Hi all, I’m 74 and was diagnosed with type 2 about 6 weeks ago. I must say I felt better before. Had no symptoms. Blood test results were 87 was put on Metformin 3 x day,eyes were blurry so lowered to 2 x day. Still blurry so was put on slow release Metformin 2 x day and eyes still blurry and now I’ve got bad tummy. Really do feel like stopping the tablets as feel lethargic and rubbish. Anyone else felt like this at first. Following low carb but just want pie and mash, fish and chips ect.
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Feeling rough
- Thread starter Motherhen
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Inka
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- Type 1
The blurry eyes are very normal @Motherhen They should gradually improve as your blood sugar gets back to a more normal level. High blood sugar can make you feel rough. Do you have a glucose meter to test your blood sugar at home?
Leadinglights
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If you have reduced your carbs substantially from what you were previously having that could certainly be why your vision is blurry and if your glucose levels are dropping quickly from the high level they were before your body has to adjust. However if the SR metformin is still giving you issues then do speak to your diabetic nurse. They would probably feel that at an HbA1C of 87mmol/mol, you would need some medication to help get it down. But there may be an alternative which would suit you better. It might be easier to stay motivated with the low carb diet if you did not feel so unwell so reducing the dose may be something your DSN would consider for you.
goodybags
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Hi there @Motherhen
welcome to this great forum
hope that your feeling less “rough” very
soon
quite possibly you could be feeling rough, firstly as your on Metformin it doesn’t agree with everybody
but it could be as your body is coming down to a more normal BS level
having been running high BS levels
I found it’s normal to crave the carb laden foods we need to steer clear of
it’s a shame Dr’s and DSN’s are so anti-us T2’s regularly testing 🙄
You will find on here many of us found it helps us to understand how our bodies react to different foods
it might be worth getting a BS test kit and self testing,
even though the NHS haven’t recommended this, and so won’t provide the kit or fund this to you currently.
welcome to this great forum
hope that your feeling less “rough” very
soon
quite possibly you could be feeling rough, firstly as your on Metformin it doesn’t agree with everybody
but it could be as your body is coming down to a more normal BS level
having been running high BS levels
I found it’s normal to crave the carb laden foods we need to steer clear of
it’s a shame Dr’s and DSN’s are so anti-us T2’s regularly testing 🙄
You will find on here many of us found it helps us to understand how our bodies react to different foods
it might be worth getting a BS test kit and self testing,
even though the NHS haven’t recommended this, and so won’t provide the kit or fund this to you currently.
Felinia
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
It's very unusual to be put straight on 3 Metformin a day. Most people start on 1, then onto 2 a week or so later, then 3, so your body can adapt slowly. I was put on one slow release Metformin and suffered some side effects which subsided slowly over 6 weeks. They included nausea, retching, funny taste, lethargy. Then I was put on 2 a day, and within 3 days started with headaches, cramps and the runs, which got worse and worse over 10 days, as well as the other side effects. I asked a question on this Forum and amongst the advice given, was to give my tummy a rest, which I did for 5 days, then start again. If I get the same problems, I was advised to speak to my DSN to look for an alternative medication solution. Glucophage or Gliclazide were both mentioned.
You say you are having just 60gm carbs a day. I tried that, and in the end settled on 90gm a day. I felt overall much better at that level. Some people are more sensitive to carbs than others, so it's a bit of trial and error to find what your body is happiest with. I find moderation is better than abstinence - it helps reduce the cravings.
You say you are having just 60gm carbs a day. I tried that, and in the end settled on 90gm a day. I felt overall much better at that level. Some people are more sensitive to carbs than others, so it's a bit of trial and error to find what your body is happiest with. I find moderation is better than abstinence - it helps reduce the cravings.
Leadinglights
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That is often why people go undiagnosed as they feel fine even with quite high blood glucose levels but their body is still under stress coping with processing carbohydrates. It will be something else which precipitates blood tests which give them the diagnosis but having high levels will lead to diabetic complications which nobody wants.
The blurry vision is experienced because the fluids in the eyes will change as your glucose levels come down altering the focal length which will affect your vision. When levels increase quickly that can also affect vision which is how some people are diagnosed because they go to their optician unable to see and get sent to A & E asap.
Inka
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
You don’t ‘need’ one but many Type 2s find them useful 🙂 They allow you to keep an eye on your blood sugar, to see what effect certain foods have on it, and to see your progress.
Leadinglights
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OK you don't need one but it gives you the control of your diabetes. I liken it to driving a car without a speedometer, you don't know you are exceeding to speed limit until you have got a fine or had an accident because you misjudged your speed.
Cherrelle DUK
Much missed Online Community Coordinator
Hi Motherhen, welcome to the site.
Sorry to hear that you're feeling rough. When you're body is used to operating with high sugar levels, you can feel rough and experience blurry eyes as your body adjusts to your new normal.
As mentioned, I'm surprised they started you on such a high dose, it might be worth speaking with your GP and letting them know that you're having stomach issues.
I'm a big fan of testing as sometimes the foods we thing are OK are actually spiking our BS levels. It just makes life easier to know that you're on the right track but do whatever works for you.
It's overwhelming at the beginning so it's natural to feel a bit down. We're here to support you every step of the way so please do let us know if there's anything specific that we can help with.
Sorry to hear that you're feeling rough. When you're body is used to operating with high sugar levels, you can feel rough and experience blurry eyes as your body adjusts to your new normal.
As mentioned, I'm surprised they started you on such a high dose, it might be worth speaking with your GP and letting them know that you're having stomach issues.
I'm a big fan of testing as sometimes the foods we thing are OK are actually spiking our BS levels. It just makes life easier to know that you're on the right track but do whatever works for you.
It's overwhelming at the beginning so it's natural to feel a bit down. We're here to support you every step of the way so please do let us know if there's anything specific that we can help with.
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