Help with Metformin pain after eating anything sweet

[dx052]

I have been prescribed Metformin from the Diabetic Specialist recently as they have found that I am probably a type 2 diabetic and not a type 1 which they initially treated me for, so I am coming of the Insulin now and using the tables as prescribed, so far its seems to be going well and blood sugars levels are okay however even after a couple of biscuits I had a terrible pain in upper chest area and I had to quickly drink some mint tea to try and alleviate the problem as it wasn't pleasant, I am trying to fiqure what my boundaries are as I am probably going to have to live with this situation. Has anyone else had this problem? when I was on insulin and could manage what I eat accordingly but the tablets are a different story.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear about the pain @dx052

Has this happened more than once?

As you suggest, managing blood glucose levels with metformin can mean paying much more attention to what you eat, as you have to balance your foods with what your body can naturally cope with. Which may mean that biscuits will have to be a much rarer treat u fortunately.

I’ve never taken metformin, but I understand that it can help to take it with a reasonably substantial meal, but one which is fairly low in carbs.

What reasons were you given for your change of classification to T2? Were you having problems with insulin?

 

[dx052]

Thanks for your response, was diagnosed type 1 just before covid and only recently had the chance to see a specialist, they only recently identified after recent blood and urine samples that I am a type 2 so tablets were issued, attmitadley this has been my first week on them but way better than daily needles.

 

[Vonny]

Hi @dx052, if you are type 2 you will be better off reducing the carbs you eat and, as @everydayupsanddowns says, taking your metformin with a decent meal. I have no idea how insulin works but T1s seem to be able to eat more carbs than T2s, as they adjust with insulin. Having said that, I find the T1 posts really complicated and it seems like a bit of a black art to me! So I'm happy to be T2 and just eat a very low carb diet.

Metformin takes a few weeks to adjust to. I've never had chest pains with metformin, just the trots in the first couple of weeks, but some people on here have a very adverse reaction to it. It may be worth mentioning it your DN, especially if it continues.

 

[Lucyr]

I’d agree that it sounds like you need to reduce the foods that are causing you this side effect especially whilst you get used to the metformin.

 

[Drummer]

It might be acid reflux - eating lots of carbohydrates caused that for me - my tooth enamel is gone thanks to it, and several teeth.
When I started eating low carb almost 5 years ago now it just stopped dead.

 

[Leadinglights]

I have been prescribed Metformin from the Diabetic Specialist recently as they have found that I am probably a type 2 diabetic and not a type 1 which they initially treated me for, so I am coming of the Insulin now and using the tables as prescribed, so far its seems to be going well and blood sugars levels are okay however even after a couple of biscuits I had a terrible pain in upper chest area and I had to quickly drink some mint tea to try and alleviate the problem as it wasn't pleasant, I am trying to fiqure what my boundaries are as I am probably going to have to live with this situation. Has anyone else had this problem? when I was on insulin and could manage what I eat accordingly but the tablets are a different story.

Heartburn is listed as one of the side effects of metformin, so it may be that. If it happens often, try to relate it to any particular food you have eaten.
I could eat any sort of eggs except scrambled egg which would always give me indigestion.