Reducing dosage of metformin

maryc117 said:

This is my first time posting, so I hope I am doing it correctly!

I was diagnosed as type 2 in September 2013 with an Hba1c of 11 and cholesterol of 5.2. I went through the usual feelings of disbelief, self-blame and shame and it took me several months to come to terms with it. I was prescribed 4 x 500mg metformin and 40mg of Simvastatin. I suffered with severe diarrhoea on the Metformin and asked to go on slow release (thanks to the information on the forum) and that settled down although it hasn’t gone completely. I cheated with the statins as I wanted to try and affect the figures with diet and exercise and so I cut the tablet in half and only took 20mg

My results in December showed blood sugars down to 6.1 and cholesterol down to 2.9. It was agreed after much discussion that I could reduce the statins down to 10mg.

I have just had my second 3 monthly check and the blood sugars are down to 5.7 and cholesterol still at 2.9. I am very strict with my diet and I am low carbing as well as avoiding sugars and exercising. I have lost almost 2 stone and my BMI is now 26.

Sorry for long the preamble my question is:

I know I will have diabetes for life but wondered if being on such a high dose with my figures as they are now gives me nowhere to go if things deteriorate as I get older (I am 62). Does anyone have any experience of reducing the Metformin my DN says I can try it if I want to! Also I would like to stop taking the statins. Your thoughts would be really appreciated. I have found the forum very informative and very supportive. Thank you.

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Hello. I am new to forum too.

I was diagnosed with t2 diabetes almost 10 years ago. I am a similar age to maryc117. I was prescribed metformin, 1 tablet, 3 times a day. Last year I was able to reduce the dose to one tablet a day, and hope to be able to stop them altogether within the next few months. This is because my HbA1c levels have been below the level 42 for 2 years. This has been achieved with the support of my medical practice and following a very low calorie diet for 10 weeks.. This was following recommendations from a study at Newcastle university by a Professor Roy Taylor. I also exercise in water, swimming and aquafit, 5times a week. I am hoping to be taken off the diabetic register this year.

I have to emphasise that the drastic weight loss regime was only undertaken after consulting my doctor, and I was closely monitored at all times. I still have weight to lose, but the incentive to motivation is the thought that if I do not continue exercising and eating well, the diabetes will return.

Best wishes.

Pipp

Maryc117, and anyone else who is unable to sleep, like me,

Prof Taylor has made information available online. Sorry not able to remember the web address, but if you do a search for 'Reversing type 2 diabetes, Newcastle University' you should find it. If I find the link I will post it on this thread tomorrow.

I have to add that I believe finding the Taylor research info has saved my life. I had been diagnosed with diabetes t2 five years before. I had to argue with my GP to be allowed to follow the programme. I stayed on metformin 3x 500 mg daily and for 10 weeks had nothing to eat except meal replacement diet drinks, and drank only water. I.e. TOTAL FOOD REPLACEMENT. It sounds tough, but I was willing to set aside 10 weeks of my life for the chance of prolonging my life, by years, and reducing the chance of diabetic complications. It was only difficult for the first two days. Well, perhaps also difficult at social functions because I did not like to draw attention to myself, and people were curious as to why I was not eating. The result was I lost 50kg, and my diabetes went into reverse. Has stayed that way for two years, although I have regained some of the weight. I have needed to stay on one metformin 500mg a day as I have had two major operations, and GP did not want to chance blood sugars spiking while I was inactive. I should be able to stop medication soon and my blood glucose has remained stable. I am not even in the at risk category.

Once again, I would emphasise that any diet or change of medication should only be with medical approval and supervision. However, I do believe that T2 diabetes can be beaten. It takes determination, support and encouragement and the diabetic individual needs to find what works for them.

