• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

Will they stop my metformin?

D

Dave1306

Newbie
Messages
2
I was diagnosed in May 2022 with type 2, my levels were over 118. I was put on glicazade, metformin and another med "dapa- something".
I have cut down considerably, test my bloods regularly and feel I'm getting on top of things. In this recent hot weather I have had a few hypos and dropped to 3.3. I had my Hb1ac tested last week and I have been told my levels have reduced dramatically, and I'm nearly in the range of a non diabetic. The doctor has decided to take me off glicazade meds and Just continue with the other two Andy avorstatin for cholesterol. I believe I have had a few fake hypos when In range and I dont feel completely well. I still lack energy and I'm always tired even when I have been told my b12 has improved.
I guess my question is will they take me off metformin? I hear so many conflicting things, people kept on it still when in good range and others taken off it ? I'm just concerned I will be taken off it because my ranges have improved and I'm not feeling much better. Any advice appreciated because I don't find my doctor helpful and the diabetic clinic I hard to get into and there is no support there!
 
Your doctor, @Dave1306, should be listening to your wants and needs, and if that includes metformin, then that should be listened to for sure! I would be very surprised if they said no to you, being on metformin, as it's so hugely prescribed as a go-to drug for T2D.

I was quite surprised to see that metformin contributes to you feeling better - which is a good positive response to it absolutely. And it's a very good sign that your med profs are checking your B12 level, and you are taking a supplement for it? Good one.
 
I haven't been offered a B12 supplement they have just said it had improved in the last 3mths I have taken my meds. I'm just concerned I have lost weight and I will be taken off metformin early I feel a little anxious as I'm still not 100% and feel I have more weight to lose. I guess I'm asking do they take metformin away as soon as you have a reading in the non diabetic range or are you kept on it for longer?
 
In the UK when a T2 diabetic gets into remission then it's usually up to the patient as to whether to stay on metformin. Some like to get off all medication (or as much as possible) while others find it helps or at least gives them confidence.

Some claim that Metformin has little effect on BG levels and HbA1C (since it only reduces the amount of glucose produced by the liver rather than having any effect on that produced by digesting carbohydrates).
Personally I have never taken metformin - I went straight to lifestyle control primarily through Low Carb.
 
Metformin is the sweetie that everybody gets. They usually only reduce it if you (a) cannot tolerate it, or (b) have a kidney or liver problem that stops it. As others have said, Metformin is not the big hitter in the medicine cabinet. Full dose (2,000 mg/day) only drops sugar levels by one or two mmol/l. The dapa-something (Dapagliflozin) is probably the main tool doing the grunt work. Dropping the Glic was wise since that can give hypo's, but be aware that the Dapa-whatever has been associated with both hypo's and DKA along with some other nasties lurking in the background, all of which have been reported by some forum members. I recently dropped my dapa-no! because it was starting to give problems that could lead to further distress, and anyway it did sweet nothing for my glucose levels. I still take a single minimum dose glic tab now which controls me nicely without caning my pancreas.

PS the Artorvastatin will probably increase your glucose levels along with being a general pain in the. Do some research on that med, you may find it is one to consider taking off the menu. It seems to come with anti-benefit benefits. Luckiliy I am allergic to statins, but I had to try all of them first so as to convince my doctor that me and statins did not mix well.
 
@Dave1306, I really feel for you that you feeling this way. If you have been losing weight as as a type 2, you should be getting lots of pats on your back and you should be feeling good about that, as it is one of the major paths to getting better with type 2. Not to becoming really anxious! Which sounds like you are?

(Just to say, though, how much weight is very individual and I would say dependent on your personal fat threshold/body type - I have been happily reading still plump but with great HBA1cs in remission in here for years. )

Again, if you want to stay on metformin, I wouldn't see why you couldn't - medical professionals are really supposed to work in with you on your treatment.

I still don't really understand what you mean about not feeling 100%. Is this physically? Or emotionally? Or both? If it's physical, those symptoms may actually be side effects from the anti diabetic drugs you have been taking, and metformin is not immune by any means to side effects. I like many with too high blood glucose/insulin have been living with 'extras' that get made worse by the diabetes, medical professionals tell me - like arthritis for instance. Is that the kind of thing you mean, or?

But as they are watching your B12, I would talk more about that with them, as B12 can super-duper affect your general health big-time. When I started taking metformin a few months ago I also bought B12 and COQ10 supplements, and as it's lower-sun/cold season in my part of the world I also take vitamin D3 supplements as well, as I know for a fact that my blood glucose regulation is very sensitive to lack of sun/D3. Have a look online what B12 deficiencies can mean, and it may inspire you to supplement? (I do understand that there are good arguments that supplements aren't very effective, but that has not been the case for me when taking a couple of things. )

I know this is not what you are directly asking, but that's because that is really about you talking with your medical professionals/doctor/practice nurse/diabetes nurse. Anything to do with drugs and prescriptions is absolutely their domain (with you squarely in that domain!).
 

On the other hand I have taken Atorvastatin for 5 years without any problems. Only recently diagnosed as diabetic T2.

My cholesterol has reduced from a total of 6.0 to 3.0 with a ratio of 2.4.
 
As I said, do some research. This is what a major diabetes centre of excellance hospital has to say on these drugs. Note that it is more than just raising bgl level, it is now associated with causing T2D in some, a point which the FDA in the US accepts, but which is not accepted here in the UK

Statin side effects: Weigh the benefits and risks

Statin side effects can be uncomfortable but are rarely dangerous.
www.mayoclinic.org
 
They won't stop your medication totally, they need you to stay on medication. Metformin has got to be one if the biggest friends of the drug companies that make diabetic medicines
 
lucy jordan said:
They won't stop your medication totally, they need you to stay on medication. Metformin has got to be one if the biggest friends of the drug companies that make diabetic medicines
Click to expand...
Just to say your post was in the right place
It's a huge forum with loads of info and opinions. Well worth the learning curve
 
Hi.
I stopped Metformin because of it irritating my IBS. Just returning to it this week on the hopes I don't get any unwanted nor unplanned operations.
I always prefer not to be on Metformin before an operation. Just my personal preference.
I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for Metformin restarting my womanhood. It's a long story but I've had 2 babies after yrs of IVF etc. So it's my buddy. I lose weight on it too. When not on it I get much hairier. Look like I'm pregnant symptoms. Hump behind my neck mildly.
So for me I don't like not taking Metformin. For you it's most likely the last med you'll be advised to stop if your aiming for non-diabetic levels on your hba1c test. You can do the hardwork to get rid of nasty hba1c results. So go for it!


Sent from my 2201116PG using Diabetes Forum mobile app
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Menu
Log in
Register
Cookies are required to use this site. You must accept them to continue using the site. Learn More.…