-
Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
New to diabetes
- Thread starter Mo57
- Start date
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Welcome to the forum, I hope you have been advised to start with just 1 tablet then build up if needed to a maximum of 4 but only if your body is tolerating it. Taking mid meal can help to minimise the effects. If it persists then you could ask for slow release.
I assume you have been advised about dietary changes as well as metformin alone is unlikely to be successful.
Many find a low carbohydrate approach is a doable regime so this link may help you see that there is plenty you can still eat. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
Were you told your HbA1C that has given you the diagnosis if not too high then diet alone can often be sufficient especially if you are not tolerating the metformin.
rebrascora
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Hi and welcome.
Have you started on just one tablet a day, perhaps with a view to building it up over several weeks to 3 or 4 a day and are you taking it with food, ideally mid meal as that helps reduce the risk of digestive upset or help it settle if you are experiencing some side effects. Usually settles down just as you are about to increase the dose.
Have you started on just one tablet a day, perhaps with a view to building it up over several weeks to 3 or 4 a day and are you taking it with food, ideally mid meal as that helps reduce the risk of digestive upset or help it settle if you are experiencing some side effects. Usually settles down just as you are about to increase the dose.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
It would be a good idea to find out the actual number not just high as it will give you an indication about how much work you will need to do, it will be a number over 47mmol/mol.
Diet is just as if not more important than metformin.
Hopefully if you look at the link you will be less confused.
silver minion
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
Hello @Mo57 and welcome to the forum. Most people experience a range of emotions when told they have diabetes. What you are feeling at the moment is not unusual. That's why this forum is a great place for support and advice while you are getting your head around all this new information.
Please don't feel that any question you ask is stupid. We welcome questions and want to help.
I have been taking slow release metformin for nearly 18 months now. I am now on the maximum dose but only had short term digestive issues when I started and each time my dose increased. Everyone reacts to it differently so see how you get on and let your doctor know if the side effects are a major problem for you. There are alternatives available although metformin is usually the first option
Share as much or little about your diagnosis as you feel comfortable with. People here get how it is actually living with diabetes on a daily basis. It is very individual so try some suggestions and see what works for you.
Please don't feel that any question you ask is stupid. We welcome questions and want to help.
I have been taking slow release metformin for nearly 18 months now. I am now on the maximum dose but only had short term digestive issues when I started and each time my dose increased. Everyone reacts to it differently so see how you get on and let your doctor know if the side effects are a major problem for you. There are alternatives available although metformin is usually the first option
Share as much or little about your diagnosis as you feel comfortable with. People here get how it is actually living with diabetes on a daily basis. It is very individual so try some suggestions and see what works for you.
Drummer
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
If you are unlucky then Metformin can be almost incapacitating - I had a violent reaction to just one tablet a day no matter when I took it.
Some people have no reaction at all, increase their dose and get on with life.
I'd advise not planning to be out of the house for a few days when you start to take the tablets, or when you increase the dose, if you do that, just in case.
There is the option of slow release, which some people find is a gentler option, but I threw the tablets in the bin and relied on diet alone, which did the trick for me.
murf
Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi,
Hi, dont feel stupid, i know exactly how you feel when i was diagnosed beginning of the year, on Metformin 2 a day had no issues re side effects tbh i think?, learnt a hell of a lot on here, nowt from docs! Try n work to a 130g of carbs a day , yes a bit to get used to at start but soon quite manageable, iam now down to pre diabetic range after 3months got next test next month so it can be done n list 2stone as well, so dont worry n ask question on here.
I am echoing what others have said but it cannot be emphasised enough. Do not feel stupid. There is a lot to take in on a first diagnosis. It is more than normal to be overwhelmed by the diagnosis. I had gone to the GP in 2009 for him to confirm what I suspected, that I had diabetes. So, I was anticipating the outcome. When I was told that I had diabetes, no reaction. When I collected the medication, testing strips and monitor from the pharmacy, no reaction. When I laid them all out on the table at home, reaction. I cried at the thought that this was me for the rest of my life. Now, I just get on with life.
