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hi -
- Thread starter sparkly1
- Start date
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margie
Moderator
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi out there, am really nervous, never done anything like this before. I am newly diaganosed type 2 and am struggling with everything at the moment, so thought this was a good place to help me on my new journey.
Hi Sparkly - and welcome to the forum. I think virtually everyone of us have struggled at some point in the diabetes journey. At the moment you may be experiencing a mix of shock and going through a process similar to grief - you have lost the life you thought you were going to live.
Here is a link to the thread that gives some advice to the newly diagnosed.
http://www.diabetessupport.co.uk/boards/showthread.php?t=10406
Have a look and ask as many questions as you like.
Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi sparkly1, welcome to the forum 🙂 No need to be nervous - everyone is really friendly and you can't break anything, so have a good look around!
As margie suggests, have a look at the 'Useful Links' thread for some good reading matter - the Gretchen Becker book is especially recommended for the newly-diagnosed. Don't worry about trying to take it all in at once, there is a lot to learn and you will find you are learning new things all the time to help you get your blood sugars under control and live a happy and healthy life. 🙂
Please feel free to ask any questions - nothing is considered 'silly', and there is usually someone around who can offer you some support or the benefit of their own experiences 🙂
As margie suggests, have a look at the 'Useful Links' thread for some good reading matter - the Gretchen Becker book is especially recommended for the newly-diagnosed. Don't worry about trying to take it all in at once, there is a lot to learn and you will find you are learning new things all the time to help you get your blood sugars under control and live a happy and healthy life. 🙂
Please feel free to ask any questions - nothing is considered 'silly', and there is usually someone around who can offer you some support or the benefit of their own experiences 🙂
teapot8910
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Welcome to the forum Sparky 🙂
Hi, was given metformin, 500 3 x per day, but then doc increased to 1000 2 x per day but the side effects are horrendous and not good at all so at the mo have stopped all together not good I know, i should start up again but am really nervous to.
Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
There is a different type of metformin that can be taken called Glucophage SR. Ask your doctor about this if you are finding ordinary metformin intolerable - a lot of people do! They prescribe the ordinary form first because it is cheaper and most people can get used to it. I'd suggest you make an appointment and get it changed so that you are not without medication.
medication help
thanks for replying, lovely to hear from you.
Can anyone help with the side effects of metformin meds. the effects are really quite bad. Is perseverence (is that the correct spelling?) the answer or do I need to change meds do you think. Am on 1000 x 2 per day and side effects is severe wind - very issolating. Not keen to go back to docs as I don't feel I have his full support !! I am Coeliac too which does not help with the diet either.
thanks for replying, lovely to hear from you.
Can anyone help with the side effects of metformin meds. the effects are really quite bad. Is perseverence (is that the correct spelling?) the answer or do I need to change meds do you think. Am on 1000 x 2 per day and side effects is severe wind - very issolating. Not keen to go back to docs as I don't feel I have his full support !! I am Coeliac too which does not help with the diet either.
Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
I think that would put you on the maximum dose of metformin. Wind is a common side-effect, but if it is really affecting your quality of life, then do go back to the doctor - or perhaps make an appointment with a different doctor if you are not happy with the current one - and ask to try the slow-release metformin (Glucophage SR). Don't worry about having to go back - I spent months going back to my doctor trying to find solutions to overcome problems I was suffering with side effects of various medications. You'll find that you will develop quite a tough skin when dealing with the medical community. YOU are who is important, they are paid to provide you with the best available treatments!
Some people find the metformin is better when eaten at certain times in relation to eating - when do you take yours?
We have a few people who also suffer from Coeliac's Disease, as it is relatively common amongst diabetics (particularly Type 1, as both are autoimmune diseases).
am64
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
hi sparky welcome to the forum , i was initailly put on 3x500mg and perservance and not really understanding what was going on (a hadnt found this forum then !) i took them reliously for 3 months then when my DSN saw me by chance she got me to see the gp immediately as i looked sooo rough 😱 he reduced me to 1x500mg which i was happily on for 1/ 1/2 years .
recently i had to up them again...the Gp with a 'special' interest in Diabetes insisted i raise to 2x850mg(1700mg) and so reluctantly i did, but it was too much after 3 days i was in bed i was soo unwell it was too bigger rise for my system😡i contacted my own gp again,who immediately reduced my dose to 2x 500mg im fine now, all the side effects have stopped and my BS are better 🙂
So sparky go back to your GP or a more sympathic one and explain how you are feeling and how you are finding the meds intollerable ...you will probably be better off on a lower dose and bringing it up slowly ...
best of luck and we will try and remember no question is regarded 'silly' here ..its a terrible shock to be DX x🙂
recently i had to up them again...the Gp with a 'special' interest in Diabetes insisted i raise to 2x850mg(1700mg) and so reluctantly i did, but it was too much after 3 days i was in bed i was soo unwell it was too bigger rise for my system😡i contacted my own gp again,who immediately reduced my dose to 2x 500mg im fine now, all the side effects have stopped and my BS are better 🙂
So sparky go back to your GP or a more sympathic one and explain how you are feeling and how you are finding the meds intollerable ...you will probably be better off on a lower dose and bringing it up slowly ...
best of luck and we will try and remember no question is regarded 'silly' here ..its a terrible shock to be DX x🙂
Afternoon, thanks for the reply am64 I think I shall give the lower dose a try again. hoping that on the lower dose the symptoms will be lower too. lets see.
