Metformin

[Sarahbella]

Hi I’m new to this group I’ve been diabetic for 4 years, I’m on slow release metformin and linaglipton, I’ve suffered with low vit D, very low iron, low folic acid and now peri menopausal( oh the joys of approaching 50) but my main thingWorry is “ hair shedding” I’ve always had very thick long blonde hair, but now I’ve lost half and it’s thin and brittleI’m finding so many people on metformin have found this side effects with metformin as it’s harder to absorb vitamins etc. I take iron, folic acid, b12, vit c I’m also on rosavastin, please can anyone help? Should I change from metformin? I feel nauseous all day and an upset tummy!! Thanks

 

[rebrascora]

Hi and welcome.

So sorry to hear about the unpleasant side effects you are suffering. Metformin is renowned for stomach upsets but I have never heard it mentioned in association with hair loss. I assumed you were going to blame the Linaglipton.

Can I ask if you have ever considered making dietary and lifestyle changes as many people find they can control their Type 2 diabetes far more effectively through diet than most medication.... You do have to be prepared to make some significant changes and it takes a few weeks to get the hang of it but it doesn't necessarily have to be like a diet although if you have some weight to lose, that will definitely help.
Many people here on the forum follow a low carb diet and have brought their blood glucose levels down into the normal range and come off medication through this and feel they are healthier and have more energy. Here on the forum we recommend the use of a Blood Glucose Meter to help to tailor your diet to your tastes and your body's specific tolerance of carbs by testing before and 2 hours after food and keeping a food diary along with the readings. Unfortunately this usually has to be self funded but meters are relatively inexpensive at £15 for a basic one, which is all you would need and then there are test strips which are £8 for a pot of 50 and you will need at least 200 to get any appreciable data, but if you think about it, you would probably spend that sort of money on a hairdressers appointment, and it may well benefit your whole health and not just your hair. We usually recommend the SD Gluco Navii Blood Glucose Meter or the Spirit Healthcare Tee2 because they have the cheapest test strips.

Sadly NHS dietary advice is not always helpful for Type 2 diabetics as they recommend low fat and moderate wholemeal carbs and fruit but actually many of us have found that all carbs cause us a problem, so even the otherwise healthy fruit in all its forms (fresh, dried and juiced) as well as wholemeal bread and pasta and even low GI porridge can spike our blood glucose levels.

Our advice is to start to cut back on all carbs, not just cut out the sugar and sweets and cake but also cut back on the bread, pasta, rice, couscous, potatoes and particularly breakfast cereals. Try halving your portions of these foods to start with and certainly opt for the wholemeal/brown options wherever possible and start weighting your portions because it is really surprising how overly generous we become with them over time..... Pre diagnosis, I would think nothing of eating 4 slices of wholemeal toast with spread and a whole tin of baked beans for lunch, which is ridiculous. I barely eat that many carbs in a week now.
It takes a lot of getting your head around but we can give you suggestions and tips if you are interested.

If you want to start by telling us the sort of things you currently eat and drink on an average day, at breakfast, midday and evening time plus any snacks we can make suggestions as to where it might be easiest to cut carbs.

It certainly doesn't mean that you have to feel deprived.... one of my breakfast choices is a 2 egg omelette with bacon, mushrooms, onion courgette and cheese filling served with a large side salad and a bug dollop of cheese coleslaw washed down with a coffee made with double cream.... Really tasty and filling and usually I don't need anything more until tea time or sometimes the next morning other than maybe a chunk of cheese and a cracker at bedtime.

Today I had salmon pan fried in butter with a small portion of sweet potato (these are quite a high carb food so need to be rationed... I had 3 small pieces and my plate filled up with sautéed courgette, aubergine and mushroom.... but only because I had run out of broccoli and asparagus or green beans. I then had a dessert of creamy Greek Natural yoghurt (not low fat as that is higher carb) with a small portion of frozen berries (defrosted in microwave) some mixed seeds, a little ground almond and a little stevia sweetener because the berries are really tart. If I had had fresh raspberries or strawberries I wouldn't have needed any sweetener. The fat in these foods is important because it helps to keep you feeling full and that will stop you wanting to snack between meals.

