Urgent any type1 diabetics tried metformin?

[m786xxx]

Hi

I'm a diabetic type 1 since 5 years ago, I have had weight issues and I also feel I'm insulin resistance because I have recently tried to cut down on a lot foods and changed my diet as well as excersize but sometimes even with low carb I feel like I need more insulin... I have heard a lot about type 1 diabetics using Metformin to help with the extra pounds we gain and insulin resistance, however it's only stuff I have read online, I would like to know if anyone has tried etc and how was their experience , also I have noticed that the doctors don't like to prescribe metformin unless u have gained a lot of weight which sucks because I don't want to do that to myself or wait for that to happen if there's something or anything I can do before to prevent it, please let me know of anything u have tried because I only eat twice a day under 1200 calories I walk for about 2 hours each day and even than I haven't seen no difference

 

[Jodiesarah]

I'm a type 1 I got given metformin by a nurse when my weight was increasing I did lose a little bit of weight but only because it constantly made me feel sick I didn't want to eat anything when I went for a checkup with diabetes specialist he wasn't happy with my glucose levels and said it was down to metformin I'm not sure how it's affected others but didn't work well for me

 

[RuthW]

There are a few Type 1s who have mentioned this lately on the boards. Perhaps do a search in the Type 1 forum and see if you can find their names and comments. My doctor suggested it six months ago, but I turned it down. I decided that if I can lose my little pot belly and increase my insulin sensitivity without a drug, I'd rather give it a go. So I just instigated a rigorous exercise routine. It is working. It took a while, though. Six months on I have lost about 6 kilos (though it showed up in other places before the belly, drat it!) and my insulin sensitivity has much improved and I feel much, much better. But I exercise for at least half an hour every day, and most days one and a half. As a side note, I'm guessing it's improving my Vit D levels too.

One reason I turned down the Metformin was because I read that it "locks away" blood glucose in some way, thus reducing your insulin need. But then the glucose is not available and makes exercise difficult to impossible. So I decided it would be a last resort for me. Maybe twenty years from now .....

 

[yingtong]

Hi m786xxx,I been type1 for over 52 years and I started taking Metformin over 10 years ago for insulin resistance and I was able to reduce my insulin requirements by over 20% and I have not suffered any adverse effects but I know some people do.

 

[Wurst]

I was on Metformin as i was originally diagnosed as a T2. This was before I was prescribed insulin (and T1), Caused me a lot of 'gassy moments'. That is the only benefit of being re diagnosed as a T1

 

[m786xxx]

Few months ago I was told I have background retinopathy and I must get my sugar under control, I have been trying a lot I don't usually eat breakfast and have a salad bowl to eat for lunch but even then I need 3 to 4 units of insulin even though the carbs are under 10grams... I barely eat dinner or snack and I usually walk for about 2.5 hours a day , it hasn't shown much difference on the scale but the clothes seem looser but my sugar hasn't improved much because I'm still more on the high side... Which is why I thought metformin could help me because I'm kind of worried

 

[hollie1469]

Hi - this is my first time of writing on the forum, how exciting!

I was originally diagnosed as type 2 and tried metformin and it gave me a terrible stomach. I soon moved on to other medication as metformin was awful....

I then got diagnosed as type 1 (I'd lost 6 and a half stone in a couple of months!) and since starting insulin have put on 1.5 stone, which has been really upsetting.

I've now started slimming world AND been prescribed glucophage which is a slow release metformin (in addition to my insulin) and it's been great. No stomach problems at all and I have lost 4lbs over the last two weeks.

 

[NinaB73]

I have decided today to knock the metformin on the head!! I am type 1 and have been trying to take it for the last few months. After a few weeks I moved to the slow release type to try and eliminate the unwanted side effects but alas! I can't cope with the constant nausea and abdominal discomfort. Like you I read a little about it on the net and here and actually thoughts it was just what I needed but it hasn't actually done for me what it said on the tin!
Incidentally my doctor prescribed it and I actually hadn't gained weight for two years, having said that can't seem to lose any either! I am probably a stone heavier than I should be and thought I may be able to finally shift it with the metformin but I think his main priority for prescribing the drug was to help with the 'liver dump'. But again although I haven't taken it for long I didn't really see any improvement in insulin requirements. I have tried other things like splitting my long acting and not snacking before bed which seems to be dealing with the early morning rise and I guess its time to dust off the trusty bike in the shed!!
I appreciate it works for others but will just say if you decide to take it, build the dose up really slowly and always take during or after your meal NOT before as I found out to my peril!

