Hello and advice please

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pottern

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Type 2
Hi
I am newly diagnosed Type 2 because my blood sugar levels were 83 so this has all been a bit of a shock to me!
I am on Metformim 1000mg and Gliclazide 160mg …… I’ve been so unwell with a dreadful upset stomach ( been taken for 3 weeks now) my daily sugars have come down a little bit I’m so fed up as I can’t go anywhere because of my upset stomach and at clinic today I have put on 1.5kg despite barely eating. I cried all the way home.
Please tell me this gets better?
 
Hi and welxcome.

So sorry to hear that you are feeling overwhelmed and disillusioned. I think we can all relate to that in the early stages of diagnosis and yes it does pass, but there is a lot to get your head around and some of the advice the NHS gives is not as helpful as it might be.

Firstly, the Metformin is renowned for causing an upset digestive system. To reduce the impact, it should be started as a low dose, usually just one a day for a week and then 2 a day for the next week etc AND it should be taken with food. Many of us found mid meal with a substantial amount of food was important to protect the digestive tract from being aggravated by it. If you are doing this slow introduction and taking it with food and it is still causing problems, then there is a slow or modified release version that you can try which should not upset your system as much if at all, so ask your nurse about that and explain the debilitating side effects you are suffering.

I believe Metformin can also be more likely to cause digestive upset if you do not reduce your carb intake, and reducing carb intake is also important for your diabetes management. The tablets alone will not usually manage your diabetes long term without dietary changes and it isn't just about sugar but all carbohydrates, so yes, the obvious sugar and sweets and cakes and biscuits and fizzy drinks and fruit juice, but also bread and pasta and rice and potatoes and breakfast cereals and even some fruits. Not saying that you can (edited to add.... This should read can't) eat these things anymore, but just that you need to reduce portion size of these things. So have less spuds with your dinner and more green veg like cabbage and broccoli and green beans, and cauliflower etc. Have half a small Yorkshire pudding instead of a whole one. Swap to a lower carb bread or have just one slice instead of 2. Have grated cauliflower with your curry or chilli instead of rice. Boiled and mashed cauliflower makes a great substitute for mashed potato, especially if you add a dollop of cream cheese and a teaspoon of mustard.... if you like mustard. Celeriac can be used in place of potato for chips. Lots of tips and tricks to make food enjoyable but more diabetes friendly.

Hope you manage to find a way to get on with the Metformin, but do ask your nurse about the slow release version if you are following the above advice and it is still upsetting your system. Sending (((HUGS))). The first few weeks are tough. Hang in there. It does get easier. I am 4.5 years down the line and it is just the new normal for me now.
 
Last edited:
pottern said:
Hi
I am newly diagnosed Type 2 because my blood sugar levels were 83 so this has all been a bit of a shock to me!
I am on Metformim 1000mg and Gliclazide 160mg …… I’ve been so unwell with a dreadful upset stomach ( been taken for 3 weeks now) my daily sugars have come down a little bit I’m so fed up as I can’t go anywhere because of my upset stomach and at clinic today I have put on 1.5kg despite barely eating. I cried all the way home.
Please tell me this gets better?
Click to expand...
Sorry to hear you're unwell. Upset stomach sounds like side effects to me. At 3 weeks I'd get it checked out. And yes I'm sure it will get better.
 
rebrascora said:
Hi and welxcome.

So sorry to hear that you are feeling overwhelmed and disillusioned. I think we can all relate to that in the early stages of diagnosis and yes it does pass, but there is a lot to get your head around and some of the advice the NHS gives is not as helpful as it might be.

Firstly, the Metformin is renowned for causing an upset digestive system. To reduce the impact, it should be started as a low dose, usually just one a day for a week and then 2 a day for the next week etc AND it should be taken with food. Many of us found mid meal with a substantial amount of food was important to protect the digestive tract from being aggravated by it. If you are doing this slow introduction and taking it with food and it is still causing problems, then there is a slow or modified release version that you can try which should not upset your system as much if at all, so ask your nurse about that and explain the debilitating side effects you are suffering.

I believe Metformin can also be more likely to cause digestive upset if you do not reduce your carb intake, and reducing carb intake is also important for your diabetes management. The tablets alone will not usually manage your diabetes long term without dietary changes and it isn't just about sugar but all carbohydrates, so yes, the obvious sugar and sweets and cakes and biscuits and fizzy drinks and fruit juice, but also bread and pasta and rice and potatoes and breakfast cereals and even some fruits. Not saying that you can eat these things anymore, but just that you need to reduce portion size of these things. So have less spuds with your dinner and more green veg like cabbage and broccoli and green beans, and cauliflower etc. Have half a small Yorkshire pudding instead of a whole one. Swap to a lower carb bread or have just one slice instead of 2. Have grated cauliflower with your curry or chilli instead of rice. Boiled and mashed cauliflower makes a great substitute for mashed potato, especially if you add a dollop of cream cheese and a teaspoon of mustard.... if you like mustard. Celeriac can be used in place of potato for chips. Lots of tips and tricks to make food enjoyable but more diabetes friendly.

