• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Question

badwolfreturns

badwolfreturns

Well-Known Member
Messages
128
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I was having side effects stomach cramps,feeling sick and diarrhoea every day,doctor said drop down to one pill and was a lot better,yesterday had some chocolate and 15 minutes later the cramps and diarrhoea was back and only stopped this afternoon is this because of the pills I'm taking

Sent from my KFTT using DCUK Forum mobile app
 
Re: Question

What pills are you taking ? It could be many things ! Metformin can cause stomach problems in a few ? You may just have caught a bug ?
 
Re: Question

Taking metformin ,don't think it's a bug,as I feel ok now

Sent from my KFTT using DCUK Forum mobile app
 
Re: Question

Could be the Metformin then, it's certainly got history if you read the posts here. Ask for the SR version, much kinder on the stomach.
 
Re: Question

You must take metformin with food to avoid problems


Diagnosed Type II 1998 1 x 80 mg Gliclazide, 4 x 500mg Metformin and 1 x 100mg Sitagliptin - HbA1c - 48 mmol/mol
 
Re: Question

I take it in the morning with my breakfast,I cut out all chocolate and nice stuff for a month,and as soon I eaten the chocolate was ill

Sent from my KFTT using DCUK Forum mobile app
 
Re: Question

If you are diabetic why are you eating chocolate?


Diagnosed Type II 1998 1 x 80 mg Gliclazide, 4 x 500mg Metformin and 1 x 100mg Sitagliptin - HbA1c - 48 mmol/mol
 
Re: Question

It was a one off,I only been diagnosed for a month so still working things out

Sent from my KFTT using DCUK Forum mobile app
 
Re: Question

Welcome to the world of diabetes but unfortunately you cannot do that anymore


Diagnosed Type II 1998 1 x 80 mg Gliclazide, 4 x 500mg Metformin and 1 x 100mg Sitagliptin - HbA1c - 48 mmol/mol
 
Re: Question

Of course you can still eat it!!!!! Just not as much as usual and as often and try to change to 85% Dark, it's hard at first to get used to (myself being Cadbury's no1 fan!) but it gets easier

Xxx


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Re: Question

I'm going cut out chocolates altogether,strangely for someone who loved it,not really missed it,I can't stand dark chocolate so best to stop the chocolate

Sent from my KFTT using DCUK Forum mobile app
 
Re: Question

When people say take metformin with food they really mean "with", not just before you eat or just after you eat but in between mouthfuls, you might find that helps with the stomach problems.

Also some side effects of metformin can reduce if you persevere starting with a low dose, say a single 500mg tablet a day for a week or two then increasing one pill at a time every week or so. I suffered very bad wind and also some stomach cramps but they eased off and disappeared after a few weeks/months. So it may be worth riding it out if you can, especially if you have only had this one episode as it may be that the two are not even related.

Milk chocolate in small amounts I find OK as the fat in the chocolate seems to offset the sugar by slowing down the digestion, but I am talking about small amounts and as an occasional treat not an every day thing, but as you are newly diagnosed it may help if you avoid it all together until you are well controlled and know better what affects you and what you can get a way with :D
 
Re: Question

Doctor arranged a appointment with the nurse tomorrow so see what she says about the medication,I take the pill half way through my breakfast.I'm ok on one pill has soon I up it to two back with the stomach cramps and rest of the side effects

Sent from my KFTT using DCUK Forum mobile app
 
Re: Question

St4cey said:
Of course you can still eat it!!!!! Just not as much as usual and as often and try to change to 85% Dark, it's hard at first to get used to (myself being Cadbury's no1 fan!) but it gets easier

Xxx


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
Click to expand...

Stacey of course once under control we can have the odd thing but if you are one of the unlucky ones (and who knows at diagnosis who is or is not) good management of this condition is all about education and discipline.

I know people who are not very well controlled who have been given the 'you can have the odd one' advice from their GP with no further guidance and who then think so long as they do not eat the box in one sitting, they can eat the box one chocolate at a time. Now you might think that is obvious but to the new and inexperienced I know which advice I would want my loved ones to receive.

Tough love maybe but welcome to the world we are in - i am not sure about you but my condition is with me for the rest of my days - I think we would all be well managed if we could be that disciplined - I am not here because I have any solutions to offer I am here to learn how to manage the condition better and telling me i can eat chocolate is not helpful and I contest that is also the case for most people who suffer from this condition.


Diagnosed Type II 1998 1 x 80 mg Gliclazide, 4 x 500mg Metformin and 1 x 100mg Sitagliptin - HbA1c - 48 mmol/mol
 
Re: Question

Think we're getting sidetracked by the chocolate. Each to their own, if he wants the odd piece of chocolate, can't see the problem ! We all set our own rules.
Anyway, the post was concerning stomach cramps and the probability that it is linked to metformin.


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Re: Question

The OP introduced the issue of chocolate


Diagnosed Type II 1998 1 x 80 mg Gliclazide, 4 x 500mg Metformin and 1 x 100mg Sitagliptin - HbA1c - 48 mmol/mol
 
Re: Question

Agreed, but the solution is far more likely to be the metformin rather than the chocolate !
 
Re: Question

Oh dear, I will refrain from replying my original thoughts as Mo1905 highlighted the chocolate debate has taken over the original question.

Wish you all the best badwolfreturns, maybe you need to ask for the slow release version as already suggested, I too take Metformin and suffered with stomach ache although it eased off after a few weeks, I didn't know there was an alternative so put up with it, I found the Metformin easier to mange the side effects than the Gliclazide I was taking!

Good luck with your appointment


Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
Re: Question

Sorry to mention the "C" word again but dark chocolate will certainly exacerbate the worst effects of metformin. Its a laxative isn't it?

I suffered very badly with metformin and only dscovered by accident that the SR version existed. My doctor just kept offering me things like gaviscon when I complained about meformin.

I was very slim on diagnosis and apparently slim people suffer more from the side effects. When I started the SR it still took some weeks to settle completely but it was a great improvement.

I think leaving a few weeks between each increase in dosage is a must. Unforunately this doesn't seem to be done universally. It certainly allows you and your HCP to check your tolerance before moving on.
I had quite unusual symptoms -problems wih my balance and speech as well as stomach cramps but my dr wanted me to persevere . Six years on I don't even think abut it -its just routine.

I know how bewildering it all is at first and how worrying side effects can be - but metformin symptoms are almost always fairly short lived.
There are drugs with far worse side effects than metformin -its worth persevering because you will be quite forunate if you can conrol your bg wih just diet eercis e and metformin.
Many people can testify that the symptoms do subside. I often wonder if they should warn people of the possible severity of the side effects -and also why they don't just offer the SR initially. I know its the cost but the effects are traumatic to the newly diagnosed.
 
Back
Top