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Metformin

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Fifi240

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
I got diagnosed in April of this year and was prescribed met form in which I haven’t been taking. How serious is it to take this med?
 
Welcome to the forum @Fifi240.

The metformin that you have been prescribed will help your body to reduce the glucose levels in your blood which is important. Some people do experience side effects in the first couple of weeks, but if these side effects extend beyond that they are often able to switch to a slow release version of the same meds. What is it that concerns you about taking the metformin?

It is important that you reduce your glucose levels. The meds can help along with changes to your diet and exercise regime.
 
How important it is for you to take depends on what your glucose levels were and how well you are able to control them by diet and exercise alone.

Why are you not taking it?

If you are concerned about safety, it is one of the most widely prescribed medications in the world. It is the initial medical treatment for type 2 diabetes and has been used for around sixty years, so it is well tested. Some people will experience side effects, as with any medication, but it is generally safe unless you have specific health conditions, in which case it would not have been prescribed.

Why did you not share your concerns, if you have any, with your doctor or nurse when they prescribed it?

Your levels must have been high enough to justify it being prescribed, so I would say it is serious to take to lower them. And if you can get good control with diet and exercise alone you can always stop taking it later.

But really this is a conversation you need to be having wit your G.P. or care team, as they will know your medical history and why it was prescribed. All we can offer over a Wikipedia page is personal experience, which may not be applicable to you.
 
I tried to take Metformin - it tried to turn me inside out.
When I was feeling really bad, after only a few weeks, I threw them away and found that I had never needed it.
 
Hi @Fifi240, the thing to remember is that the Metformin increases your body's sensitivity to insulin and reduces the amount of glucose that your liver releases into the bloodstream. if you make some pretty simple changes to your diet and lifestyle then the tablets my no longer be necessary but until the changes happen your body may need some extra help, it doesn't mean it's permanent.
 
I think you need to speak to your GP or nurse about your reluctance to take the medication and your desire to try to manage your diabetes by diet and exercise without medication.

As others have said, it may be useful to get you off to a good start, and then may be able to come off the meds later.

Either way it seems wise to have an open conversation with your Drs.
 
I rehearsed several arguments about Metformin.
The one I found most convincing myself was that when taking Metformin I could not leave the house to exercise or get fresh salad etc. with any certainty, and could not trust myself to visit anywhere not very close to a lavatory. I could not do any lifting or bending and stretching unless I was careful. Even now, should I contemplate eating just a little more of something with carbs, a fleeting thought of the Metformin Days and I can put it in the fridge for later.
 
Severe reactions to Metformin like yours are quite rare I think @Drummer. While a bit of gastric upset in the early weeks is not uncommon, this usually passes. I don’t think we want to terrify people who haven't even taken Met yet! 😉
 
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Fifi40, when I was diagnosed I was immediately put on 3 x Metformin. I could not tolerate 3 so by phone it was agreed to reduce to 2 per day. The first few weeks or months were horrendous. I would be in work going to meetings but sitting next to the door ready to run if necessary. It did settle down and I was on Metformin for 2 years. Been off it for 8 years and now about to be removed from the diabetic register. I think everyone should be given a chance to change things by diet and exercise but having said that, the Metformin helped with the weight loss! As others have said, talk to your GP or Nurse and if neither of them are diabetes specialists ask to be referred.
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
Severe reactions to Metformin like yours are quite rare I think @Drummer. While a bit of gastric upset in the early weeks is not uncommon, this usually passes. I don’t think we want to terrify people who haven't even taken Met yet! 😉
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I have just watched a video of Metformin on the My Desmond site, and the consultant says it should be taken with food and started low with gradual increase. If the increase causes problems, go back down to lower dose. Then try again in a few weeks.
 
When I was diagnosed I was put on 1g Metformin and 40mg Gliclazide twice per day. I am sure it was just 500g Metformin (twice a day) for the first week or so.

I suffered no effects from them other than my glucose levels going down. Which is incredibly boring and not worth mentioning, which is why I felt it was worth doing so to give an alternative account.
 
Fifi240 said:
I just can’t take it it makes me gag and be sick before I’ve even taken it
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One fairly new member @jacob.p had problems with the tablets and was prescribed a liquid form of Metformin. Would that be easier?
 
Drummer said:
I rehearsed several arguments about Metformin.
The one I found most convincing myself was that when taking Metformin I could not leave the house to exercise or get fresh salad etc. with any certainty, and could not trust myself to visit anywhere not very close to a lavatory. I could not do any lifting or bending and stretching unless I was careful. Even now, should I contemplate eating just a little more of something with carbs, a fleeting thought of the Metformin Days and I can put it in the fridge for later.
Click to expand...
If you had spoken to your doctor about the side effects they’d have switched you to the slow release metformin which has none.
It’s a very old, and very safe drug which helps your body stop further damage immediately.
Yes you can control diabetes through diet and expertise but the first goal has to be to stop damage to your body. Metformin stops the damage.
 
ColinUK said:
If you had spoken to your doctor about the side effects they’d have switched you to the slow release metformin which has none.
It’s a very old, and very safe drug which helps your body stop further damage immediately.
Yes you can control diabetes through diet and expertise but the first goal has to be to stop damage to your body. Metformin stops the damage.
Click to expand...
I was in a dreadful state in just a few weeks - I was taking a statin as well, which also affected me a lot. I threw the tablets in the bin just before Christmas 2016. By the time I had recovered my wits I was attending the 'education' course, had a glucose meter and could see that I was back in the normal range. By the time I had a follow up Hba1c test I was no longer in the diabetes range.
I really can't agree that taking Metformin is the way to stop damage. Normal blood glucose has always been my aim and I do that by not eating carbohydrates. I went back to low carb from the moment of diagnosis and my BG was in single figures before the week was out
 
Drummer said:
I was in a dreadful state in just a few weeks - I was taking a statin as well, which also affected me a lot. I threw the tablets in the bin just before Christmas 2016. By the time I had recovered my wits I was attending the 'education' course, had a glucose meter and could see that I was back in the normal range. By the time I had a follow up Hba1c test I was no longer in the diabetes range.
I really can't agree that taking Metformin is the way to stop damage. Normal blood glucose has always been my aim and I do that by not eating carbohydrates. I went back to low carb from the moment of diagnosis and my BG was in single figures before the week was out
Click to expand...
I’m not saying that taking metformin is the only way to stop the damage!
 
ColinUK said:
If you had spoken to your doctor about the side effects they’d have switched you to the slow release metformin which has none.
Click to expand...
None is optimistic, Colin, still the need to be in close proximity to a loo at times for me, though a great improvement on the basic version. If I am going to be out for a day with the only loos possibly a long walk away then I will reduce or omit dose beforehand.
 
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