Hi

[Stokey031]

I have been diagnosed with Type2 about 6 weeks ago. I had a score of 83 on my bloods. Anyway Ive started on a diet to shed some weight which I admit is probably much needed and am trying to do some exercise through walking. I'm on Metformin 500g twice a day. I asked for the slow release ones. I have been lucky as haven't had any real issues taking it apart from being quite flatuelent at times. However I have one issue which I'd appreciate some comments about. Since taking the drug my stools have turned quite dark. Is this a side effect or should I be querying with GP?
Many Thanks

 

[Lucyr]

It’s probably more likely the change of diet affecting your poo than the metformin. What sort of changes have you made?

 

[Stokey031]

Hi Lucyr
Thanks for the reply.
I'm basically following a slimming world diet, which is working well for me as I've lost a stone in a month. So I no longer eat any bread, cakes, biscuits or processed foods and have switched to brown rice, pasta and sweet potatoes. I've always enjoyed most vegetables but eat more of these as plate fillers. I have milk, cheese and yoghurt but the low fat options. I have significantly reduced my use of olive oil for cooking by using a spray version. My diet has always been largely Mediterranean based and I don't eat any meat only fish.
kind regards
Stokey031

 

[harbottle]

No need to reduce olive oil, it's very healthy.
Do you test your blood to see how you respond to high carb foods like brown rice, pasta and sweet potato?

Metformin is known as Metfartin for a reason. 🙂

 

[Leadinglights]

Getting a blood glucose monitor would help you see if your 'swaps' are ok for you as they are still high carb foods which for many are just a bad in increasing blood glucose. No need to go low fat as fats do not convert to glucose but also making sure you have enough protein which can be tricky if you are vegetarian. Eggs if you eat them are good.
You may need to make some careful choices with the SW regime but do tell them you are Type 2 diabetic as they do say they have tailored programs.
Many do find a low carbohydrate approach successful, the suggested amount of carbs is no more than 130g per day so you could see how that compares with your SW regime.
Well done on the weight loss so far.
This link may also give you some ideas for a low carb approach. https://lowcarbfreshwell.co.uk/

 

[Stokey031]

Hi
No, the GP said it wasnt necessary on doing tests during the day or daily , she said there could be a lot of variability for many factors. Better to do a full bloods every month or so.
My main focus at present is to lose weight as also had a diagnoses of a fatty liver. Fibrescan score of 337 out of 400 so a lot of fat to get rid of! But hardness score of 7.9 so thankful for that.
Kind Regards

 

[Stokey031]

Hi
Thanks for the advice.
I'm hoping if I get my liver back to a more normal condition this will help greatly with my metabolism and how my body processes glucose.
Kind Regards

 

[Leadinglights]

Hi
No, the GP said it wasnt necessary on doing tests during the day or daily , she said there could be a lot of variability for many factors. Better to do a full bloods every month or so.
My main focus at present is to lose weight as also had a diagnoses of a fatty liver. Fibrescan score of 337 out of 400 so a lot of fat to get rid of! But hardness score of 7.9 so thankful for that.
Kind Regards

That is what GPs tell you because they don't want to prescribe a monitor and test strips so many self fund and find it gives them the tools to manage their diabetes. Would you drive your car without a working speedometer, where you would be guessing whether you were exceeding the speed limit which equates to eating more carbs in a meal than your body can tolerate. OK you may find you would be paying lots of speeding fines whereas you will be unlikely to reduce your blood glucose sufficiently.
Tests are normally done every 3 months to see if the changes you have made are being effective or not, if not then that is a long time not to know.
I can see why you are opting for lower fat but getting blood glucose down will help with the fatty liver as will losing weight.
Inexpensive monitors can be bought on line, the GlucoNavii or TEE 2 are ones with the cheaper test strips.
Testing before you eat and after 2 hours will tell you if you have tolerated to carbs in the meal if the increase in no more than 2-3mmol/l. Many adopt a 'eating to your monitor' strategy to enable them to make good food and portion choices.

 

[ianf0ster]

Hi @Stokey031 It's been drummed into us that fat makes us fat for so long it takes a lot of convincing to make us realise that it's just not true and never has been.

I was a slim Type 2 diabetic (now in remission). Slim Type 2 diabetics have ordinary slim arms, legs etc but pack some excess 'love handles' and so almost always have Non Alcoholic Fatty Liver.

A Low Carb way of eating (no conscious calorie restriction) usually normalises Blood Glucose and weight at the same time (which fixes NAFLD). It also usually normalises Blood Pressure at the same time. To reduce carbohydrates without reducing calories I had to eat both more protein and more fat (lovely full fat cheese and full fat Greek style yogurt).

It was all that low fat, lots of whole grains, lots of fruit advice that gave me T2 Diabetes in the first place!
All it took was 2 before and after meal (breakfast in my case) tests to show me the error of our government and NHS's ways!
I tested just before and then 2 hrs later:
What was my usual breakfast of porridge made with semi-skimmed milk caused my BG spiking up to well over 10 mmol
My new low carb breakfast of 2 boiled eggs caused either no BG rise, or even a small BG drop. That drop was due to the food telling my liver it needn't keep dumping glucose into my blood stream - an extremely common condition called Dawn Phenomenon (or Foot on the Floor) where the liver thinks we need extra fuel in order to go hunt/gather our breakfast!