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Hello all

T

Tony D

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Pronouns
He/Him
Hello I've just reached my first anniversary of been diagnosed with type 2. I originally went to the doctors as i kept getting pins & needles in my feet when in bed at night. I was given a blood test and got the dreaded phone call asking me to make a appointment asap. Saw DN and she said my reading was 101which meant nothing to me at the time but it soon did!! I was completely devastated and thought my life was changed forever. Anyway i tried to do everything i was advised to do, changed my diet and started exercising. I was put on metformin and was warned i might find i was having stomach cramps and rushing to the toilet. However i found it was completely the opposite and when i mentioned this the DN said try drinking plenty of water and eat vegetables which i was doing anyway. My stomach also sounded at times as if it was fermenting. I started to lose weight and my next blood test my level had dropped to 47 obviously i was delighted and couldn't believe it. Still was having constipation issues and told doctor but just gave same advice as DN. I tried pysillium tablets which didn't really do anything and also Fybogel but no luck either. My last blood test it was down to 41 so very pleased and lost 2.5 stone so even better. But just wondered if anyone else had same issues with metformin? which last week another doctor switched me to slow release version and amazingly so far things seem better. Can only hope it continues. I googled metformin and it said in small cases it can cause constipation but nobody at the surgery has confirmed this. Be interested to know I'm not alone!
 
Tony D said:
Hello I've just reached my first anniversary of been diagnosed with type 2. I originally went to the doctors as i kept getting pins & needles in my feet when in bed at night. I was given a blood test and got the dreaded phone call asking me to make a appointment asap. Saw DN and she said my reading was 101which meant nothing to me at the time but it soon did!! I was completely devastated and thought my life was changed forever. Anyway i tried to do everything i was advised to do, changed my diet and started exercising. I was put on metformin and was warned i might find i was having stomach cramps and rushing to the toilet. However i found it was completely the opposite and when i mentioned this the DN said try drinking plenty of water and eat vegetables which i was doing anyway. My stomach also sounded at times as if it was fermenting. I started to lose weight and my next blood test my level had dropped to 47 obviously i was delighted and couldn't believe it. Still was having constipation issues and told doctor but just gave same advice as DN. I tried pysillium tablets which didn't really do anything and also Fybogel but no luck either. My last blood test it was down to 41 so very pleased and lost 2.5 stone so even better. But just wondered if anyone else had same issues with metformin? which last week another doctor switched me to slow release version and amazingly so far things seem better. Can only hope it continues. I googled metformin and it said in small cases it can cause constipation but nobody at the surgery has confirmed this. Be interested to know I'm not alone!
Click to expand...
Well done on the changes you made and the fantastic result.
A couple of suggestions for the constipation would be senna or lactulose which is quite effective. But trying to keep your fluids up and try to incorporate more fibre in your diet.
It could be worth discussing reducing the metformin as you have got down to normal HbA1C and it is causing a problem.
I do recall somebody mentioning they had the same but it was only for a short time.
 
I was on SR from the beginning. On one tablet, I didn't go for 5 days on 2 tablets didn't go for 8 days. I got to 4 tablets with the opposite effect but was put on an SGLT2 a few days later and metformin reduced to two tablets. I don't always go every day but dont consider I'm constipated. I do go more frequently than every 5 days. I'm so impressed how low you've gone. Were you at any stage on other medication? I was 69 on first test at end of June and 51 by end of September . I was 44 by December.
 
Leadinglights said:
Well done on the changes you made and the fantastic result.
A couple of suggestions for the constipation would be senna or lactulose which is quite effective. But trying to keep your fluids up and try to incorporate more fibre in your diet.
It could be worth discussing reducing the metformin as you have got down to normal HbA1C and it is causing a problem.
I do recall somebody mentioning they had the same but it was only for a short time.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the encouragement the doctor prescribed some sachets to take which I had once before and they worked but he said to wait until I see if the early release metformin helps before taking any. I have to believe it was the Metformin that was causing it as within a few days of taking them it started happening (or not as the case may be) I have my next blood test next month so fingers crossed it’s stable. I drink more water than any other drink and eat high fibre bread and plenty of mixed nuts among other things. All I can say to anyone just getting diagnosed it feels like the end of the world at first and is so overwhelming but if you follow the advice you will be fine. If I can do it anyone can. If I found out now that it had all been a mistake and I never had diabetes I would never go back to my previous lifestyle I am so much better off.
 
saffron15 said:
I was on SR from the beginning. On one tablet, I didn't go for 5 days on 2 tablets didn't go for 8 days. I got to 4 tablets with the opposite effect but was put on an SGLT2 a few days later and metformin reduced to two tablets. I don't always go every day but dont consider I'm constipated. I do go more frequently than every 5 days. I'm so impressed how low you've gone. Were you at any stage on other medication? I was 69 on first test at end of June and 51 by end of September . I was 44 by
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Maybe I’m not constipated I do go most days it’s just hard work the last couple of days have been ok so hoping I’ll be fine now as really was getting me down especially as whenever I mentioned it nobody seemed interested. A short time after i started on the Metformin (not up to speed yet with abbreviations like you!) 4 tablets a day now on 2. I am also on statins now. You’ve done very well yourself too.
 
Hi @Tony D and welcome to the forum.

Can't help with the Metformin question as I'm not on any medication, I just sort of pop in and out of the diabetic range, but I'm sure others will have some helpful comments

Alan 😉
 
Tony D said:
Maybe I’m not constipated I do go most days it’s just hard work the last couple of days have been ok so hoping I’ll be fine now as really was getting me down especially as whenever I mentioned it nobody seemed interested. A short time after i started on the Metformin (not up to speed yet with abbreviations like you!) 4 tablets a day now on 2. I am also on statins now. You’ve done very well yourself too.
Click to expand...
I think it is not just frequency but consistency, and what may seem constipated for one person may be normal for others.
It can also be if it causes pain as there can then be a problem with bowel obstruction.
I remember my Gran used to have something she called 'Monastery Herbs' to keep he regular which she had every day in a sandwich. Goodness knows what they were. She lived to a ripe old age.
 
I was amazed when I hadn't gone for 8 days. It was a Friday so I sought advice from a pharmacist. I was given some tablets to take if necessary but poohed that evening. I assumed it would be difficult with some of the stools being small and hard. However my stools were smooth well shaped and a perfect size. Passed easily.

I did read lots on this site as I was less than a fortnight into new medication

gutscharity.org.uk

Guts UK - committed to fighting all digestive diseases

Guts UK's vision is a world where digestive disorders are better understood, better treated and everyone who lives with one gets the support they need.
gutscharity.org.uk gutscharity.org.uk
 
Leadinglights said:
I think it is not just frequency but consistency, and what may seem constipated for one person may be normal for others.
It can also be if it causes pain as there can then be a problem with bowel obstruction.
I remember my Gran used to have something she called 'Monastery Herbs' to keep he regular which she had every day in a sandwich. Goodness knows what they were. She lived to a ripe old age.
Click to expand...
They were a different breed then
 
Glad the SR formulation seems to be suiting you better @Tony D

Congratulations on your brilliant reduction in HbA1c - you’ve done amazingly well.

Hope your regularity returns!
 
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