Going mad

[Celestial123]

Hi all I am on Metformin but been on it before but couldn’t cope with the diarrhoea so came off it sugar was 10.1 so Doctor put me on it again I stressed that I couldn’t cope with the side effects so he said try it slow release, so back on it taking 3 a day but have been vomiting on 2 nights this week checked my blood this morning and it was 9.1 this evening it’s 16.1. can’t understand it cos my meals are very low carb. My meals today 2 weetabix, scrambled eggs on Brown bread. Evening meal egg and bacon I piece brown bread 1 peach and I activist yoguart I am very worried and am wondering if it’s the Metformin causing the vomiting haven’t takin any Metformin today.

 

[Drummer]

Hi all I am on Metformin but been on it before but couldn’t cope with the diarrhoea so came off it sugar was 10.1 so Doctor put me on it again I stressed that I couldn’t cope with the side effects so he said try it slow release, so back on it taking 3 a day but have been vomiting on 2 nights this week checked my blood this morning and it was 9.1 this evening it’s 16.1. can’t understand it cos my meals are very low carb. My meals today 2 weetabix, scrambled eggs on Brown bread. Evening meal egg and bacon I piece brown bread 1 peach and I activist yoguart I am very worried and am wondering if it’s the Metformin causing the vomiting haven’t takin any Metformin today.

Metformin does cause digestive upsets for the susceptible - but what makes you think that you are eating very low carb? Have you added up the amount you are eating in a day?

 

[Felinia]

Hi and welcome
I have questions about your Metformin. First, did you give your innards time to recover from the side effects of the original Metformin? I was advised to do so on this forum and gave myself a 5 day break. Did you go straight onto 3 slow release Metformin a day, or did you start on 1 a day and build up? I was advised to build up, and had 1 a day for a week, then switched to 2 a day. That's when my side effects started - nausea, retching (but no actual vomiting), severe cramps (and I do mean severe) with constipation followed by diarrhoea. I had a break and started again with exactly the same side effects. I contacted my DSN yesterday, have an appointment next week and expect to be put on a different medication. So it is possible the SR Metformin is causing your vomiting, and giving your tummy a rest is probably a good idea.

This is just an observation about your diet - I hope you are not upset, as I am trying to help you understand carbs. You say your meals are very low carb, but I would describe them more as in the moderate to higher end of suggested daily carbs, not very low. 2 Weetabix are 25.8gm, 2 slices of brown bread are up to 37.5gm carbs, a peach is up to 11.4gm carbs, an Activia sugar free yogurt is 8.9gm carbs, and 1/2 pint semi skimmed milk for cereal and drinks is 13.4gm carbs. That is a total of 97gm carbs, excluding anything else you might have eaten. And what were your vegetables - as they too contain carbs?

I would suggest you look at the Learning Zone (orange tab) and read through the food section for Type 2, in regard to trying a low carb eating plan. I experimented between 50gm to 130gm daily carbs and settled on 90gm carbs a day, mainly from vegetables, salads and home made soups, a little fruit, plus some dairy, the occasional small slice of bread or couple of new potatoes.

I hope we both feel better soon.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

Hi all I am on Metformin but been on it before but couldn’t cope with the diarrhoea so came off it sugar was 10.1 so Doctor put me on it again I stressed that I couldn’t cope with the side effects so he said try it slow release, so back on it taking 3 a day but have been vomiting on 2 nights this week checked my blood this morning and it was 9.1 this evening it’s 16.1. can’t understand it cos my meals are very low carb. My meals today 2 weetabix, scrambled eggs on Brown bread. Evening meal egg and bacon I piece brown bread 1 peach and I activist yoguart I am very worried and am wondering if it’s the Metformin causing the vomiting haven’t takin any Metformin today.

Hello,
sorry you aren't feeling so good.
Just a query did you start on 3 tabs a day? I ask because the normal is to take one tablet for a week or so then up it to two until at full dose if needed.
Brown bread is just coloured white bread so not much point in eating that try a wholemeal or seeded loaf or some burgen cereals are known as serial killers due to their high carb content and the affect they have on blood sugars, so perhaps look at an alternative.

 

[Celestial123]

Thank you for your replies, I started Metformin about six weeks ago 1 tablet for for 2 weeks then 2 for 2 weeks then 3 tablets for 2 weeks, it since I have been taking 3 tablets a day that the sickness started , will have to get my carbs sorted seems as though I am doing it all wrong. Thanks for your help.