I get confused with what carbs I should have for breakfasg and lunch for so release etc. I would like to have fruit for lunch, but have been told this is not right. as coeliac I get stuck on what to have?
I get confused with what carbs I should have for breakfasg and lunch for so release etc. I would like to have fruit for lunch, but have been told this is not right. as coeliac I get stuck on what to have?
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Hi Sparkly - love your moniker - and welcome to the forum - has your GP or nurse suggested that you test your own blood sugar with a meter to see what foods affect you? You should also be able to tell if the meds are helping too if you test.
Blythespirit
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Hi Sparkly and welcome to the forum. I'm pretty new on here too and I can promise you'll get lots of advice and support here.
I'm on Metformin too. Have never been offered the slow release kind. I was on 2 x 500mg to start with but was increased gradually to 3 x 750 over time. I experienced the wind and bloating to start with, this eased over time but I couldn't tollerate the higher dose. The symptoms became unbearable so i was cut back to the 2 x 500 and added Gliclazide. Maybe you could ask your GP about that.
Please don't let your GP's attitude put you off getting what you need. You need the meds to keep you as healthy as possible. If you don't take them it's only you that suffers. Don't think for a minute that your GP is sitting there thinking, 'That Sparkly hasn't been taking the meds, that'll show me.' I say this because I've been where you are now as far as not wanting to go to the Docs because of their uncaring and disinterested attitude. I would come home in tears of frustration almost every visit. The truth is a Diabetics we come across that attitude all the time. Unaceptable but we have to learn to deal with it. So ask for the help you need and keep asking. Good luck and let us know how you get on. XXXXX
I'm on Metformin too. Have never been offered the slow release kind. I was on 2 x 500mg to start with but was increased gradually to 3 x 750 over time. I experienced the wind and bloating to start with, this eased over time but I couldn't tollerate the higher dose. The symptoms became unbearable so i was cut back to the 2 x 500 and added Gliclazide. Maybe you could ask your GP about that.
Please don't let your GP's attitude put you off getting what you need. You need the meds to keep you as healthy as possible. If you don't take them it's only you that suffers. Don't think for a minute that your GP is sitting there thinking, 'That Sparkly hasn't been taking the meds, that'll show me.' I say this because I've been where you are now as far as not wanting to go to the Docs because of their uncaring and disinterested attitude. I would come home in tears of frustration almost every visit. The truth is a Diabetics we come across that attitude all the time. Unaceptable but we have to learn to deal with it. So ask for the help you need and keep asking. Good luck and let us know how you get on. XXXXX
Alan S
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Afternoon, thanks for the reply am64 I think I shall give the lower dose a try again. hoping that on the lower dose the symptoms will be lower too. lets see.
I get confused with what carbs I should have for breakfasg and lunch for so release etc. I would like to have fruit for lunch, but have been told this is not right. as coeliac I get stuck on what to have?
G'day Sparkly.
Concerning the metformin, check with the doc if necessary but most doctors start people on a low dose of 500mg or 850mg and give it a week or so to see if there are any problems before ramping the dose up over a few weeks to the full dose.
Most people have no problem but some react as you have. For most of those the problems are overcome with time (and low doses) but a small minority are actually allergic to the medication. If your symptoms get worse rather than better contact the doctor as a matter of urgency to discuss that.
Concerning your menu, please read this (click on it): Test, Review, Adjust.
Unicornz
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi out there, am really nervous, never done anything like this before. I am newly diaganosed type 2 and am struggling with everything at the moment, so thought this was a good place to help me on my new journey.
Welcome to the forum Sparkly! You are definitely at the right address here, if there is anyone out there to support and help you out it's people on here 🙂 I've felt so much better since I joined the forum. It's just so nice to know that there are people out there who know what you are going through!
Hopefully the forum will be as invaluable to you as it is to me 🙂
G'day to you Alan S and thank you for your reply I think I may well be allergic to the metformin, I did start them again on Monday, taking one 500gm in the morning and by mid morning I thought the world was coming to an end so I will have to go back to docs to sort out. Have clicked onto Test, Review and Adjust and what a fantastic site you have created. I shall certaintly be following and using the very useful advise and thank you very much, twofold, one for telling your story and two for showing me the link to it. It will take some time to read and absorb but I know I will learn from it and because I am coeliac too I think the advice will be of great benefit. So thank you once again.
Hi Blythspirit thanks for your reply it gave me a little chuckle of course you are right the doc is not sitting there thinking that -you are quite right I must go back and will. I would like him to be treating me personally and not just doing his job, that sounds a bit odd I know but he is a bit text bookie (just made that word up) thanks again x
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