Hi everyone!

[Lydia123]

Good morning everyone! I am a newbie and diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, two weeks ago. I had Covid-19 earlier this year and have been advised this has triggered diabetes. Has anyone else experienced this? I am on metformin and been off work the last couple of days due to side effects of increasing the dose to 1000mgs. I am not feeling well enough to work today either and am worried about being off sick (fortunately, I work from home at the moment). Has anyone had to take time off work because of metformin side effects? Sorry for all of my questions. My mind is still reeling xxxxx

 

[grovesy]

If it is that bad get back in touch who prescribed them for you.

 

[Docb]

Hi Lydia, I'm assuming that you are suffering stomach upsets, something that is fairly common with metformin.

For most it settles down fairly quickly particularly if you split the dose and take it with food. Others (like me) have found that they can cope with the slow-release version with no problems, but you have to talk to your GP to get your prescription changed for that. There are a small number who cannot tolerate metformin at all -cue @Drummer- and for them alternative approaches need to be found.

So, the message is, stick with it for a couple of days and if you still are having problems, then call your GP and if they are on the ball they should offer the (slightly more expensive) slow-release version.

 

[Toucan]

Hello @Lydia123 and welcome to our forum.
You certainly have been having a difficult time with Covid and the diabetes diagnosis.

I hope that the metformin problems get resolved soon. Many people find that it causes problems initially, but as @Docb says if you can use the SR version and ensure you always take them either with or immediately after eating, thing should gradually improve. If not you may be need to talk to your Doctor again.

Are you making any other changes to help improve your blood glucose levels?
There is a great deal of information on how to do this on the various links in the forum and on the 'Learning Zone' tab at the top of this page, and we can give you more ideas and links if you wish.

 

[Lydia123]

Hi Lydia, I'm assuming that you are suffering stomach upsets, something that is fairly common with metformin.

For most it settles down fairly quickly particularly if you split the dose and take it with food. Others (like me) have found that they can cope with the slow-release version with no problems, but you have to talk to your GP to get your prescription changed for that. There are a small number who cannot tolerate metformin at all -cue @Drummer- and for them alternative approaches need to be found.

So, the message is, stick with it for a couple of days and if you still are having problems, then call your GP and if they are on the ball they should offer the (slightly more expensive) slow-release version.

Hi DocB, thank you so much for your advice. Absolutely, it's the diarrhoea and nausea. I take one with two crackers in the morning - I have no real appetite in the morning and one with dinner in the evening. Food is mainly dark green salads and vegetables, mackerel, salmon and eggs. At least one fruit smoothie per day - usually mango, pineapple, red grapes and oranges in addition to at least six pints of water and two or three herbal teas - mainly rooibos, peppermint, chamomile or decaffeinated green tea. Luckily, I am not sweet-toothed, but do like salt and vinegar rice cakes. I am definitely following your advice and sticking with it for two more days. I hope it will settle down by then and think it may just be my IBS exacerbating it all. I really hope you are well and really am grateful for your advice. I hope you have a wonderful day xxxx

 

[Kaylz]

At least one fruit smoothie per day - usually mango, pineapple, red grapes and oranges

You may want to cut down on these or use lower carb fruits at least, grapes are notorious for pushing BG up and are often referred to as little sugar bombs xx

 

[Lydia123]

Hello @Lydia123 and welcome to our forum.
You certainly have been having a difficult time with Covid and the diabetes diagnosis.

I hope that the metformin problems get resolved soon. Many people find that it causes problems initially, but as @Docb says if you can use the SR version and ensure you always take them either with or immediately after eating, thing should gradually improve. If not you may be need to talk to your Doctor again.

Are you making any other changes to help improve your blood glucose levels?
There is a great deal of information on how to do this on the various links in the forum and on the 'Learning Zone' tab at the top of this page, and we can give you more ideas and links if you wish.

Hi Toucan! Thank you so much for your welcome and advice. I have never felt such support and understanding and am very grateful! I am going to the Learning Zone straight after replying to you. I have cut out marmite crisps and snacks, plus pure orange juice and fizzy drinks. I still have a glass of red wine every other night, but can cut that back, too. I eat seeded bread sometimes. I'm eating more cashew nuts (unprocessed). I still eat dark green salads and vegetables, lots of oily fish and always take the tablets halfway through eating. I will act on any advice you all give me and appreciate it. I hope you have a lovely day xxxx

 

[Lydia123]

You may want to cut down on these or use lower carb fruits at least, grapes are notorious for pushing BG up and are often referred to as little sugar bombs xx

My gosh! I had no idea! I really thought I was being healthy. Thank you so much for telling me, no more red grapes for me. Little sugar bombs! Cute and terrifying little morsels. Thank you so much xxxx

 

[Toucan]

Hi @Lydia123
Your diet sounds very sensible, and should help to bring your blood glucose levels down. Do you know what your Hb1Ac reading is ?
As @Kaylz says that fruits can be surprisingly high in carbs. I find that I need to limit to one portion a day, usually berries as these are the lowest carb fruits.
We are all different though, and it may be that you can tolerate more fruit.

