Type 2 diabetes with metformin

[K_Uma]

Hi all,
I am new to the group. I have been taking metformin ( one a day) from 2014 and my hb1ac was under control for 4 years. In 2018 I started taking two metformin tablets but my hb1ac kept on increasing. My reading in July was 7.1. My diabetic nurse increased my dose to four tablets but I said I will increase it slowly and started taking three tablets. I bought a glucometer and started testing at home. I was upset to see my fasting reading as 8.3, 8.5 . After meal (2.5 hrs ) reading was 7.4, 7.5. I was worried about my fasting reading and called the nurse. She suggested to increase my metformin to 4 tablets which I started from yesterday. I have an upset tummy because of this. I haven’t taken any reading after that as I am waiting for my glucose strips. Does anyone taking metformin have the same problem? Does anyone have a high fasting reading in spite of taking metformin? Please share your views

 

[HSSS]

It’s very common to have stomach upsets on metformin. Sometimes it passes. Sometimes it doesn’t.

when testing do you do anything other than fasting levels?

do you do anything other than rely on metformin to control your levels? Many successfully use low card eating in here and reduce medication or sometimes no longer need it as food is more powerful than metformin at controlling levels.

 

[K_Uma]

Yes, I jog in my treadmill for half an hour five days a week and do walking as well. I eat less carbohydrates and I switched to Salad for lunch. Diabetes is in my genes and I don’t think I can control with low carb diet. I haven’t taken any other tests other than post dinner and fasting. Will update once I do. Thanks.

 

[Andydragon]

Yes, I jog in my treadmill for half an hour five days a week and do walking as well. I eat less carbohydrates and I switched to Salad for lunch. Diabetes is in my genes and I don’t think I can control with low carb diet. I haven’t taken any other tests other than post dinner and fasting. Will update once I do. Thanks.

My father, his father and my brother and had T2
I am also T2 so I think it’s in my genes too

low carb and exercise albeit with drugs too has dropped my weight over 18kg, and dropped bloods from 78 to 46

it may not work, but don’t rule out low carb. It’s your choice of course but it’s an option

 

[HSSS]

Yes, I jog in my treadmill for half an hour five days a week and do walking as well. I eat less carbohydrates and I switched to Salad for lunch. Diabetes is in my genes and I don’t think I can control with low carb diet. I haven’t taken any other tests other than post dinner and fasting. Will update once I do. Thanks.

Exercise is good. Diabetes is in all our genes pretty much that’s why we have it and others don’t. Low carb has done miraculous things for many, including quite a number who never thought it would. Take a look at the link in my signature below for lots of useful info. Having a read costs nothing and giving it a try might be the best thing you ever do, it was for me and loads of us here. Loads of support in here and also lots of online groups if Facebook is your thing. If it turns out not to be for you what have you lost trying it out?

 

[AloeSvea]

Just to remind everyone that type 2 diabetes is epigenetic - meaning it is about a relationship between your genes (in this instance - meaning your body type!) and the environment (I would suggest, ahem - the food! And drink. Amongst other chemicals and additives).

That's the simple way of saying it. You can read up on it for the more complex way of saying it. But I was lucky - I read a very direct article in Swedish very soon after I was diagnosed which translated as 'Diabetes Type 2 is epigenetic' (I love the Swedes - so direct!)

But here is just one of the many scientific papers you can read on the subject. It starts off with the complexity of the genes. Then it gets stuck into... yeah... you know what's coming.... fat!

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3521576/

But yes, we inherit our body types from our relations. (A tendency to what is called 'truncal obesity'.) We also inherit an otherwise marvellous blood glucose regulation system as part of being human. Alas it is more delicately 'wired' for a balance than our currently horrendously unbalanced food and physical environment can throw at it.

 

[Daibell]

HI. First if the stomach upset continues do ask the GP for Metformin SR the Slow Release version. Despite diabetes susceptibility being in your genes you should still find a low-carb diet helps. Diabetes is an inability to metabolise carbs properly so reducing them usually does help. If you are slim , Type 1 is always a possibility but low-carbing will still help together with the right medication.

 

[VashtiB]

I am interested in why you say you can't control it with low carb. I agree that there is a genetic component. Both my parents were type 2. My husband has always eaten many more carbs then me but remains a very slim non-diabetic. So yes there is a genetic component. My view is that I have an intolerance to carbs- if I had understood this earlier and cut back my carbs maybe I would never have become a diabetic and been able to tolerate more carbs than I can now. I hope to be able to increase my. carbs when I have lost more weight but I have no illusion that I can increase them to the level I once ate.

I love carbs- I really didn't think I could do low carbs but I have found that when my carbs are very low my body craves less carbs and is a lot less hungry- my brain/emotions are different they still have a desire for carbs.

My decision was to go low carbs as I really don't want to go on a blood sugar reducing medication or lose my sight or a limb. My gran mother lost one eye as a result of diabetes. For me low carb is less of a sacrifice. If you want to make a decision to rely on increasing levels of medication well I am not going to judge- the decision has to be one that you can live with. I have just turned 55 and want to be able to continue to work for a few more years and then hopefully retire and do some travelling. My job is very stressful so I need to be very careful to manage my blood sugar levels as the background stress keeps them up a bit.

What ever decision you make people here will be supportive and helpful- I just wondered whether you had tried low carb.

Good luck and welcome.

 

[K_Uma]

Thank you all for low carb diet information. I am already slim and I don’t think I can loose more weight ( which will help to decrease my blood glucose). I eat less carbs anyway but will go through the low carb recipes , try it and see if it works. I don’t like taking medications.

 

[Resurgam]

To lower your blood glucose levels, you must lower your blood glucose levels, weightloss might help with your metabolism, but eating fewer carbs is the way to go if you want to avoid medication.
You might benefit from having a blood glucose tester so you can see how your meals affect your levels.

 

[HSSS]

Thank you all for low carb diet information. I am already slim and I don’t think I can loose more weight ( which will help to decrease my blood glucose). I eat less carbs anyway but will go through the low carb recipes , try it and see if it works. I don’t like taking medications.

The way slim type 2 (sometimes called tofi: thin on the outside fat on the inside, meaning around the visceral organs) manage that is to increase fats and proteins to maintain weight rather than carbohydrates.

Importantly it is all carbs not just the white ones. So brown bread, rice and pasta, porridge too, will all be taking their toll almost as much as the white ones. A point often not realised and lots of promotions of these as healthier miss the fact they have just as many carbs albeit slightly slower absorbed.

Ultimately if even proper low carb doesn’t control type 2 and there’s no weight to be lost then it might be worth getting checked for slow onset type 1 which some doctors barely consider, but you’ve a way to go before jumping into that by the sounds of it.