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Type 1 stopping metformin

pinkscaffold

Member
Messages
14
Location
hastings
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
Dislikes
liver, opinionated people
I have been taking metformin as well as insulin for many years but recently the metformin has been upsetting my stomach. I tried stopping, symptoms went away, gradually increasing up to 2000mg a day, symptoms came back. I stopped again for a week and began again now with only 500mg a day symtoms return. I have no idea if taking metformin has any affect on my control, what advice please
 
Hi @pinkscaffold, You need to speak to whoever has been prescribing your metformin and explain to him/her what is happening and that you are considering stopping it permanently because of side-effects.
I imagine a debate with your prescriber would involve an argument along the lines of: If the side-effects are affecting your quality of life and metformin is not absolutely vital to your diabetic control why continue it?
 
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A type 1 taking metformin is unusual to me. But maybe you have double diabetes.

I hear from t2’s that the extended release metformin is more agreeable with the digestive system. But I have no personal experience with it as a t1. You probably need to consult with your doctor for the change.
 

@Jollymon - We tend to see a fair few T1s taking Metformin these days. It is often prescribed to help with insulin sensitivity, meaning for those involved, the potential to take less insulin to achieve the same results.

I'd agree on the slow-release Metformin being more tolerable for many of those whose systems can't deal with the standard variant.
 

Pinkscaffold - How have your bloods and insulin doses been in the periods you've been off the Metformin? Of course, if your breaks have been brief, there may not really have been time to show any potential impact, bearing in mind Metformin works by building up in the body to a therapeutic dose, rather than on a dose by dose basis.
 
Always lots of other factors, so I cannot tell. I have never really been totally happy with my control, 47 years of trying. I do take the sloe release. I can never get hold of my specialist nurse but I have an appointment later in January, guess I'll ask then
 
Metformin is a mild drug that only helps to a limited extent. It helps by reducing the amount of glucose made by the liver and a little with insulin resistance. It doesn't help with post meal spikes. I would have a serious conversation with your nurse. In my opinion, if the treatment makes us feel worse than the illness, it is time to have a rethink.
 

Painkscaffold, I'm just wonderring if the time of yearr couldhave anything to do with it at all.

Bear with me! I've never taken Metformin mself, so can't comment from a personal perspective, but I have read some people comment they have a more intimate relationship with the bathroom if they eat a chunk of carbs. That's not eny challenge to your way of eating, or how many carrbs you might be eating of late, but at this time of year, many of us will have eaten more than our usual.
 
I have had problems with metformin for the last 2 or 3 months so not the festive season. Yes I have attended our local DAFNE course nearly two years ago. I take 100 units of Tresiba and vary Humalog depending on carbs eaten. I struggle every day to
balance everything and it does get me down. After meal peaks reach 11-12.
 
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