Type 1 & Metformin (Effects)

[kareeta]

Hi Everyone

I have had a read through all the items relating to the above and I just wondered if anyone has any recent experience of taking the two together? I'm on week three and currently taking 1 in the am after breakfast and 2 in the evening with dinner. I haven't had any low readings at all, in fact I remain pretty high (woke up at 15). No weight loss (which would have been a bonus for sure) but do have heartburn , bloated belly and feel a bit sick. Is this a drug that works more the longer you take it? Or should I be seeing some lowering of my readings already? Not sure what I am supposed to be achieving with this additional drug to be honest but I will persevere until I know whats happening :crazy:

Thanks in advance
Karen

 

[picklebean]

I'm T1 and have been on metformin for over 10 years now. I started on the twice-a-day regime like you and then moved to the slow-release once-a-day version. Both times I started the new med I had an upset stomach for about a month and couldn't be too far from a toilet for fear of disasterous consequences! :lol:

So I would think that the symptoms you mention are probably because of the meds, but keep an eye them and if they persist, see your doctor.


At this point I can't actually remember why I went on the slow-release version or what benefits it gave me over the other type... it was so long ago!

I also can't remember having any significant benefit or changes like weight-loss or reduction in blood sugars. But, that said, I think it may be a case of I would be much 'worse' without the metformin. Other people may be able to tell you whether or not they have seen signifcant weight loss or other such effects. I have polycystic ovarian syndrome and insulin resistance and I think the metformin is supposed to help with this by making my body more sensitive to the insulin I take, but as I say, I never saw a dramatic change in my condition/needs.


Good luck and I hope you find that it helps!

 

[kareeta]

Hi there Picklebean

Many thanks for responding, I was beginning to think I was the only one

I too have PCOS and insulin resistance, this is why they are trying me on it to see if I become more insulin sensitive. Hasn't happened yet but I did hypo at 3am this morning so maybe thats something!

I could see my insulin requirements increasing every few months along with my weight which is why I pushed for them to try me with metformin. I read on the forum that low carbing along side metformin increases its performance so I will give that a go and see what happens (easier said than done with Xmas coming up1)

Thanks again, all the best
Karen

 

[picklebean]

It's a tough one being T1 with PCOS and insulin resistance... I know that all too well! :roll:

It was so long ago for me and so many things have happened in between that like I mentioned, I can't remember the details of going on metformin... but I'm fairly sure it was the insulin resistance thing. I have to say, it hasn't helped a huge amount - until recently I was on 80units of my basal insulin Lantus because of the resistance. But then, I don't know/can't know how bad it would have got if I wasn't on the metformin, ha!

But it's definitely worth giving it a try and I think the doses can be increased if you don't see results straight away. And if the twice a day version doesn't help then the slow release version might be better.


Good luck with Christmas (though a few naughty days won't hurt too much!)

 

[Claricus]

I'm T1 with PCOS. I take 2g slow release with dinner. Initially I was put on it because they didn't know what type I was, then kept me on it because I have PCOS.

I used to take 2 separate doses but changed to 1 for convenience (one less tablet to remember to take!). At this point I changed from normal to slow release. Slow release is less reactive so you are less likely to have side effects from it. It also allows a constant to be released over the day which can help.
If you are having bad side effects it might be worth asking to try slow release.

I recently trialled not taking it as it might have caused some symptoms I had.. but alas it was not. But it did show me that it was doing something! If I were not taking Metformin then I would need about 10u more of Levemir (usually have 30u). Have you tried adjusting your insulin whilst on it?

 

[kareeta]

Thanks again

I'm hoping as I make more changes, like eating less carbs and getting more active then I will start to see a benefit.

Bloating and stomach pains are still an issue, i've tried some senna last night and will buy more Andrews today to see if that help.

Picklebean - I take Levemir 16/24 and around 70 units of Humalog each day, haven't needed to drop any of that yet, infact i've been high for a few mornings. 80 u background seems a lot!

Hope you all have a fantastic Christmas
Karen

 

[kareeta]

Hi again

Just an update to the initial post about my experience so far with metformin

Mostly negative to be honest or maybe because I've just had my HBAI1C results :thumbdown:

So I've been taking metformin over two months now and I've managed to get over the sickness , the heartburn is still prevalent and i've been taking laxatives several times a week as nothing was happening there (sorry if tmi) and I though the opposite was more likely to happen.

A couple of low hypos my lowest ever reading of 2.1 which took some fixing!

No need to lower any of my injections as I was still in the teens through the day

and most frustrating of all, my HBAIC in Oct was 7.0 me best result in the whole of the 14yrs dx , todays was 7.8...grrrr I'm so annoyed.

More worryingly, if I ever miss a dose of metformin (only happened twice, and then taken later) my levels go stupidly high despite not eating many carbs. Does this mean I can never stop the metformin? So fed up

 

[noblehead]

Have you considered a change in insulin Kareeta?.....Not saying this is a solution but something you might want to talk about with your HCP's.

 

[benedict]

Hi Kareeta

Can I ask what time (or times) of day you take your Levemir?

Benedict

 

[kareeta]

Have you considered a change in insulin Kareeta?.....Not saying this is a solution but something you might want to talk about with your HCP's.

Hi there,

Thanks for the reply, I'm type one and have around nine-ten shots a day

Karen

 

[kareeta]

Hi Kareeta

Can I ask what time (or times) of day you take your Levemir?

Benedict

Hi Benedict

I split it and take it twelve hours apart , each time at 7.30

Kind Regards
Karen

 

[alaska]

Hi Karen

Levemir tends to last for around about 18 hours.

Taking this assumption forward:

If you take injections at 7.30am and 7.30pm then you'll see that:

morning injection will last from: 7.30am to 1.30am the next day
evening injection will last from: 7.30pm to 1.30pm the next day

So the insulin profile will be similar to:

7.30am to 1.30pm - both morning and evening doses are active -expect lower results between these times
1.30pm to 7.30pm - just the morning dose is active -expect higher results between these times
7.30pm to 1.30am - both morning and evening doses are active -expect lower results between these times
1.30am to 7.30am - just the evening dose is active -expect higher results between these times

I use Levemir and had an issue with high and low periods. After a while I sat down and worked things out, similar to the above and decided to split my dose 3 ways at intervals of 8 hours.

If you're getting regularly high levels before breakfast and before evening meal, it may be worth talking to your doctor/consultant and seeing if they'd recommend splitting the dose 3 ways.

For getting stubborn high sugar levels down, I've found exercise to be the best treatment. Taking 20-30 mins of walking or light jogging and the levels start to come down nicely.

Ed

 

[kareeta]

Hi Ed

Wow, that was very informative thankyou (going to email it to myself). I had no idea about the 18 hour, I wonder why the hopital fails to mention these 'minor' details?!

The pattern you point out is fairly representative of my circumstances, I do have high am readings and lower before bed.

I have my annual review on Friday so I will mention the above and I was thinking about asking the same about Metformin. I eat three times a day and sometimes lunch is more substantial than dinner so I wonder if I can take them at different times i:e one at breakfast one at lunch and two at dinner or vice versa. :crazy:

Yes I'm hoping they tell me Friday that I can get back into my rountine of cardio, been high a lot lately so not been able to do much at all which all adds up to the feeling pants issue



Thanks again
Karen

 

[alaska]

No problem Karen -I think they should let us know about the duration time of Levemir when they put us on it and how to monitor and deal with it.

Hope you get good answers to the questions you have at your review

Ed