 

[m786xxx]

Hollie1469 how did u get doctors to put u on the slimming world programme or Isit something that u done urself, I think I'm going to talk about both metformin and glucophage because so far most people have complained about metformin giving stomach issues... I just want something to help me from insulin resistance as well as control my sugar so it's not causing any furthur harm, ovb good diet and excersize is a must buy Atleast than I can enjoy some food and maybe loose the extra weight that I'm carrying

 

[Ladybirdy75]

Hi

I'm a diabetic type 1 since 5 years ago, I have had weight issues and I also feel I'm insulin resistance because I have recently tried to cut down on a lot foods and changed my diet as well as excersize but sometimes even with low carb I feel like I need more insulin... I have heard a lot about type 1 diabetics using Metformin to help with the extra pounds we gain and insulin resistance, however it's only stuff I have read online, I would like to know if anyone has tried etc and how was their experience , also I have noticed that the doctors don't like to prescribe metformin unless u have gained a lot of weight which sucks because I don't want to do that to myself or wait for that to happen if there's something or anything I can do before to prevent it, please let me know of anything u have tried because I only eat twice a day under 1200 calories I walk for about 2 hours each day and even than I haven't seen no difference

Hi there, i can't advise you on anything yet but I'm starting Metformin next week. I've been T1 for 40 years and my docs are thinking i may have become a bit resistant to insulin so want to try me on Met. I can't start them until next week as i had to be 3 months on from the heart attack i had in March, its 3 months today so starting them on Monday. I posted on the T1 forum a couple of weeks ago (Type 1 Lifer being out on Metformin) and got lots of good advice as i was so worried.

I'm not massively overweight (about 20lbs) and was losing weight before they made the decision to put me on Met and i also work out every day and have been eating healthily for around 2 years (slimming world). I'm just including more oily fish and nuts due to the heart attack.

 

[itconor]

Hi

I'm a diabetic type 1 since 5 years ago, I have had weight issues and I also feel I'm insulin resistance because I have recently tried to cut down on a lot foods and changed my diet as well as excersize but sometimes even with low carb I feel like I need more insulin... I have heard a lot about type 1 diabetics using Metformin to help with the extra pounds we gain and insulin resistance, however it's only stuff I have read online, I would like to know if anyone has tried etc and how was their experience , also I have noticed that the doctors don't like to prescribe metformin unless u have gained a lot of weight which sucks because I don't want to do that to myself or wait for that to happen if there's something or anything I can do before to prevent it, please let me know of anything u have tried because I only eat twice a day under 1200 calories I walk for about 2 hours each day and even than I haven't seen no difference

when i was fatter i was given it, i was taking about 4 tablets a day in the end. had no effect to my weight or my insulin sensativity that i noticed.

Did they tell you, you cant drink on it ?
the side effects were woese than what i gave me, i gave up and low carbed insulin resistince droped pretty quickly along with my weight

 

[Kelgirl]

Hi

I'm a diabetic type 1 since 5 years ago, I have had weight issues and I also feel I'm insulin resistance because I have recently tried to cut down on a lot foods and changed my diet as well as excersize but sometimes even with low carb I feel like I need more insulin... I have heard a lot about type 1 diabetics using Metformin to help with the extra pounds we gain and insulin resistance, however it's only stuff I have read online, I would like to know if anyone has tried etc and how was their experience , also I have noticed that the doctors don't like to prescribe metformin unless u have gained a lot of weight which sucks because I don't want to do that to myself or wait for that to happen if there's something or anything I can do before to prevent it, please let me know of anything u have tried because I only eat twice a day under 1200 calories I walk for about 2 hours each day and even than I haven't seen no difference

Hiya,

I am a type 1 and I was on Metformin when I was a teenager because I was overweight and my body was not recognising the insulin. As soon as I lost the weight I came off of the Metformin. It is a vicious circle though as the Metformin makes you hungry aswell as does insulin! Hope this is helpful

 

[happier than you]

Tried it, gave up after a week. My blood glucose was going up using it, not down. And i felt like death,

 

[hboyt]

Did they tell you, you cant drink on it ?

i never knew that until i read your post....and i just read the info from my metformin packet says must avoid consuming alcohol because of the risk of lactic acidosis; i.e. muscle cramps, abdominal pain, breathlessness, weak and unwell!....wish i knew this before i was put on a higher dose since i was always getting cramps and very painful indigestion!

 

[asparagusp]

I also feel I'm insulin resistance because I have recently tried to cut down on a lot foods and changed my diet as well as excersize but sometimes

Could you possibly then have Type 2 as well? Speak with your doctor. - http://www.diabetes.co.uk/double-diabetes.html

 

[AndBreathe]

@m786xxx - I completely appreciate you would like to hear from T1s taking Metformin. That's totally understandable, but if you're keen to explore the impacts of Metformin for insulin resistance and helping with weight loss, then there are lots and lots and lots of threads on this on the T2 sub-fora, where there must be hundreds of users at any given time.

Yes, a number of people find it takes a short while to settle into Metformin and for some the gassy, troublesome tummy does improve, but there is also a modified release variant, which is gentler on the tum. Almost all Docs will start with the basic Metformin as it is significantly cheaper than the SR variant.

Some of the comments I have read on this thread - such alcohol consumption whilst taking Metformin have also been discussed on the forum.

I'm fortunate enough never to have had to take any medication, so I have no experience of Metformin or insulin, never mind them together.

Good luck whichever route you elect to follow.

 

[abigailsheree]

I tried it twice and couldn't carry on after 3 days as it made me feel so ill I couldn't eat or drink at all and made my already terrible sugar level control even harder to control