?effects of metformin

[Dianexxx]

Hello, 3 weeks ago I was diagnosed with type two diabetes. I was in total shock. I was immediately put on metformin increading 1 a day each week. This is week 3 and I’m on 3 tablets a day. Most of the time I’m feeling sick and exhausted. At times I’m ok but then it hits like a big wave. Is this normal starting metformin and if so how long before the effects subside. Thank you Diane x

 

[JimmyBlue]

Hi @Dianexxx welcome to the forums. Metformin impacts people differently but from what I have seen from posts on this site, the most common side effects appear to be gastric in nature which may explain why you are feeling sick. There are also two types of Metformin, quick and slow release and dependent on which one you have been given might also be having an impact. Finally, you may like to consider getting your B12 levels checked as this could be responsible for the tiredness.
If you are having these issues only since you have started to take the Metformin, then it would definitely be a good idea to have a chat with your doctor or specialist diabetes nurse to see what options there might be for alternative treatments.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome.

When are you taking them? I found mid meal with a substantial amount of lower carb food helped to protect my stomach, so roughly half my food, then the tablet, then the rest of it.
It might be that you need to go back to just 2 a day for a bit longer if you were managing 2 alright and give it another week or two before you try upping it to 3 again. Or, if they are regular metformin, you could talk to your nurse or GP about the problem and ask if you can try the slow/modified release version trying.
Changing your diet is also important along side the medication and I believe some people are more likely to have problems with metformin if they continue to eat a lot of carbs. Dietary changes can be far more powerful than most diabetes meds, so it is a really important part of diabetes management and in many cases can mean that you don't actually need medication. We have a number of members of the forum who have made lifestyle changes and put diabetes into remission and not needed meds or come off them and achieved remission and actually feel fitter and healthier than they have for many, many years. I changed my diet to low carb at diagnosis and it has improved a number of other significant health issues like acute migraines, joint pain, digestive upset and mental health, so I am actually healthier now than I was pre-diagnosis 6 years ago.

 

[Dianexxx]

Hi @Dianexxx welcome to the forums. Metformin impacts people differently but from what I have seen from posts on this site, the most common side effects appear to be gastric in nature which may explain why you are feeling sick. There are also two types of Metformin, quick and slow release and dependent on which one you have been given might also be having an impact. Finally, you may like to consider getting your B12 levels checked as this could be responsible for the tiredness.
If you are having these issues only since you have started to take the Metformin, then it would definitely be a good idea to have a chat with your doctor or specialist diabetes nurse to see what options there might be for alternative treatments.

Thankyou I will contact the gp tomorrow

 

[Dianexxx]

Hi and welcome.

When are you taking them? I found mid meal with a substantial amount of lower carb food helped to protect my stomach, so roughly half my food, then the tablet, then the rest of it.
It might be that you need to go back to just 2 a day for a bit longer if you were managing 2 alright and give it another week or two before you try upping it to 3 again. Or, if they are regular metformin, you could talk to your nurse or GP about the problem and ask if you can try the slow/modified release version trying.
Changing your diet is also important along side the medication and I believe some people are more likely to have problems with metformin if they continue to eat a lot of carbs. Dietary changes can be far more powerful than most diabetes meds, so it is a really important part of diabetes management and in many cases can mean that you don't actually need medication. We have a number of members of the forum who have made lifestyle changes and put diabetes into remission and not needed meds or come off them and achieved remission and actually feel fitter and healthier than they have for many, many years. I changed my diet to low carb at diagnosis and it has improved a number of other significant health issues like acute migraines, joint pain, digestive upset and mental health, so I am actually healthier now than I was pre-diagnosis 6 years ago.

Thank you for your advice Barbara. I’ve felt quite isolated since given the diagnosis. It was like you have diabetes here are some leaflets. I’ve drastically changed my diet. I take my metformin during meals. It’s the instant exhaustion that hits me too along with nauseous feeling.

 

[saffron15]

@Dianexxx welcome to the forum. How high was your hba1c? High blood sugar can make you feel unwell. I found the first two weeks of metformin bunged me up but next week I started diarrhea generally annoying rather than bad enough to be debilitating. I was then put on an SGLT2 and metformin reduced to 2 x a day. From the start mine were SR slow release which are supposed to be kinder. I did feel very stressed at the diagnosis. It may not be the metformin but it is worth checking with your surgery.

 

[pjgtech]

Hi and welcome, all good advice above, hope you find out the cause of your tiredness, etc asap. Deffo go back to your HCP and tell them whats happening, cheers

 

[Leadinglights]

Thank you for your advice Barbara. I’ve felt quite isolated since given the diagnosis. It was like you have diabetes here are some leaflets. I’ve drastically changed my diet. I take my metformin during meals. It’s the instant exhaustion that hits me too along with nauseous feeling.

Depending on how high your HbA1C is you may be able to reduce blood glucose without the metformin if you are committed to make dietary changes which it sounds as if you have. Suffering from exhaustion is no good for you, is it since you started the metformin or did you have it before.
Have a look at this link for some ideas for a low carb dietary approach https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/

 

[rebrascora]

Diane, do you know what your HbA1c result was? This is the blood test result which is used to diagnose diabetes and monitor your management of it over the years following diagnosis. It will usually be a number in excess of 47 for a formal diagnosis but can be into 3 figures if things are seriously amiss. If it is/was very high, then I would be concerned that you might possibly be suffering from high ketone levels causing the nausea and the tiredness would be because your Blood Glucose (BG) levels were going very high after meals. Do you test your levels with a finger prick? I appreciate that the doctor or nurse may not have provided you with such a meter but it might be worth getting one so that you can monitor your levels and see what is happening especially just before and 2 hours after meals.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear you’ve been having some nausea and fatigue

Metformin can cause some stomach upset in some people, but for the vast majority this settles down fairly quickly - perhaps within a few weeks. Often people find the ‘Slow Release’ formulation easier on the tum. It also seems important to take it mid-meal, and to increase doses slowly and gradually.

We do have some members who had more significant adverse effects from Metformin, and for whom it didn’t settle down, so do keep an eye on things, and go back to your Dr if you have any worries.