Alternatives to Metformin to prevent nauseous side effects

[KPS]

My partner has been prescribed Metformin for type 2 diabetes but it causes so much nausea and actual sickness that she can't take them. Any advice on alternatives and how to have an informed discussion with the GP ?

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @KPS

Sorry to hear that your partner is struggling with unfortunate effects of Metformin

How long has she been taking them? Some members have found that the side effects which were quite uncomfortable to begin with began to subside after a few weeks/months. I gather it can also make a difference when they are taken - and having them with a substantial meal, but one which doesn’t contain too much carbohydrate might help.

Some other members have been able to come off metformin by changing their diet to reduce carbohydrate content, particularly by using a BG meter to refine their meal plan to reduce post-meal ‘spikes’ by checking individual responses to different foods (because everyone is different, and different people struggle more with different types of carbs which have a ‘healthy’ reputation).

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum @KPS

I know that some members have found that a switch to slow release metformin has made a difference for them, as well as making sure that they have their meds with food, so that there is something along with the Metformin in the stomach. I hope that helps.

 

[grovesy]

She needs to tell Doctor.

 

[Beck S]

I struggled a lot with the normal Metformin, but once I asked the doctor to change to the slow release version it got a lot better.

 

[DaveB]

Hi. If the symptoms don't clear within 1 to 2 weeks, ask the GP to change to the Slow Release version. There is no real alternative to metformin.

 

[Drummer]

I became so very ill after a few weeks taking Metformin and a statin together that I decided to stop taking them. It was just before Christmas 2016, and there was no chance of seeing anyone at the surgery. I never needed them in the first place. I went on eating a low carb diet and was no longer diabetic at the first check on my Hba1c.
I had got to the point of contemplating suicide, my memory was not working, I was in despair, and it did take some time for my brain to recover, so if your partner has had similar side effects do reassure her that it will get better.
After such a violent reaction, I'd advise trying diet alone, as low carb is very effective for many people - but my GP has been sulking about my decision for years.

 

[KPS]

Thanks all for replies , has only been on Metformins a short time but don't think could literally "stomach" a few weeks /months more. Has tried diet and monitoring but sugars remained high even before mealtimes , will look at slow release metformins

 

[rebrascora]

Thanks all for replies , has only been on Metformins a short time but don't think could literally "stomach" a few weeks /months more. Has tried diet and monitoring but sugars remained high even before mealtimes , will look at slow release metformins

The question would be "Did she try the right diet?" because NHS advice on diet for diabetes is not particularly helpful.
Many of us find that a low carb way of eating often incorporating more fat into the diet is a very effective tool in managing diabetes, more powerful than most medication, but it does take a bit of getting used to.
Carbohydrates are not just sugars and sweet stuff as many people assume about diabetes but also fruit and starchy foods like bread, pasta, couscous, rice, potatoes, breakfast cereals and anything made from grain flour like pasty or batter. Even the brown or wholegrain versions of bread and grains and otherwise healthy porridge can send your BG into orbit as a diabetic. Learning to avoid or dramatically reduce portion size of these things is the diet that many of us find works.

I wish your partner well with the SR Metformin but if she is interested in learning more about low carb eating to control her diabetes we are happy to help.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Hope the SR version does the trick @KPS

Not sure if you have background on Metformin, but from what I can gather, it doesn’t act directly on glucose from food, so much as act on the liver to suppress the trickle of glucose it feeds into the body 24 hours a day, and also acts to improve sensitivity to insulin so the body can use it more effectively.

That’s why the effects of Met ‘ramp up‘ over a few weeks. And it doesn’t matter if you miss a meal when you are taking it.

Other options for increasing insulin sensitivity include increasing exercise/activity if you wife can include that as part of every day, and also losing additional weight (if any is carried), particularly around the middle - though you’ll have to be careful mentioning that last one 😛 😱

As @rebrascora suggests, reducing the amount of carbohydrate in each meal will really help BGs too - whether or not Metformin is part of the picture. There are lots of hints, tips, swaps and recipe ideas on the forum if you’ve never tried lowering carbs before

 

[KPS]

Thanks again - we have started reducing carbs and planning for more exercise when this all over , guess that will have to apply to me too

 

[chaoticcar]

I asked my GP for slow release version of Metformin because of stomach problems which helped a lot I also find that taking it in the middle of a meal sort of sandwich it in the food (if that makes sense ) ! It also got better over time .
Carol