Should I take metformin?

[Peppergirl]

I'm type 1 and I've had great success on LCHF and my control is great now. I take 30u of tresiba and no more than 15u of novorapid daily. I'm not losing weight. I lose maybe a pound then put it back on, which has been going on for months now. I'm not exercising much and enjoy a bit of red wine at weekends, so I'm not helping with the weight loss. I could probably cut back on protein but I am fasting after breakfast, so don't eat from 10am until 10pm (shift work). I am eating a couple dextrose tablets most days after I take 2-3u of novorapid 2-3pm as my glucose can creep to around 7-8. My BG drops a bit later, not hypo, but I can see on my libre it drops to 4-5 and I nudge it back up with dextrose (and I'm trying to fix this as I don't want the dextrose). I eat bacon and eggs each morning with bran crackers (6g CHO) and butter and then maybe eggs in the evening with chicken or hotdogs and cauli.

So, I'm deciding whether to take metformin. I was prescribed it years ago and never took it because I was scared about dropping my BGs. Not scared now, but worried about side effects. However, if this will kick start weight loss, I will try it. It's on my repeat prescription so I can order it, I just don't know for sure. I have a lot of weight to lose and worried that I won't lose any because of the insulin. Anyone recommend it for the weight loss? I'm aware that I may need to reduce my insulin, which can only be a good thing?

 

[Daibell]

Hi. Metformin only ever has small effect on blood sugar. If you take it you may need to reduce the insulin very slightly. It does help a bit with insulin resistance when you have excess weight. I'm interested in your use of the Dextrose tablets. taking these should be more of an exception and not a regular thing. It sounds like your Basal balance may not be quite right and/or your Bolus ratio may need a very slight tweak. Are you carb-counting the Bolus? You shouldn't need to cut-back on proteins or even a level of fats. To avoid weight gain with insulin you need to keep the carbs under control which you are doing very well so no problem there? I must admit I'm surprised with your very low-carb diet that you are having some weight problems, but we are all different I guess. I would try the Metformin as it shouldn't have a dramatic effect but be prepared to drop the insulin just a little.

 

[Peppergirl]

Hi @Daibell thanks for your reply. I have recently become a bit concerned about the dextrose. Not having loads but I know I shouldn't really need them. I'm going to tweak my basal a bit more, but I do carb count and I think I need a more specific bolus dose, rather than units of 1, which I think the pump would allow me.

BTW I've been obese forever, even when diagnosed with type 1 at 14, was around 70kg, so its crept up over the last 25 years. I have dropped a bit of weight but I have stuck at current weight for months.

 

[kimrooney89]

Hi @Peppergirl I'm having the exact same problem regarding weight loss on LCHF!

After speaking with my DSN yesterday she advised that GLPs may be a solution for me. You inject it once or twice per day, it's slows the release of food from your tummy making you feel fuller for longer and apparently gives you tighter control of your BGs too.

My DSN is raising it with the consultants at a meeting on Tuesday so I should know by the end of next week if I'm getting put on it. Maybe it'd be an option for you too?

 

[noblehead]

So, I'm deciding whether to take metformin.

Nothing ventured nothing gained @Peppergirl

From what I can gather Metformin is a safe drug with few side-effects, however a side-effect that often gets a mention on the forum is stomach issues, but apparently the Slow Release version (SR) of the drug is said to be much kinder on the stomach so it's worth keeping this in mind when ordering on repeat.

There was a thread a while back where some type 1 members (who follow a LCHF diet) were discussing using Metformin to help with insulin resistance and weight loss, here it is:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/type-1-lifer-being-put-on-metformin.78581/#post-874077

Best wishes

 

[Peppergirl]

Hi @Peppergirl I'm having the exact same problem regarding weight loss on LCHF!

After speaking with my DSN yesterday she advised that GLPs may be a solution for me. You inject it once or twice per day, it's slows the release of food from your tummy making you feel fuller for longer and apparently gives you tighter control of your BGs too.

My DSN is raising it with the consultants at a meeting on Tuesday so I should know by the end of next week if I'm getting put on it. Maybe it'd be an option for you too?

yes, let me know how you get on, thanks. I'll have a look into that

 

[Peppergirl]

Nothing ventured nothing gained @Peppergirl

From what I can gather Metformin is a safe drug with few side-effects, however a side-effect that often gets a mention on the forum is stomach issues, but apparently the Slow Release version (SR) of the drug is said to be much kinder on the stomach so it's worth keeping this in mind when ordering on repeat.

There was a thread a while back where some type 1 members (who follow a LCHF diet) were discussing using Metformin to help with insulin resistance and weight loss, here it is:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/type-1-lifer-being-put-on-metformin.78581/#post-874077

Best wishes

Thanks @noblehead I just finished reading that thread and will give metformin a go. Some really useful info and experience, as always on this forum

 

[DaftThoughts]

I'm on a combination of Metformin and bolus/basal regime. I was prescribed it initially because we tried to control my LADA with oral meds for as long as possible, but I kept it because I have no side-effects and there doesn't seem to be any downside to taking it (only plus points as far as I can tell!). Metformin doesn't lower your glucose by itself, so you have nothing to worry about that, but it does curb appetite for many and improve insulin sensitivity, so it might be just that little push you need.

If it doesn't do anything for you after 1-2 months, you can reduce and stop taking it with no harm done.

 

[sofy]

Nothing ventured nothing gained @Peppergirl

From what I can gather Metformin is a safe drug with few side-effects, however a side-effect that often gets a mention on the forum is stomach issues, but apparently the Slow Release version (SR) of the drug is said to be much kinder on the stomach so it's worth keeping this in mind when ordering on repeat.

There was a thread a while back where some type 1 members (who follow a LCHF diet) were discussing using Metformin to help with insulin resistance and weight loss, here it is:

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/type-1-lifer-being-put-on-metformin.78581/#post-874077

Best wishes

 

[sofy]

I took metformin and was very ill on them and I put on 9lbs .wud never take them again ,but iv heard many people take them and r ok xx

 

[Hoping4Cure]

After speaking with my DSN yesterday she advised that GLPs may be a solution for me. You inject it once or twice per day, it's slows the release of food from your tummy making you feel fuller for longer and apparently gives you tighter control of your BGs too

If you take Victoza, make sure to titrate up your dose from 0.6ml to 1.2ml to 1.8ml slowly to let your body get used to it. I'd stay a week at 0.6, then 2-3 weeks at 1.2, then finally up to 1.8, in 0.1 increments.

In the end I ended up dropping back to 1.4 ish per day which I found was the sweet spot to avoid too much in the way of headaches and nausea. The first time I was on it I increased way too rapidly and threw up multiple times.

I'm on Trulicity now (1/week GLP-1) and no side effects. GLP-1 is a godsend for smoothing out spikes and reducing overall insulin requirements. It also helps as a side effect of not ODing short-acting insulin to reduce hypos