It will help if you can find out which foods cause your blood sugars to rise, and eventually arrive at a lists that lets you maintain good blood sugar levels, that you enjoy eating, and fits your lifestyle in terms of how much preparation and cooking you like and have time to do.

A glucose monitor is a way to find this out, by testing before and 2 hours after eating. (The aim is to have a rise of 2 or less) Also if you can keep a tally of the total number of carbs eaten in a day, your morning reading will guide you on working out how much you need to adjust.

One of the most affordable meters is the SD Gluco Navii

 

[Robin]

Nothing wrong with a glass of red wine! And no carbs in it! Advice for people on Metformin is sometimes to avoid alcohol, but I think it means, don’t drink a lot. A glass is fine.

 

[Lydia123]

Hi @Lydia123
Your diet sounds very sensible, and should help to bring your blood glucose levels down. Do you know what your Hb1Ac reading is ?
As @Kaylz says that fruits can be surprisingly high in carbs. I find that I need to limit to one portion a day, usually berries as these are the lowest carb fruits.
We are all different though, and it may be that you can tolerate more fruit.

It will help if you can find out which foods cause your blood sugars to rise, and eventually arrive at a lists that lets you maintain good blood sugar levels, that you enjoy eating, and fits your lifestyle in terms of how much preparation and cooking you like and have time to do.

A glucose monitor is a way to find this out, by testing before and 2 hours after eating. (The aim is to have a rise of 2 or less) Also if you can keep a tally of the total number of carbs eaten in a day, your morning reading will guide you on working out how much you need to adjust.

One of the most affordable meters is the SD Gluco Navii

Hi @Toucan on 1 August, my reading was 59. In January it was 34. That's why the doctor said Covid-19 has triggered diabetes. I haven't had a Hb1Ac reading since. I was told to have a blood test in three months' along with an eye test. Definitely, I'll keep a food diary! I love cooking, preparing food gives me more time to listen to music and dance/sing around the kitchen I'm looking for that glucose monitor now. Thank you so much for your help and advice. The information you all are giving me is amazing! The diabetes info pack from my GP is great but you all are fantastic! Xxxx

 

[Docb]

Kaylz beat me to it! Be wary of things labelled "healthy". A fruit smoothie might be healthy for some but not for somebody controlling carbohydrate. One would send my blood glucose into unwanted territory. I like fruit but have cut the quantity I eat quite drastically because testing showed it gave me big rises.

These days I limit my fruit intake to savouring things I can pick and eat whilst in the garden. Currently its two or three raspberries at a time straight off the cane. Soon it will be an apple off the apple tree. I have a Cox Orange Pippin on a dwarf root stock that produces small fruit and I pick them a little before fully ripe when still a little sharp. Or maybe a pear, again eaten when firm.

 

[Lydia123]

Nothing wrong with a glass of red wine! And no carbs in it! Advice for people on Metformin is sometimes to avoid alcohol, but I think it means, don’t drink a lot. A glass is fine.

Indeed, it's delicious, I always smile when raise my glass to Dionysus! Resveratrol and riboflavinoids included - it's a healthy tipple!

 

[Lydia123]

Kaylz beat me to it! Be wary of things labelled "healthy". A fruit smoothie might be healthy for some but not for somebody controlling carbohydrate. One would send my blood glucose into unwanted territory. I like fruit but have cut the quantity I eat quite drastically because testing showed it gave me big rises.

These days I limit my fruit intake to savouring things I can pick and eat whilst in the garden. Currently its two or three raspberries at a time straight off the cane. Soon it will be an apple off the apple tree. I have a Cox Orange Pippin on a dwarf root stock that produces small fruit and I pick them a little before fully ripe when still a little sharp. Or maybe a pear, again eaten when firm.