I wish you well

Pipp

kimyeomans said:

Hi
I am type 2 3 years in. Last annual review showed a rise 8.4 Hba1c so I am going for the big one, the Newcastle Diet. I have read so many positives on the site I am convinced it can help. Getting the right packet meals seems a minefield. I have gone with Exante (anyone heard of or experienced these?) for the first week or so, porridge and soups, to be supplemented with 200 cals of veg.
Day 1 today and feeling up for it. Is there any site where you can blog or track your progress, I don't want to bore anyone with daily comments here, but I think it is motivating to get it off your chest.
I am on 4 x 500g Metformin 2 am 2 pm, Losartan for blood pressure and aspirin precautionary. Resisted statins and cholesterol ok ish at 4.3 and falling each year.
This morning before starting
BS 10.4
BP 145 / 90
WT 15st 7lb
Porridge breakfast, soup lunch, heading for soup dinner and veg. Water and green tea all day, will get my 3 litres in.
I travel a lot with work and really enjoyed a beer (not for the next 6 wks) so it will not be easy, but I am determined to do this. I am nearly 58, enjoy reasonable exercise. Used to love football, rugby and squash but slowed down to golf, cycling, swimming and a bit of gym, had one hip replaced, other one playing up a bit, will need doin sometime.

So... any advice from anyone of like mind, or has already done it so it is behind them, would be much appreciated

Kim

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Hi Kim


Not sure when you mention 'Newcastle diet' you are meaning the one I referred to previously?

The link for the Prof Roy Taylor Newcastle University Reversing T2 diabetes programme is

www.ncl.ac.uk/magres/research/diabetes

I am of a similar age to Kim. Was diagnosed T2 just after my 50th birthday. It was a wake up call, as I had been a carer for several years to one relative after another, and had not been taking care of myself.

In 2011 I read about the research by Prof Taylor. I had been on metformin and trying to lose weight for 4 years. I chose the Lipotrim total food replacement method. Milkshakes, or soups, which were palatable, though not moreish, and what they call flapjacks (which to me tasted more like eating a cardboard beer mat). I had to persuade my doctor to allow me to do this, as Lipotrim is only available through pharmacies, and permission is required from GP. Also, you need to be closely monitored, either by pharmacist, nurse, GP or combination of them all. Lipotrim cost about £35 a week. Expensive, but as you don't eat anything else, and only drink water, it is comparable to what you could spend on food, drink, snacks, coffee, etc. sounds a bit drastic not eating anything else, but for me, it took away the need to think ahead, or plan at a time when I was stressed by family concerns. Also, less likely to cheat. It was boring, and a bit tedious, as people get curious and want to know why you are not eating? Then some folk ask very personal questions, especially when they see you losing weight very quickly. Others, maybe I am being harsh here, try to sabotage your regime with the argument that "surely it wouldn't hurt to have just one small treat". After the second day on the Lipotrim I did not feel hungry, or that I was missing food. The incentive of the rapid return to normal blood glucose, and the weight loss spurred me on.

I stayed on the diet programme for 10 weeks. After just two weeks my blood glucose had returned to within the non-diabetic range. I kept on for the 10 weeks because after the first two days I felt so much more well than I had for ages. Also, had a lot of weight to lose. I did lose 23kg in that time. I lost another 12 kg in the year after by eating low carb and low fat. I exercised, in water, swimming and aquafit, as this is the only comfortable form of exercise, being obese and disabled. Although I have gained about 8 kg back, after having two major operations, being inactive, and eating hospital food, my blood glucose has been normal for the last two years.

I noticed, re-reading the Newcastle research papers after I had slavishly followed the no food Lipotrim method, that the research mentioned 'Orofast', but suggested any commercial low calorie milkshake, or soup diet, such as Slimfast or Asda Biggest Loser are acceptable alternatives. I think you need to do something like 600 calories a day plus 3 servings of non-starchy veg. I did try two weeks of this using Tesco own brand Ultraslim shakes and at salads, homemade soup, and baked veg. Almost became addicted to mushrooms. Lost 5kg doing that.

I am not suggesting this would be a suitable regime for everyone, but for me the impetus was the research evidence that people following the programme had apparently reversed their diabetes. I appear to have done this too. I no longer have to test my glucose levels. I have a HbA1c test every 3 months. At my next appointment as long as my bloods are normal, it will have been so for 3 years, and I will be off medication 'currently one 500mg tablet metformin a day. Also, my nurse thinks I will also be taken off the diabetic register. I will need to be vigilant, and eat sensibly and exercise, but I think it has been worth the effort.

I would not recommend anyone with diabetes to try the drastic food reduction without medical supervision. Also, the very low calorie diet is only advised for T2 diabetes.

Hope this is of some use to Kim and anyone else interested.

Best wishes

Pipp