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Dizziness

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Gee1970

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi All,

I am newly diagnosed as a type 2 diabetic.

I tested my blood a week ago and the blood sugar was 24. I have seen the doctor and been prescribed metformin which I started 5 days ago. Today the blood sugar level this morning was down to 13.8...so good news the sugars are reducing.

The issue I have is the side effects to the metformin. The normal list is things like heartburn, stomach pain, bloating etc. However, I woke up this morning with extreme dizziness (vertigo like) symptoms whilst vomiting bile once I staggered to the bathroom...

Just the usual googling of metformin symptoms doesn’t suggest I should be having this dizziness. The symptom only appears in the serious side effects related to lactic acidosis or, more likely, anaemia as I think vitamin b12 levels can be affected by metaformin.

I have spoken to the 111 weekend doctor who was less than helpful, suggesting it is vertigo....and to carry on taking the tablets....

I have the view that the dizziness is either how my body is coping with the relatively quick lowering of blood sugar levels (driven both by the drugs and the significant lowering of carbs and sugar intake that I have undertaken this week), or because the metformin is reducing the vitamin b12 in my blood.

Either way, the dizziness is very worrying and there is suggestion online that you should stop taking metformin immediately when you get this symptom. A suggestion not shared by the weekend doctor, I may add.

I was wondering if anyone had any similar experiences that they may be able to help with?

I have reluctantly continued the metformin today but am very concerned and will, of course, be back in touch with my GP on Monday. The dosage is due to double on Tuesday and I am really concerned about this...

Any info from anyone on here will be gratefully received.
 
I've no idea if it's anything to do with the metformin. It wouldn't hurt not to take it for a couple of days. Of course, that means starting over sometime.
You need to test your blood glucose (BG) levels more often to get any idea of what's going on. Those figures are just one off's.
Has the dizziness gone?
Possibly ring 111/999 again.
 
The problem with B12 depletion is really only a risk after years of taking metformin, not just a few days.
 
Thanks for the responses.

Looks like I can scrap the thought around b12 reduction. Hopefully it is down to the number dropping quickly and my body getting used to it rather than something more serious related to my tolerance to metformin.

I‘ve took one today so will see what happens.
 
Sorry to hear about the unpleasant symptoms you are experiencing @Gee1970

Hope your GP can get to the bottom of it and offer you some practical support.

If your BG levels remain in the teens and you continue to experience vomiting (or breathlessness, abdominal pain, or have a ‘pear drop‘ smell on your breath) please do contact NHS111 again, in case it may be signs of DKA and you may have been misclassified as T2, which we have seen before on the forum.
 
Pretty sure it’s T2, down to 12 today...so good news. I’m beginning to think the vertigo type symptoms could have been related to a combination of flu and pneumonia jabs I had on Friday after having only started on metformin on Tuesday. I certainly don’t have the breathlessness, abdominal pain or smelly breath atm.

thanks for the advice
 
Have you seen this suggestion about testing your BG before?

Test, Review, Adjust

Managing blood glucose levels for type 2 diabetes. Learning how to achieve long term control by testing and diet.
loraldiabetes.blogspot.com loraldiabetes.blogspot.com

It's a very good plan.
 
Thanks for the info...I’m taking it all on board.

Just an update....my blood glucose first thing in the morning number has now reduced from 24 to 10.9 having been on one metformin tablet per day for just 6 days. Does anyone have any info as to whether this is normal for a newly diagnosed t2 or whether the number has reduced more quickly than normal. I have pretty much cut out most sugar and reduced my carb intake by probably 2/3 at least (eating more protein to replace).

The main issue is that the metformin dosage is due to double tomorrow and given that one tablet appears to be working in terms of helping reduce the blood sugar level quickly, I am somewhat reticent to double the dose. I will, of course, check with my GP tomorrow before I make any dosage changes but if anyone has experience of such a quick reduction I would appreciate any comments you may have.

I‘ve had no more vertigo type symptoms I’m very pleased to say....
 
I doubt if the one metformin for such a short time has made much difference, much more likely to be the reduction in carbs (including sugars).

Glad the dizziness has eased.
 
Thx.

If it is the carb reduction I’m not sure I need to increase the dose of metformin, in fact, should I be probably be looking to stop taking metformin when below 7 to see if I can then maintain those levels without the assistance of the drug?
 
My waking BG was 9.1 on the 17th September and down to 6.9 by the 21st then a while in the 6s and 7s before a 5.5 on the 19th October. Again, almost certainly due to going low carb. I wouldn't change your meds without talking to your GP.
 
Thx...good to know. Will see what the doc says this week, particularly if the numbers keep dropping like they are...
 
Gee1970 said:
Thx...good to know. Will see what the doc says this week, particularly if the numbers keep dropping like they are...
Click to expand...

I went from blood sugars of 35 to largely under 10 mmol in under a week and I suffered for my art. Pains in my abdomen, legs, joints, groin, feet and back. That took a while to calm down, although the leg and feet pains are still there intermittently.
As my doc said at the time, my body is having to readjust to having normal blood rather than gloopy syrup and it will complain bitterly.
You might need to give this a bit of time.
 
Gee1970 said:
The main issue is that the metformin dosage is due to double tomorrow and given that one tablet appears to be working in terms of helping reduce the blood sugar level quickly, I am somewhat reticent to double the dose. I will, of course, check with my GP tomorrow before I make any dosage changes but if anyone has experience of such a quick reduction I would appreciate any comments you may have.
Click to expand...

I wouldn‘t worry too much about the increase in Metformin dose as far as safety is concerned, it is generally said to have a low-to-none risk of hypos. Met doesn’t work directly to reduce BG, but works by reducing glucose output from the liver and reduces insulin resistance.

Though as your BGs have dropped fairly promptly, you might want to have a phonecall with your GP if you’d prefer to maintain your dose a while longer and see how things go?
 
I was really sensitive to the Metformin. The problems started in the first week and I bought a professional carpet/upholstery cleaner within a month - it was diabolical.
I stood it for about five weeks and then stopped it and the Atorvastatin as I was in such a state of misery.
Then I found I never needed to take either medication, as far as I can tell, just ditch the low fat high carb diet.
 
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