 calories a day (1pizza!!! only joking) for it to have any effect but reading and reading some more, people have good results with low carb so I think that's the way I will go. Years ago I successfully did the Slimming World diet and did much better on the red (meat) days that the green (carbs) day.

What I can't understand is why they put you on a high dose of Metformin quickly, surely it's better to work up that get up with nowhere else to go! Except more tablets which to me is defeating the object unless they are being paid on medication prescribed!!

hi, I was T1 and given 4 Metformin a day. The effect was Diarrea, I cut it down, my decision. I'm OK

 

[eggs11]

Thanks, that's made me feel a little more settled. When I said to the GP about died she dismissed the idea saying I'd need to be on about 800 calories a day (1pizza!!! only joking) for it to have any effect but reading and reading some more, people have good results with low carb so I think that's the way I will go. Years ago I successfully did the Slimming World diet and did much better on the red (meat) days that the green (carbs) day.

What I can't understand is why they put you on a high dose of Metformin quickly, surely it's better to work up that get up with nowhere else to go! Except more tablets which to me is defeating the object unless they are being paid on medication prescribed!!

Absolutely amazing that her takeaway from the Newcastle Diet research is you have to be on 800 calories a day for it to work - actually what the results showed was that it was weight loss which helped and it doesn't have to be rapid - just that 800 calories usually resulted in good weight loss relatively quickly. Like @Bluetit1802 says, hope you get referred to a specialist diabetes nurse who will understand the latest research better.