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With & without Metformin whats next?

Yetiandy

Member
Messages
14
Location
Bramley, Tadley
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hi everyone, if you have read my post "I'm as mad as hell" you will know the issues I had with Metformin, now heres the next issue.

Off metformin my bloods where 17-18 mmol/l I've been taking SR metformin for 2 months now and my bloods? 17-18 mmol/l.
So I don't think it works, anyone else have similar results?

Also my nurse said if it doesn't comedown I will have to see a specialist at the hospital, now I drive for a living, will they stick me on something that means I can't drive?
 
I never found that Metformin made any difference to my blood sugar levels either so they told me there were benefits down the line from taking it. No-one ever said what they were though.

I can't predict what will happen at the hospital but if they give you a drug capable of giving you a hypo then you will be required to test your blood before driving.

http://www.diabetes.co.uk/driving-with-diabetes.html
 
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Metformin is more helpful to those that need to lose weight as it is an appetite suppressant. It also works on the liver to help reduce the amount of glucose the liver produces, and helps a little with insulin resistance, but it's effects on blood sugar levels is marginal.

When you say your blood sugars are 17 to 18mmol/l is this when fasting? What are you levels like during the day, such as before meals and 2 hours after meals? Do you see big rises from before eating to after eating (2 hours after first bite)?
 
If you test 2 hours after eating you will see the effects certain foods affect your BG levels and by eliminating these foods you will be able to lower your BG levels try cutting down carbs and see how you go
CAROL
 
Yetiandy said:
I only test fasting in the morning!
Click to expand...

Try testing as I suggested. You may have some surprises and may find your diet isn't as suitable as you think. For most people our lowest level of the day is usually before evening meal. Try this and let us know the levels. Our fasting BG is the most unpredictable and is influenced by other factors over which we have little control.
 
Primarily diet and exercise worked for me.

By 'diet', it was a calorie controlled diet to lose weight, coupled with exercise, followed by a complete lifestyle change in both eating and no longer being a couch potato.
 
So why prescribe the thing, if doesn't do what it says on the tin?
Does anyone derive benefits from Metformin, of any type?
Seems to me that, those that prescribe it, are just shooting in the dark and hoping for the best..
Let's double your Metformin and see how that works..
Oh, you have kidney issues, now that we can treat..
Am not a Dr but, I can say, only a fool relies upon Drs with Metformin!
 
As Bluetit1802 says Metformin can help to stop the liver dumping glucose in the mornings, therefore it can help reduce BG levels a little. It is an appetite suppressant and was first developed as a slimming drug. It can help reduce insulin resistance, which is what a lot of T2s have. If you reduce insulin resistance the body doesn't need to overwork the pancreas anymore and it's easier to lose weight. So rather than Metformin being a 'sticking plaster' to reduce glucose levels directly, coupled with a low carb diet it can actually help with combatting the problem that caused those high glucose levels in the first place.
 
It also is generally well tolerated, cheap and so is the go to drug to start. Not to minimise the side effects some have as it’s not good of course but for many it is fine
 
Andydragon said:
It also is generally well tolerated, cheap and so is the go to drug to start. Not to minimise the side effects some have as it’s not good of course but for many it is fine
Click to expand...
I had those side effects to start with, but it was still worth taking it.
 
@Yetiandy Hello. My apologies if you have already posted this but have you changed your diet since your diagnosis or have you relied totally on the Metformin? I find that when I am taking Metformin it helps with suppressing my appetite but my blood sugar is still high if I don’t alter my diet to a low carb one.
 
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