My second point is that metformin cannot do it all. You need to adjust your diet and lifestyle as well. There will be plenty of advice on the Forum or Learning Zone. Listen to what people say and then make your own mind up. There is no right answer for everyone.
Finally, just a bit or reassurance. Although some people have a reaction to metformin, it has never bothered me but taking the tablets just after a meal does help reduce the risk of any adverse side effects. Some people advocate taking them part way through the meal but the effect is the same. Your stomach has some food in it before taking the tablets.
My second point is that metformin cannot do it all. You need to adjust your diet and lifestyle as well. There will be plenty of advice on the Forum or Learning Zone. Listen to what people say and then make your own mind up. There is no right answer for everyone.
Finally, just a bit or reassurance. Although some people have a reaction to metformin, it has never bothered me but taking the tablets just after a meal does help reduce the risk of any adverse side effects. Some people advocate taking them part way through the meal but the effect is the same. Your stomach has some food in it before taking the tablets.
saffron15
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
@Mo57 joining here is the best decision you will have made in a longtime. Are you prepared to share how high your hba1c was( the blood test) i was bewildered and upset when I discovered I was diabetic a year ago. I had an annual blood test and weigh in because I have high blood pressure. I know some years ago it was tested for diabetes but was not told ten years ago they stopped testing. When I was called in to discuss raised cholestral and asked to be tested as I had been peeing a lot. The hcp told me I looked shocked when he told me the hba1c was 69.
I phoned diabetes UK, just before my nurse appointment and joined afterwards. The nurse started me on metformin. After 8 days, I was bunged up but went on eighth day. Between three and four tablets, diarrhoea started, never watery more a nuisance. I saw the hcp again 4 days after id reached 4 he reduced it to 2 a day so I have limited experience of the higher number. I was then started on a SGLT2. By December my hba1c was 44. NB I am prescribed SR slow release which is supposed to be kinder to your stomach.
As a fatty I discovered lower carb [ 100 to 120] meant the weight started dropping. I lost a stone before I started medication. Initially.y metformin blunted my appetite so I would take ha,f the dose with first meal i had and rest with second meal as I often didn't have breakfast or if I did I wasn't hungry in the evening. This has worn off. I was told to keep my carbs up to 130. I also do an aqua fit class and move more.
If you buy preprepared food look under nutrition for carbs - all carbs turn to sugar. It's often on the bottom of the package.
I've now lost 3 stone and my bmi is in the healthy range.
Good luck
I phoned diabetes UK, just before my nurse appointment and joined afterwards. The nurse started me on metformin. After 8 days, I was bunged up but went on eighth day. Between three and four tablets, diarrhoea started, never watery more a nuisance. I saw the hcp again 4 days after id reached 4 he reduced it to 2 a day so I have limited experience of the higher number. I was then started on a SGLT2. By December my hba1c was 44. NB I am prescribed SR slow release which is supposed to be kinder to your stomach.
As a fatty I discovered lower carb [ 100 to 120] meant the weight started dropping. I lost a stone before I started medication. Initially.y metformin blunted my appetite so I would take ha,f the dose with first meal i had and rest with second meal as I often didn't have breakfast or if I did I wasn't hungry in the evening. This has worn off. I was told to keep my carbs up to 130. I also do an aqua fit class and move more.
If you buy preprepared food look under nutrition for carbs - all carbs turn to sugar. It's often on the bottom of the package.
I've now lost 3 stone and my bmi is in the healthy range.
Good luck
Last edited:
Hi @Mo57 as others have said welcome to the forum and ask away, the experience of the members here is substantial and can cover pretty much every eventuality.
I have seen a lot of people post about Metformin and the potential impacts and side effects. I never took more than 1 a day and even that was a only for a limited period. If you are only on 1 tablet/day then if the issues with the medication don't resolve within a few days, it is worth discussing with the diabetes nurse or GP to see whether you need to move to a slower release version (if not already prescribed) or need an alternative.