 

[Sarahbella]

Hi thanks for all your help and tips so it could be the linaglipton giving me hair loss problems? My appetite isn’t great too be honest, feel nauseous, I love salmon, chicken, all veg, fruit, have a good diet, chocolate as a little treat, my hb1acs is 51 so little bit high, I have a blood machine too, numbers seem fine. Due to peri menopause my estrogen went low so trying hrt. Think I would rather try another diabetic medication just want my thick hair to return. X

 

[trophywench]

Have they tested your thyroid function recently (or at all) cos hair loss is a marked symptom of being hypothyroid! Common bedfellow of diabetes. Normally easily remedied with Levothyroxine tablets and another blood test in 3 months time until you get the dose right for your body.

Also while they're on doing that blood test, you might like to ask them to test your B12 level too - cos low B12 is a side effect usually of long term use of metformin but being as you're short of other things too …...

Hair loss isn't one of the listed possible side effects of Linagliptin either and possibly other conditions than hypothyroidism cause your hair to drop out, rather than either of the two drugs you're taking. It's just cos I've known both men and ladies lose hair because of it, that I always mention it.

 

[trophywench]

Sorry - see you take B12 anyway so ignore that bit.

Once you've talked to your doc and had them check anything it could be, do your hair a favour and get it cut. Once it's comprehensively dead for most of its length, nothing you can do with return it to its former glory I'm afraid so you'll be onto a loser. Once you can get treatment for whatever is really causing it, then you can grow it again!

 

[Sarahbella]

Thanks Jenny yes my b12 is fine, so is thyroid levels, all bloods came back good, even tested my zinc which was normal. I had low vit d and low iron last year but now on supplements, 2019 was very stressful for me so maybe this could be a cause for hair loss, as a hairdresser my hair has always been my crowning glory so that’s why I’m devastated, I’m sure I will find an answer fingers crossed x

 

[Drummer]

I took Metformin and Atorvastatin for just a few weeks and my hair came out in handfuls - it hasn't grown back, but I am not overly concerned - I had a great mane of dark brown hair for 65 year. I did feel so much better when I ditched the tablets, and there were no adverse effects, some improvements, so I just decided to be philosophical about the hair.

 

[trophywench]

Bit more difficult for a professional hairdresser to be philosophical though Drummer.

What has doc said about constantly feeling nauseous? - I don't like the sound of that anyway, cos as far as I'm concerned it usually means I have ketones hence that would be borne out with BG in double figures, but you say yours aren't - there again I'm assuming you mean in middle single figures before and after meals and other random times of the day and night, when you say your BG is 'fine'. They can't be 'fine' constantly else your HbA1c wouldn't be 51, can they!

 

[Sarahbella]

I developed gastritis due to all meds I was put on so have to careful what I eat, stress can put your blood sugars up, normally my hb1acs was 45. I’ve changed my statin to rosavastin which doesn’t cause hair loss, I really think it started when I went on SR metformin 2000mg every night plus tragenta,I would like to try another medication. I’m probably 7llb overweight. Plus I do think I have a gut problem absorbing vits.I’m doing all I can but nothing seems to be working, thanks for replying

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Sorry to hear about your hair loss @Sarahbella - have you spoken to your GP about how you feel and asked to switch meds?

If you were not so nauseous could you try a lower carb / lower medication approach? or do some of your other challenges like gastritis make that tricky?

Sorry not to be able to offer any instant fix suggestions! I would guess as a professional you know all there is to know about ‘feeding’ hair and the sorts of foods and routine that keep it in good condition.

Hope you find a fix for it soon.

Oh... and welcome to the forum! 🙂

 

[Sarahbella]

Thankyou