Metformin reduction effect

[itsallgood]

Hi Folks, thought I'd share this with you as it might be of interest to those on Metformin...

About four months ago the doctor said my HbA1c, which was 5.8 at the time, was concerning him as he thought I might be at risk of getting hypos. I think he was overreacting to be honest as I rarely get readings below 5 and as I understand it '4 is the floor' for hypos, so I was nowhere near that.

Anyway, he cut my metformin dose in half from 2000mg to 1000mg pd.

So I've just had my annual D review and my HbA1c, which I'd expected to have shot up as I'd caned the Hob-nobs a bit lately as well, has gone up by a gigantic.. .2% to 6%.

A reasonably good result but I'm beginning to wonder whether the metformin is actually all that effective, and that most of the reduction is down to BG testing and diet adjustment.

If I did a bit more exercise and cut out the beer I could probably do without metformin all together 🙂

 

[Northerner]

I think you have probably answered your own question! The changes to diet and exercise are very beneficial, and at your sorts of levels the extra metformin probably isn't contributing much to the equation. Book your place on that marathon! 🙂

p.s. you're right, it's very rare to have a true hypo on metformin alone. It can happen, but there again it's possible to have low blood sugars even if you are not diabetic. A lot of doctors seem overly concerned to me where potential hypos are concerned - the vast majority come with good symptoms and are quick and easy to treat, but they seem to think we'd rather risk permanent problems from high blood sugars than fleetingly temporary ones from the odd low.

And 6% is an excellent result! Well done! 🙂

 

[SimplesL]

Execllant news

This happened to me. Initailly I was on 1000 metformin, which was upped to 2000 when HBA1c stayed over 7.

Then on next check I was 5.8 & was told they were worried it was getting too low! So cut me back to 1000.

Next test I was 6 so all well & good when gym & diet came into it.

Next 2 tests up to 6.7 still on 1000 metformin; but I had let the gym/diet slip for a few months (since March this year) due to ill-health for father-in-law & then my own dad. We lost both of them over the summer so just getting back on the band wagon after I did a spot fasting check at the weekend it was 9.8 (First time in months I had checked). Lucky I got the nice pharmacist last week when I went to purchase a couple of boxes of strips to get me motivated again. She sells them to me at the NHS price.
Also realised not going to the gym like I should. I was going 5 times a week & I'd dropped to max of 3. So just goes to show exercise & not comfort eating junk is the way to go with a bit of a top up with metformin.

Off to the gym on the way home & I'm going to start to keep a diary of what I eat to get me back to where I should be.

Take care
Lynne

 

[itsallgood]

Good work SimplesL, sounds like you are getting a lot more exercise than my daily 30 press-ups and regular walks, I really should try harder 😱

Northerner, totally agree with you about the hypos - I'm much more concerned about high BG damage.

Got my retinal screening early December - would be a great chrimbo present if the background retinopathy has gone into reverse 🙄