Feeling awful, please help

[Rocketj28]

Hi, I was diagnosed with T2 diabetes in September and have been given 2000mg of metformin daily. I have been for a new HbA1c test last week with results on Tuesday this week. Previous result was 94.
However, I feel so ill! I am ok from 8am to 2pm daily, and then so exhausted I could just cry. Regularly in bed by 8pm, sleeping 12 hours, and then in tears with extreme fatigue by the afternoon. I have quite a stressful job, and I’m working full time, but I just can’t sustain this any longer. I’m really struggling to function. This weekend i have some sort of flu type virus and I’m aching all over - particularly my back, and BG is anywhere ranging from 12 to 20. How is anyone coping with this? I’m finding it completely debilitating at the moment. Any advice would be much appreciated

 

[Leadinglights]

Hopefully your change of diet and the metformin will have had the desired effect of getting your HbA1C down but some people are not able to tolerate metformin well though the side effects are normally gastric upset.
It would be worth speaking to your GP or nurse when you get your result and see if dropping the metformin and sticking with just a low carb diet will help you feel any better.
It could be your blood glucose is still high which could account for the tiredness or vitamin deficiency in particular vitamin B12 as metformin can affect the body's ability to absorb it from foods.
Have you had your thyroid checked.
Illness will tend to increase blood glucose but as high as 20 is a bit worrying, It would be worth getting some ketone urine test strips to check for ketones.

 

[EMcKT]

As has been asked above, have you had VitD and B12 levels checked??? Your symptoms are very similar to what sent me to the GP in February. Turned out D was really really low......as well as diabetes...which I did not know about. Took a few weeks with low carb diet. Metformin and huge Vit D pills to feel better.......especially the tiredness and weepy. Worth asking for those to be checked.

 

[Rocketj28]

Thank you so much for the replies.
As far as I know, I haven’t been checked for vitamin deficiencies or thyroid.
My GP has had little interaction with me up to now, but he did say it was way too high for diet control alone.
When I first started the metformin it seemed to lower BG a bit, not to where it should be, but a bit. Now all the symptoms of osmosis have also returned. I don’t think the metformin is working correctly as I have been checking BG at home, and it’s sometimes as high as 16 first thing in the morning.
I will ask for thyroid and vitamin checks on Tuesday as I just feel everything is falling apart at the minute. Every day is a struggle. I have no quality of life post 2pm every day as I’m just waiting to go to bed

 

[Leadinglights]

Thank you so much for the replies.
As far as I know, I haven’t been checked for vitamin deficiencies or thyroid.
My GP has had little interaction with me up to now, but he did say it was way too high for diet control alone.
When I first started the metformin it seemed to lower BG a bit, not to where it should be, but a bit. Now all the symptoms of osmosis have also returned. I don’t think the metformin is working correctly as I have been checking BG at home, and it’s sometimes as high as 16 first thing in the morning.
I will ask for thyroid and vitamin checks on Tuesday as I just feel everything is falling apart at the minute. Every day is a struggle. I have no quality of life post 2pm every day as I’m just waiting to go to bed

Were you told what your HbA1C was to start with, were you advised about dietary changes as if you are still eating too many carbs then the metformin will not be able to do that much.
You could do some meal testing, before eating and after 2 hours to see if the increase is less than 2-3mmol/l to see if indeed your diet is still too carb heavy.

 

[Rocketj28]

Were you told what your HbA1C was to start with, were you advised about dietary changes as if you are still eating too many carbs then the metformin will not be able to do that much.
You could do some meal testing, before eating and after 2 hours to see if the increase is less than 2-3mmol/l to see if indeed your diet is still too carb heavy.

Hi, yes the HbA1C was 94 back in September. Awaiting result of the new test on Tuesday. Wasn’t advised on any dietary changes other than ‘stay away from obvious refined sugar’, until last Friday when I attended an awareness course

 

[goodybags]

@Rocketj28 I’m not suprised your feeling rough past 2pm and hope your GP has some good advice, possibly a change of medication might be more suitable when you are seen on Tuesday

if your your getting waking FP tests from 16-20 obviously your levels are rather high still, not sure what your currently eating, but have you heard of the freshwell project (it’s developed by a pair of doctors) https://lowcarbfreshwell.com if you wanted to take a look - if you haven’t started adopting a different way of eating it might help.

 

[NearlyWellBeing]

@Rocketj28 what mysteries me about diabetes is that it doesn't hurt me. Yes, I get whacked out for some reason and have to use the weekend to catch up on rest. That's when I start to feel better. Its such an important recovery time for e that I book my days off work around obtaining long weekends.

 

[PurpleHoney]

Thank you so much for the replies.
As far as I know, I haven’t been checked for vitamin deficiencies or thyroid.
My GP has had little interaction with me up to now, but he did say it was way too high for diet control alone.
When I first started the metformin it seemed to lower BG a bit, not to where it should be, but a bit. Now all the symptoms of osmosis have also returned. I don’t think the metformin is working correctly as I have been checking BG at home, and it’s sometimes as high as 16 first thing in the morning.
I will ask for thyroid and vitamin checks on Tuesday as I just feel everything is falling apart at the minute. Every day is a struggle. I have no quality of life post 2pm every day as I’m just waiting to go to bed

Hi Rocketj28, It is very early days for you. If you have had high blood glucose for a fair time, it can make you feel unwell as it comes down. If your doctors surgery have a dedicated diabetic clinic nurse, I'd ask to see her. You can get Metformin in a slow release form, which a lot of people have to go on to stop the gastric problems, even then some still have problems. Your readings being high first thing could be down to the dawn phenomenon. There is also a much rarer cause, known as the Somogyi effect.

I'd definitely try and see either a diabetic clinic nurse or the doctor at your surgery as well.

Sending heaps of positive thoughts.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear how difficult you are finding things with the fatigue.

High BGs can give rise to a pretty crushing form of tiredness and lethargy, so hopefully things will improve as you alter your menu / carbohydrate intake to balance with your meds. Cutting back on carbohydrate portions (eg bread, rice, pasta, cereal, potatoes, baked goods, grains) can be an important part of balancing your blood glucose levels.

Hopefully the thyroid and vitamin checks will provide some pointers too - it does sound as if the tiredness is having a significant effect on your quality of life.

Hopefully you’ll be able to find a combination of things that give you a bit of energy back

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi, yes the HbA1C was 94 back in September. Awaiting result of the new test on Tuesday. Wasn’t advised on any dietary changes other than ‘stay away from obvious refined sugar’, until last Friday when I attended an awareness course

My battery gave up last night as I was about to reply but others have said more or less what I was gong to say, but to emphasise that it is not just about cutting 'sugary' things but looking at all carbohydrates so that may be why you are still not feeling the benefit of taking the metformin as it will not work without dietary changes as well.
The Freshwell program will give you some excellent pointers so do have a look https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/