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Should I be worried?

Kim_C

Active Member
Messages
34
Location
West Yorkshire
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
I only started testing yesterday. I have been on low carb and 500mg of Metformin twice a day for 2 weeks. My first test was 2hrs after evening meal (8pm) Result: 4.1. I tested again at bedtime (11.30) and it had dropped to 3.9. I ate a single twix, didn't test again but felt better afterwards. My fasting blood this morning is 6.0.
I will keep testing today, but the low reading last night got me a bit worried that the low carb +Metformin could be too much?
As my nurse does not approve of low carb/self testing I don't feel able to discuss blood results with her :(
 
Kim.

Reading what you have said I woulld be inclined to think that your Diet as a lo-carber needs some tweaking. The food intake and type of food is all going to affect your Bg readings. I certainly wouldn't want to be anywhere near the 3 zone !!

Like your idea with the Twix - not really a good snack to get you through the night ? See where you are coming from though. :lol:

Try looking around this link for Carb/GI ratings of a list of foods. I used it when I first started to filter out high GI foods, then further filter out high carb stuff as well. You can print it out and keep as a a handy guide near your fridge.

http://glycaemicindex.com/

It get's easier.
Ken. :D
 
Thanks guys
I'm still concerned about the low reading last night, but I am going to continue testing throughout today and see how I go. I had small bowl of porridge for breakfast and reading after 2 hours only went up to 6.1 from fasting of 6.0
 
I wouldn't worry about the high 3s. On Metformin alone, it's not likely to lead to a proper hypo and overnight, It will most likely come up a bit.
I get 3s if I am very very tight on my carbs and I have never come to harm. Yet 5 years ago, when still taking Gliclazide, I felt ill at 4
If I were to go to bed on a 3+, I'd just leave out that metformin tablet.
 
Hi Kim,
On the odd occasion I have had a reading in the 3's I feel ill, sweating, shaking, heart pounding. Different strokes for different folks.
I would not mess about with your medication as that is a Dr's remit. As Ken says, tweak the diet a bit. Perhaps your portions were too small.

Vicky.
 
Kim asked that this information be posted for others to see.

Unfortunately Kim neglected to mention that she also takes LISINOPRIL as well as Metformin. after talking to her privately I gave her the following information:
LISINOPRIL is an ACE inhibitor. One of the many possible side effects is listed below in Red.
Side-effects
ACE inhibitors can cause profound hypotension (see Cautions) and renal impairment (see Renal effects above), and a persistent dry cough. They can also cause angioedema (onset may be delayed; higher incidence reported in Afro-Caribbean patients), rash (which may be associated with pruritus and urticaria), pancreatitis, and upper respiratory-tract symptoms such as sinusitis, rhinitis, and sore throat. Gastro-intestinal effects reported with ACE inhibitors include nausea, vomiting, dyspepsia, diarrhoea, constipation, and abdominal pain. Altered liver function tests, cholestatic jaundice, and hepatitis have been reported. Hyperkalaemia, hypoglycaemia, and blood disorders including thrombocytopenia, leucopenia, neutropenia, and haemolytic anaemia have also been reported. Other reported side-effects include headache, dizziness, fatigue, malaise, taste disturbance, paraesthesia, bronchospasm, fever, serositis, vasculitis, myalgia, arthralgia, positive antinuclear antibody, raised erythrocyte sedimentation rate, eosinophilia, leucocytosis, and photosensitivity.

Hypoglycaemia - Good explanation here.
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/fac ... garlow.htm

Basically it is low blood sugars in healthy or Diabetic people. Anything below 4 mmol/l is considered low.
I suggested to Kim that she take advice from her GP as this sort of level is not good. She stated that she did not feel good when the Bg levels were below 4 mmol/l, which is not surprising really.

Anybody else needs to post ALL medications if the advice is to be good.

Ken
 
Good advice,Ken.We can only advise though our own personal experience,we do not give medical advice on the forum,apart from Katharine,so knowing the full picture helps everyone to give the best advice even if it is only to go and see your health care team.
 
Excellent call! It may be for some reason there's an interraction between the lisinopril and the metformin which is shutting down the liver's glucose release too much. Doctor job I suspect, maybe a different ACE or an ARB would work.
 
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