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question of physiology

M

Mister1973

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Birmingham, United Kingdom
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Gout, Arthritis, IBS, having to take pills every day...
Hi,

I was diagnosed type 2 a week ago wednesday. Since then I've been on a healthy diet, with maybe a small naughty thing every other day.

I started on 500mg/day metformin last saturday. Since then my high blood pressure has rectified itself, my weight has gone down by 10lbs and I have stacks more energy. I did weigh 18st 11. Now just about down to 18st 1.

I would like to understand the physiological reasons for this. Is it normal? is this what I'm supposed to be experiencing? I've been told by my GP to up the dose to 1000mg after 7 days, then up again to 1500mg 7 days after that. Can I expect faster weight loss? lower BP?

I've not been tested for cholesterol or checked my blood sugar level since diagnosis. My pre-fasting level was 20.5. What affect might the metformin be having on cholesterol if it was high at the time of diagnosis? How fast can I assume my blood sugar is dropping?

A lot of questions, I know. I'm actually loving the side effects I'm experiencing, but just felt like checking that all is actually OK and what to expect after upping my dose.

Thanks in advance
 
Not sure that all of your improvements are solely due to Metformin ? What s your BP now as compared to before ?

Do you take any other drugs and are you on a specific type of diet. 'Healthy' can mean many things.

Whilst Metformin can have some effect on both weight, and some say on BP, there may be other factors involved here ?

Here is a link to Metformin information:
http://www.healthyontario.com/Assets/Pd ... Advice.pdf

There are studies regarding the weight loss using Metformin and also any reduction in BP. A lot of these papers you have to be a registered user to access. Do an internet search.

Ken.
 
Thanks for the info, I will certainly be doing some digging...

- I'm on allopurinol for gout (300mg/day), but I've been on this for years and have never seen such an across-the-board improvement with it. I WAS taking naproxen for a tendon problem I was having in my wrist, but that has also largely cleared up and I've not had one for five days now.

- My BP was 160/100 or thereabouts. Now it hovers around 135/95

- A typical day's intake: muesli for breakfast, avg 5 crackers (crackerbreads, rice cakes or krisprolls, etc) and soft cheese (think Philadelphia and own-brand lo-fat derivatives) for lunch and/or snacks (just one or two for a snack, but this is becoming rare) and a salad or home made very lo-fat chinese for dinner. Fruit and/or veg as snacks throughout the day, probably 3 of five-a-day is taken up that way.

I've been on that diet for ten days. I had bloods taken on 18/5, swapped out all unhealthy foods for healthy on 20/5, the same day I was told to fast. I got my disagnosis and had fasting bloods taken on 21/5. Started taking Metformin on 23/5.

I was aware of the potential for weightloss from talking to a couple of other T2's I know, but it's the timescale I'm surprised at, if anything.
 
eating less and weight loss would account for much of your improvement. Metformin helps with this in some people.
To me your diet is still a bit carb heavy. I'd cut back on those.
then I'd get a BG meter and strips to monitor exactly what is happening. It you're really lucky, you doctor may give you one, but try the manufacturers websites. there are sometimes some freebes on offer.
Keep BG down and carbs reduced and you should keep the improvement going.
Good luck, you've made a positive start.
 
I'd tend to agree with Hana, many people make such improvements on a suitably reduced level of carbs. Sometimes immediate weight loss can be elimination of retained water, and the high initial rate will reduce to a slower loss over time.

Probably the metformin is already improving your insulin resistance and your insulin levels are dropping: that is one factor causal of high blood pressure and other cardiovascular symptoms.

You really need a full lipid panel rather than total cholesterol: again dietary changes can have a major effect.

Go have a look through the Stickies and Success Stories: you may revise your opinion of what is actually a "healthy" diet <G>

Greatly reduced inflammation may also be a factor in the symptom reduction.
 
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