Twitching right eyelids (bottom & top); & now left eyelids too

[MrsA2]

really want to try and avoid injectables to control the type 2 and stick to 1000 cals and keep active so

Most T2s on here use a low carb, or even keto, type diet to control bg
Calories aren't the problem, it's carbs.
Maintaining just 1000 calories isnt really sustainable for many as they get hungry.
Low carb is satiating and doesn't raise blood sugar.
There's plenty of info on it around the forum, have a look. You might find it suits your body better

 

[EllieM]

I’ve read metformin can cause b12 deficiency and therefore twitching but having taken supplements for months now I can confirm the B12 complex has not helped at all.

My son had severe B12 deficiency when he was vegan and didn't take supplements. If it is severe enough you need injections to treat it. I wouldn't assume that B12 isn't the cause without having a blood test to confirm....

Having said that, googling has such a bewildering array of possible causes for eye twitching that I wouldn't assume B12 deficiency is the cause either. If it happened to me I'd be seeing a doctor or an optician for advice.

I hope you get some resolution soon

 

[Country girl123]

I would agree if I wasn’t quite certain it’s metformin related. I take it at 12pm, twitching starts about 3-4 hours later, peaks after 8-9 hours, I sleep and wake 18 hours after taking meds and pretty much no twitching, then the cycle starts all over again. If it were something sinister I’m sure there would not be such a detailed and clear pattern of behaviour. im going to switch my meds to 6-7pm and see if there’s less twitching the following 12 hour period where I believe the meds half life and eventually clear the system. But I’ll definetly be getting some medical advice either way as it’s not a long term solution and different brands of metformin may contain different ingredients that antagonise the issue. My pharmacy never stick to one brand, I’m just given anything they can supply.

 

[Country girl123]

Most T2s on here use a low carb, or even keto, type diet to control bg
Calories aren't the problem, it's carbs.
Maintaining just 1000 calories isnt really sustainable for many as they get hungry.
Low carb is satiating and doesn't raise blood sugar.
There's plenty of info on it around the forum, have a look. You might find it suits your body better

Hi,
i was diagnosed PCOS 23 years ago and advised to low carb way back when everyone thought I was crazy to suggest sugar maybe an issue. I managed to lose 6 stone but as you know low carb is notoriously difficult to sustain. I yo yo managed for 18 years, but always ended up piling the pounds on again due to high insulin resistance. i had to stop metformin in 2017 due to it affecting my liver. Then peri and menopause struck! Pounds piled on more and stayed there! So last year after advice from Addenbrookes for gynae issues I was advised to cut out dairy and red meat. Stick to low cal as low carb is more dangerous in menopause for heart health as you may know. Then the pounds fell off, after years of low carb not working. I had been trying to tell my GP I felt I needed help controlling blood sugars but as usual the NHS levels of tolerance for bloods is set way too high/low and they waited until my BS was defined as type 2 and agreed metformin issue with liver blood work given history. The meds help lower readings minimally, I am very good at controlling my diet after nearly two decades of using Atkins etc. But having to eliminate cheese and red meats I have to stick to Greek yog mixed with soya yog, chicken breast, green veg and new pot lunch, mushroom sauce, stuffed peppers Or mushrooms evening with sunbites or carrot sticks as snacks. I’m very busy with care duties and my weight has just fallen off. I don’t get hungry at all on 1000 cals. Plus my heart feels healthier than it ever did on Atkins. My blood work is also improving. So I would totally agree with the low carb if I hadn’t tried for so long. Plus I believe after menopause all bets are off! It’s shocking. For me now low cal is the best solution, my critical carb level on Atkins was generally only 20grams, so very low tolerance. low cal is sustainable and achievable but with will power and determination. Although with all my experience I am very conscious of making good choices when it comes to all sugars and avoid bread, most potatoes, rice and definetly pasta. They are reserved for high days and holidays. Although I hate the ingredients and side effects of sugar free items I do have a chuppa lollipop sf occasionally but prefer a square if 70% Lindt now at 65 cals! So from last June when diagnosed with my gynae issues and adapted diet and 1 metformin daily I’m down 4 stone without much effort. I keep busy and don’t have time or energy to over exercise so i wont give that the credit. It’s really been about changing my attitude to food intake and really listening to my body. I eat my meals when I’m hungry not when the clock or schedule tells me. Heat my main meal in the air fryer and put it in a wide necked flask and take with me if I’m out and about, then no excuses to eat unhealthy…. I’ll be leaving another 2 1/2 stone in 2025 then I’ll be weighing weekly to keep on top of it as I progress.
thank for the advice though, honestly when I first singing the virtues of Atkins 20 years ago pretty much everyone, including medical professionals, thought I was crazy…. It can work, does work but not for all of us, all of the time, we have to adapt to new hormones and changes and tweak things as we go through our journey x

 

[Country girl123]

My son had severe B12 deficiency when he was vegan and didn't take supplements. If it is severe enough you need injections to treat it. I wouldn't assume that B12 isn't the cause without having a blood test to confirm....

Having said that, googling has such a bewildering array of possible causes for eye twitching that I wouldn't assume B12 deficiency is the cause either. If it happened to me I'd be seeing a doctor or an optician for advice.

I hope you get some resolution soon

Thanks, I’ll try and get it checked at next BS apt x

 

[Country girl123]

I thought I’d update…I stopped my metformin 36 hours ago and the twitching has declined so much that it’s 99% gone. I can’t see my nurse for 2 weeks so have to try and manage for a bit using my knowledge….im controlling my own BS, under 6.5, generally under 6….morning and 3 hours after reduced carb meals….i know metformin can deplete B vitamins and so I thought I’d check my last full blood tests from last October. B12 was average but folate was very low at 4. The NhS guidelines are too reactive for my liking and I suspect my b12 is now even lower with the met and other issues. So I’ve started boosting my b complex supplements with extra folate and I’ll review my bloods….then I’ll reintroduce the metformin and pray the eye twitching does not return! It was getting so bad, affecting my every day life, now it’s gone I realise how bad it was! I’ll obviously need to keep a diary and do all my tests and have info to present to the nurse but I’m hopeful I can still use my metformin as long as my b vits are kept up…..for now though I’ll do my best to go without…