Hope you manage to find a way to get on with the Metformin, but do ask your nurse about the slow release version if you are following the above advice and it is still upsetting your system. Sending (((HUGS))). The first few weeks are tough. Hang in there. It does get easier. I am 4.5 years down the line and it is just the new normal for me now.
Click to expand...
Thank you. I went today to get it checked out as it’s been 3 weeks and I’ve increased gradually and am on slow release but basically was told to just go away and get on with it until they see me again mid September.
I got so upset telling her how awful the upset stomach is and tummy pains and living with it daily is just miserable as I can’t go out. I’m worried about my mental well-being too being stuck in dreading the day.
I just wanted to hear that it does get better if I stick with it.
 
pottern said:
Hi
I am newly diagnosed Type 2 because my blood sugar levels were 83 so this has all been a bit of a shock to me!
I am on Metformim 1000mg and Gliclazide 160mg …… I’ve been so unwell with a dreadful upset stomach ( been taken for 3 weeks now) my daily sugars have come down a little bit I’m so fed up as I can’t go anywhere because of my upset stomach and at clinic today I have put on 1.5kg despite barely eating. I cried all the way home.
Please tell me this gets better?
Click to expand...
Please be aware that some people have the same symptoms with Metformin and become depressed or even suicidal.
After a month of Metformin I was in a dreadful state and - thankfully, it was just before Christmas and I decided to stop taking the tablets and go back to the GP in the new year. The change was so abrupt and dramatic I never did go back - and I found that I was no longer diabetic anyway.
 
pottern said:
Hi
I am newly diagnosed Type 2 because my blood sugar levels were 83 so this has all been a bit of a shock to me!
I am on Metformim 1000mg and Gliclazide 160mg …… I’ve been so unwell with a dreadful upset stomach ( been taken for 3 weeks now) my daily sugars have come down a little bit I’m so fed up as I can’t go anywhere because of my upset stomach and at clinic today I have put on 1.5kg despite barely eating. I cried all the way home.
Please tell me this gets better?
Click to expand...
By prescribing both those medications at the same time is a bit unusual as people are often given the opportunity to make some dietary changes with the addition of metformin as the first go to medication and if that is not effective after a 3 month period then something else may be added.
I hope you have been prescribed a home testing blood glucose monitor and strips as you should be with having gliclazide at quite a high dose as a starting point as that has the potential to cause low blood glucose. If they have not then ask for one.
As far as diet is concerned you may find this link helpful. https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/, just be cautious with going too low on carbs too quickly because of your medication.
 
pottern said:
Thanks
I went today and was basically told to just get on with it which upset me.
Click to expand...
I'm not surprised. That's no way to treat anyone, let alone someone who is unwell. But unfortunately there are a lot of rude people about.
 
Drummer said:
Please be aware that some people have the same symptoms with Metformin and become depressed or even suicidal.
After a month of Metformin I was in a dreadful state and - thankfully, it was just before Christmas and I decided to stop taking the tablets and go back to the GP in the new year. The change was so abrupt and dramatic I never did go back - and I found that I was no longer diabetic anyway.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your message. I am sorry it made you feel so bad too. I did wonder if I should maybe just take 500mg a day instead of the 1000mg? But as I said got very little support from the nurse, hence why I joined on here as I feel really upset and just want to feel well again.
 
Leadinglights said:
That is awful, what a cheek. You could reduce your dose to 500mg and see if that helps.
Click to expand...
I might try that but unsure if I do that which dose I should drop? The morning or evening one?
I am surprised this wasn’t suggested to me instead I left feeling like I wasn’t listened to.
 
pottern said:
I might try that but unsure if I do that which dose I should drop? The morning or evening one?
I am surprised this wasn’t suggested to me instead I left feeling like I wasn’t listened to.
Click to expand...
People don't listen. You have to spell it out for them sometimes. Unfortunately.
 
pottern said:
I might try that but unsure if I do that which dose I should drop? The morning or evening one?
I am surprised this wasn’t suggested to me instead I left feeling like I wasn’t listened to.
Click to expand...
If your evening meal is the larger one then I would take the 500mg with that, try mid meal. The medication information usually says to take with a substantial meal rather than a snack.
 
Leadinglights said:
If your evening meal is the larger one then I would take the 500mg with that, try mid meal. The medication information usually says to take with a substantial meal rather than a snack.
Click to expand...
Ok thank you
If I’m no better by the end of the weekend I think I will try reducing to 500mg.
I just thought I would have been given more support from nurse.
 
pottern said:
Ok thank you
If I’m no better by the end of the weekend I think I will try reducing to 500mg.
I just thought I would have been given more support from nurse.
Click to expand...
You really should have been listened to and looked after.
The sad fact is that many people who react badly to Metformin are just left to suffer - and it isn't even all that effective in controlling blod glucose levels anyway - eating low carb foods was the key for me - and in a matter of weeks I was no longer in the diabetes range, despite stopping the tablets.
I checked that my blood glucose was in the normal range after eating and that did the trick.
The timing of the dose isn't important as it isn't acting on the glucose in your bloodstream, though it might be important in when your insides react. I used to do all my errands in the morning without eating or drinking and then take the tablet with water and food at lunchtime.
 
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