I have seen a lot of people post about Metformin and the potential impacts and side effects. I never took more than 1 a day and even that was a only for a limited period. If you are only on 1 tablet/day then if the issues with the medication don't resolve within a few days, it is worth discussing with the diabetes nurse or GP to see whether you need to move to a slower release version (if not already prescribed) or need an alternative.
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Welcome to the forum @Mo57
It’s not at all unusual to experience fairly significant emotional upheaval with a diabetes diagnosis. So be kind to yourself, and give yourself some breathing room.
Hope you get on OK with Metformin. It’s common to increase gradually over weeks, as it can help the body get used to it. Many people are able to tolerate Metformin with no ill effects, or with side effects that clear up fairly quickly. Though, of course, we have some members here who can’t tolerate it at all.
Fingers crossed it’ll be entirely uneventful for you. Have you had any signs of upset stomach yet?
It’s not at all unusual to experience fairly significant emotional upheaval with a diabetes diagnosis. So be kind to yourself, and give yourself some breathing room.
Hope you get on OK with Metformin. It’s common to increase gradually over weeks, as it can help the body get used to it. Many people are able to tolerate Metformin with no ill effects, or with side effects that clear up fairly quickly. Though, of course, we have some members here who can’t tolerate it at all.
Fingers crossed it’ll be entirely uneventful for you. Have you had any signs of upset stomach yet?
trophywench
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Metformin (Referred to by some as Met-fartin) can take up to 3 weeks with each dosage change, to settle down, for some.
Hi Mo
Welcome to the forum. I am recently diagnosed also and started on metformin.
Like youi increased the does every week. I found when i got to 3 tablets i started to get an upset stomach, felt sick and also lost my appetite which led me to staying with 3 for a couple of weeks before going to 4.
The side effects went away and when i started taking 4 it was absolutely fine.
I take mine with my breakfast and evening meal
Hey @Mo57. I am brand new here as well and have also just been diagnosed (just over a week ago). I think it takes a lot to start a post thread and there is lots of useful stuff above so I hope you are feeling different/better as you are not alone 🙂
The first few days of taking Metformin for me was a bit rough. I felt quite shaky, sweaty, dizzy and upset stomach. However, on day 3 I felt absolutely fine and I've just gone up to 2 tablets a day with no adverse effects.
The hardest thing I've found so far is cutting out the tasty carbs
but I know with more practice I'll get used to it. Be kind to yourself. We've got this!
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
When you cut the carbs then ditch the bland boring ones which are just fillers or carriers of more flavourful items and select those which are worth it for taste and enjoyment. Low carb is not no carb. I followed the principal of only having one carby food per meal.Hey @Mo57. I am brand new here as well and have also just been diagnosed (just over a week ago). I think it takes a lot to start a post thread and there is lots of useful stuff above so I hope you are feeling different/better as you are not alone 🙂
The first few days of taking Metformin for me was a bit rough. I felt quite shaky, sweaty, dizzy and upset stomach. However, on day 3 I felt absolutely fine and I've just gone up to 2 tablets a day with no adverse effects.
The hardest thing I've found so far is cutting out the tasty carbs
Be kind to yourself. We've got this!
This link has good ideas for tasty meals. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
That's so helpful, thank you!
Thank u so much for all the advice think it's settling down but I start 2 tablets per day on Thursday so fingers crossed lol..wen I was tested with the finger prickly last Wednesday it was 24 ..I've done it at home twice and it's been 11 twice and 10 once so I think that may be positive
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
It is important to establish a structured testing scheme as random tests don't tell you much as blood glucose goes up and down throughout the day and night so testing to give you useful information on which to base your dietary changes or monitor progress day to day is a good idea.
Many find testing as soon as they wake up to give a fasting reading which you can track over the course of weeks etc and to find the effects of particular meal then testing before eating and after 2 hours will tell you how well you have tolerated the carbohydrates in that meal if the increase is no more than 2-3mmol/l, if more than your meal is too carb heavy.
Your aim is to have readings of 4-7mmol/l fasting and before eating and no more than 8-8.5mmol/l 2 hours after eating. Obviously it is early days for you so unlikely you will be there yet.