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

Stomach Pain / Metformin

B

bexx_xx

Newbie
Messages
1
Hi All

My dad has type 2 diabetes and has constant high blood sugars.
For the past 6 years he has been wrongly diagnosed as having pancreatitis.
His symptoms are mainly that he has terrible pain in his stomach/back.
He is in so much pain at the moment but his GP is ignoring this pain and concentrating on his diabetes.
What i would like to know is, could this pain be caused by his diabetes?
His metformin has recently been increased from 250mg bd to 1000mg bd... is this normal?
I have over the past few years watched helplessly as my dad has turned into a shell of a man and it is heartbreaking.
He's gone from a 36 waist to a 30 over the past 12 months and is still losing weight! I just don't know what to do anymore!

I would appreciate any information anyone could give me.

Thank you
 
Severe stomach pain that goes through to the back is a symptom of pancreatitis. I was hospitalised for ten days with these symptoms and was diagnosed with idiopathic pancreatitis.

Standard Metformin is known to have side effects of upset stomach, diarrhea, flatulence etc... If this is what your dad is experiencing then maybe the increase in Metformin is causing it. He could try asking for Metformin Slow Release which is better on the stomach.

Diabetes itself is not known to cause severe stomach/back pain.

Suggest your dad goes back to the GP about the pain.
 
Hi bexx am going through similar pain myself at moment I'm on metformin which has just been changed to sr as I was having bad stomach pains,diarrohea, and not being able to eat either because of the feeling of being bloated, it felt like I was suffering as well from indigestion, so I went to go this week as I was nauseous as well.
The Dr told me to stop metformin and has sent me for blood tests and had a scan done they have told me I have gallstones so now have to wait for blood test results tomorrow.
Has he been to see gp.

Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
I'm too type 2 diabetic and my blood sugars are reading between 20.6 and High
I am now on 4 Metformin tablets a day have been for a while now` im having bloods every few weeks to see if my Hbca1 is coming down, the last one i had my Hbca1 level was 115mol so very high, my GP has told me if this doesnt work then we will have to look at the long term treatment so not sure what that means.
I also have liver problems which has become worse since have diabetes, at moment where my blood sugars are high i can not stay awake i feel like ive had 10 pints im extremely worzy.

Blessings
Sal
 
I had severe pain in my stomach whilst on metformin they tried all types and doses but took me off it and put me on a glp-1 sitagliptin which worked for a while but now have to start injecting another glp-1 because I am so young to have type 2 at 34 but I dont get the pain I did with this as I did with metformin I hope you get it sorted
 
Judging by this thread, I'm not the only one with stomach cramps whilst taking Metformin. I have Coeliacs disease as well and wasn't sure at first what was causing the problem. I was originally on the ordinary Metformin and started having problems and my doctor has put me on the slow release one. As soon as I got to the stage where I was to take 2 each day, the cramping started again. Are there many alternatives to Metformin if you don't get on with it?
 
I am fairly sure metformin upsets stomach and can cause nausea, especially for those with delicate stomach. Also, now concerned that it can inhibit body's absorption of Vit B12, am being tested for this, it is quite common in Met users especially over period of time, it is insidious and can be dangerous if untreated - symptoms can be lethargy and tummy problems along with other symptoms, such as sore mouth all of which may be easily dismissed as nothing much, or diabetes/meds. Taking Vit B12 supplements will not help and can be harmful if not needed. I am starting to think testing should be automatic for Met users.
Sent from the Diabetes Forum App
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…