Should i take my tablet?

[Josie66]

Started metformin on Tuesday T2..one a day this week..blood sugars were 16 to 29 last week but ive taken the tablet at lunch time each day( should be breakfast but been feeling sick) and its been coming down.
Pre meal today it was 10.4.. now i feel a bit jittery and ive checked it again ..its 6.1..im due my tablet now...do i take it? I feel a bit odd

 

[DCUKMod]

Started metformin on Tuesday T2..one a day this week..blood sugars were 16 to 29 last week but ive taken the tablet at lunch time each day( should be breakfast but been feeling sick) and its been coming down.
Pre meal today it was 10.4.. now i feel a bit jittery and ive checked it again ..its 6.1..im due my tablet now...do i take it? I feel a bit hypo!!

Hi Josie - Sorry you're not feeling so great.

Metformin is one of those drugs that works by building up to a therapeutic dose in your system, rather than on a dose by dose basis, so your body.

I would have thought you'd be fine taking your tablet, but if you're nervous of that, then you could wait until later, ir give one a miss.

Bearing in mind your bloods have been running a bit rich, and then come down quite quickly to 6, I imagine that's why you are feeling ogg. I'd wager what you're having is a false hypo.

If you're about to have your lunch, I'd be expecting you'd feel better after that. If there isn't a meal on the horizon have a ciup of tea or something, just to give your system something to work on.

As a general point, some folks find their tummy gets a bit dodgy, one way or another, when they start Metformin. It settles for most, but if it continues, your Doc could maybe try you on Metformin ER/SR, which tends to be a little gentler on the system, but is more expensive.

Don't flap over this, but if you can't settle yourself, a call to 111 could help, but hopefully not required.

Let us know how you feel in a while.

 

[Josie66]

Thanks..i have had a dodgy tum with the tablets..i was fine earlier but headache and arms feel weak and a bit jittery now. Think ill have a drink like you suggest and maybe take tablet later

 

[DCUKMod]

Thanks..i have had a dodgy tum with the tablets..i was fine earlier but headache and arms feel weak and a bit jittery now. Think ill have a drink like you suggest and maybe take tablet later

If you don't perk up after your drink, maybe have a chat with 111, just for reassurance.

 

[Josie66]

Will do thank you

 

[Daibell]

Hi. Metformin is a very safe drug and unlikely to cause a hypo. Your body may be giving you a false hypo due to the sudden drop in BS. Taking the tablet should be fine but have some glucose tablets or sugar handy. If the Metformin continues to give stomach issues after a week or so, ask the GP for the Slow release SR version which is much kinder.

 

[jjraak]

Hi @Josie66

i wonder what you've been eating recently ?

For me i cut out so much of my old diet once i arrived here.

I was also on metformin, same dose as yourself.
never had issues with the tablets..but i did get a real
shaky feeling, felt rough sweaty, clammy, just not myself
a couple of times. early on once i'd seen the doctor.

I put mine down to the shock my body had at the reduction in all those lovely
sugary carbs it used to get...(sugar is very addictive, and our bodies still crave it
in the early days.)

I'd take a look at what you used to eat, compare it to how you now eat and see if it's much different,
then that might explain the 'false hypo'

just as a heads up...if your trajectory is anything like mine, it took me several weeks of being confused, tired, weak
before my body settled into the new food regime i was offering it.

as for the metformin, i know many like to come off asap or not take at all.
i've found it helpful, it's not impacted me in a negative way,
and from what i have read it's a real benefit to diabetics, in bring down our glucose levels,
and i believe our weight, as more of the carbs are used more efficiently, and not left sloshing
around turning to fat..

it also has a few other beneficial impacts.
LINK