 

[Felinia]

Your reaction to SR Metformin sounds just like me - you can tolerate a certain amount then the body says "no more". I didn't even get to 3! I think you have the right idea about lowering you carbs - it's just picking the right sort of carbs. There is a food/recipes tab on this forum which might give you ideas. This is a typical day's menu for me: Breakfast: poached egg with well grilled bacon, mushrooms and tomatoes (no bread), or Greek yogurt with 80gm mixed berries. Lunch: Mixed salad with protein like egg, tuna, salmon, chicken, cottage cheese, prawns and a drizzle of dressing, or home made unthickened vegetable soup (no bread or potato). Dinner: Baked chicken / fish or omelette, with selection from cauliflower, green vegetables, carrot/swede puree, roasted Mediterranean vegetables, 2 new potatoes. I have one cholesterol lowering mini drink and 170ml skimmed or semi-skimmed milk for tea and coffee. Other people are a lot more adventurous than me and seem to come up with great ideas.

 

[Molly M]

hi @Celestial123 - I had horrendous problems within an hour of taking my first Metformin tablet. I persevered until I was on 3 a day and had to stop. I switched to 1 Sukkarto a day for 2 weeks and then upped my dose to 2 a day and am now on 3 a day and have to take 4 a day so just one more increase. To date, I haven't had a single issues with the Sukkarto *touch wood*

I totally agree with @Felinia re the amount of carbs. I have not had a single potato, any 'normal' rice (I now eat cauli rice), pasta, cakes, biscuits, crisps etc since my diagnosis. I have switched to Burgen bread but only ever have 1 slice at a time and would have a max of 2 slices in any week. I only have certain fruit and veg - some had a big effect on my blood glucose levels. The hard part of this is that everyone is different so nobody can tell you exactly what to eat. I now test my blood glucose 6 times each day (first thing in the morning, just before bed and an hour before each meal and then 2 hrs after) so see the effect that food has on my readings. The good part of this is that I now have several things I know to totally avoid and some things I've found to be great for my readings which have become my 'safe' meals I can just grab and know I will be ok with if I am in a hurry.

Hopefully a little tweak to your carbs will also help with the issues you are having with the Metformin - or maybe your need to talk to your doctor and explain your issues and see if you can switch to Sukkarto (it is a slow release version of Metformin) - my doc just agreed over the phone and said problems with Metformin are very common and he sent a prescription direct to my chemist.

Good luck - hope you get your problems fixed.

 

[Lucyr]

@Molly M can I ask why you test an hour before your meal? Testing just before your meal would give you more information on how the meal affected you.

 

[Celestial123]

Your reaction to SR Metformin sounds just like me - you can tolerate a certain amount then the body says "no more". I didn't even get to 3! I think you have the right idea about lowering you carbs - it's just picking the right sort of carbs. There is a food/recipes tab on this forum which might give you ideas. This is a typical day's menu for me: Breakfast: poached egg with well grilled bacon, mushrooms and tomatoes (no bread), or Greek yogurt with 80gm mixed berries. Lunch: Mixed salad with protein like egg, tuna, salmon, chicken, cottage cheese, prawns and a drizzle of dressing, or home made unthickened vegetable soup (no bread or potato). Dinner: Baked chicken / fish or omelette, with selection from cauliflower, green vegetables, carrot/swede puree, roasted Mediterranean vegetables, 2 new potatoes. I have one cholesterol lowering mini drink and 170ml skimmed or semi-skimmed milk for tea and coffee. Other people are a lot more adventurous than me and seem to come up with great ideas.

Thank you Felina so grateful for your information, spoke to the Doctor this morning and she has put me on Gliptisize 2 tablets a day so give them a go, she is making an appointment for me to see a diabetic specialist about my diet, thank god I don’t have to take those awful tablets again, it’s my husbands birthday today so going for a meal so will have steak and salad aren’t I good. Thank’s again. And thanks to everyone else who have helped me.

 

[Felinia]

Thank you Felina so grateful for your information, spoke to the Doctor this morning and she has put me on Gliptisize 2 tablets a day so give them a go, she is making an appointment for me to see a diabetic specialist about my diet, thank god I don’t have to take those awful tablets again, it’s my husbands birthday today so going for a meal so will have steak and salad aren’t I good. Thank’s again. And thanks to everyone else who have helped me.

Hi Please let me know how you get on with them, as I am expecting to be put on Gliclazide (which I think is how you spell it). I have heard they can cause hypos, and to test before driving. My neighbour has been on them for years and has never had a problem, but it has been suggested to keep a bag of jelly babies handy in case you feel funny. Happy birthday to your husband and I hope you have a nice day and meal.

 

[DaveB]

Hi. Yes too many carbs in your meals. Have a look at the back of the packaging and look for Total Carbs. Most people can cope well with Metformin SR but a few like you can't. The Sulfonyl Urea drugs such as Glipizide and Gliclizide stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin. If your BS goes too low, reduce the dose. if you do go low easily it indicates your pancreas is in a good state and able to produce insulin.