Wow! I thought that by blending all the fruit, it would make me super healthy. I had no idea they were that high in sugar. My GP told me not to drink shop-bought fresh orange juice anymore (not concentrate) because it's high in sugar, but to crush/blend as many oranges and other fruit as I like! Oh dear! I was drinking two or three pints of orange juice daily since contracting Covid-19 in March. She said this may have helped cause changes to my pancreas at the time. I love apples and pears, but my IBS does not, sadly. Honestly, the way you all are advising me is helping me get my head round this today. I don't feel so alone or scared. I feel more accepting to this life change and feel much warmth, help and support from you all. Tears of relief right now. I'm overwhelmed by the positivity and help xxxxxxxxx

 

[Midnightcatpatrol]

Good morning everyone! I am a newbie and diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, two weeks ago. I had Covid-19 earlier this year and have been advised this has triggered diabetes. Has anyone else experienced this? I am on metformin and been off work the last couple of days due to side effects of increasing the dose to 1000mgs. I am not feeling well enough to work today either and am worried about being off sick (fortunately, I work from home at the moment). Has anyone had to take time off work because of metformin side effects? Sorry for all of my questions. My mind is still reeling xxxxx

I'd be surprised if covid caused insulin resistance. There may be some evidence that covid triggers diabetes due to an exaggerated immune response i.e., type 1. But of course it's difficult to know if covid was so bad that it triggered diabetes, or, if you already had diabetes which made the covid worse.

I had covid at the end of march. 3 weeks ago I went into dka and was started on insulin immediately. Personally I think it's more than coincidence and the team at Kings seem to be watching the phenomenon closely.

 

[Lydia123]

I'd be surprised if covid caused insulin resistance. There may be some evidence that covid triggers diabetes due to an exaggerated immune response i.e., type 1. But of course it's difficult to know if covid was so bad that it triggered diabetes, or, if you already had diabetes which made the covid worse.

I had covid at the end of march. 3 weeks ago I went into dka and was started on insulin immediately. Personally I think it's more than coincidence and the team at Kings seem to be watching the phenomenon closely.

I am so sorry you have been so unwell and wish you better. I had blood tests in January and my level was 34. Two weeks ago it was 59. I had Covid-19 in March. Yes, my GP said King's Hospital are actively studying this. Also that it affects Afro-Caribbean people more. My mum has/had Type 2 and said it reversed after she lost weight and changed her diet.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome from me too.

Having your fruit as smoothies is actually worse than eating the fruit normally because it is pulverised and can therefore be broken down more quickly in the digestive system and therefore release it's sugars more quickly into the blood stream.

As diabetics we need to restrict carb rich foods and that can also include otherwise healthy foods for a non diabetic, like fruit and porridge and even lentils and peas and beans can cause us problems. As others have said, a small portion of lower carb fruits like berries, black/red currants, rhubarb etc .... usually the more tart ones that pack big flavour and are nutrient dense are best because you get big impact (flavour and health benefits) from a small portion. Mostly we recommend avoiding tropical fruits like mango and pineapple and bananas and oranges or limit the portion size and restrict those fruits to a once a fortnight treat rather than a daily food item.... A BG meter will tell you what you can get away with by testing before eating and then 2 hours afterwards, to show what that particular food did to your levels.

Red wine is a good choice of tipple if you want to continue drinking alcohol as it is low carb and goes particularly well with cheese which is a low carb food that can be enjoyed by us diabetics

I agree with @Midnightcatpatrol in that you may not be a straightforward Type 2 if this is as a result of Covid infection. It may be a slow onset autoimmune diabetes like LADA (Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults) which can initially present as Type 2 but may eventually show it's true colours. That could be months or even many years down the line. Eating low carb will certainly relieve the stress on your pancreas in the meantime and hopefully enable it to keep ticking over for longer if that is the case and if you are a straightforward Type 2, then it should help you to push it into remission.

 

[Ditto]

Hello @Lydia123 and welcome to the forum. 🙂

 

[trophywench]

Ah well it's all very well saying it's healthier to eat berries, but is it actually, when a person says up front that they have IBS? Does the roughage in berries (ie pips and skin) which is precisely why it is 'healthier' for those of us not having bowel ailments, not irritate the bowel same as the cellulose and skin of apples and pears do? In which case, it wouldn't be healthier, would it?

 

[Drummer]

A couple of crackers might be 10 gm of carbs - that is a whole morning meal for me. Maybe wait until you feel hungry and have a nourishing but small meal? The smoothies I'd not advise as they are so high carb, also the rice cakes have no nutrition in them, better to have a stir fry maybe? I got some low carb frozen stir fry in Lidl recently, very handy and no waste.