New diagnosis - trying to work things out?

[Coco1963]

Hi all , im a newbie here having received my diagosis on Friday 15th December. I had been having lunch with a couple of colleagues who happen to be nurses and mentioned I couldnt seem to quench my thirst!! Next thing I new I was being whisked off for a finger prick to find high glucose levels! Upshot at GP was HbA1c of 85. So he prescribed Metformin 500mg and of course the healthy diet. I am on slimming world but have been playing at it for a while. My question is do any other forum members follow this regimen? From what I can gather with T2 its about balance and a healthy diet rather than cutting food groups out all together. Slimming world is fairly low carb anyway so have been following to the letter since Friday ( i know its only Monday lol!). Also im slightly worried about the Metformin having read of peoples experiences on here and also the really helpful pharmacist ( she was really!) was very specific that I take it during breakfast not before, not after but during!! Im rubbish at remembering meds at the best of times but it seems the window of opportunity to take these tabs is very small! Come next week Im up to 2 a day which might be even harder! So Im trying to get into that routine too! So far no side effects but it is early days. Oh and by the way other than thirst and visiting the loo I'd had no other symptoms! its all new to me so thought it worth asking! thanks in advance

 

[Mark T]

Metformin can cause some gastric distress when you first start taking it. That's helped by taking it with food.

Although I think they are being a bit over the top by inferring it has to be in the middle of your breakfast. I take mine immediately before eating breakfast.

 

[Ljc]

Hi Welcome to the forum. Many years ago When I was put on Metformin I was told to take it during or immediately after eating as it can help to lessen gastric side effects. I never did have any side effects. If you do have problems they should resolve quickly but if your one of the unlucky ones who’s tum doesn’t settle down, their is a slow release version that may be better for you.
If you have your meals at regular times , you could set an alarm on your phone etc .
If they’re are no youngsters in the house, you could put pills out on your plate or bowl .

Sorry I can’t help with the Slimming world diet.

Ask as many questions as you need to, we’ll do our best to help.

 

[grovesy]

I think we have a couple of members who have used Slimming World.

 

[Drummer]

I'm afraid that it is all about cutting right down on carbs. Or if you are lucky, reducing your carb intake and getting back some sensitivity to insulin. Weight loss has very little to do with it, nor medication.
Fewer carbs should - if you are lucky and a plain and simple type two - cause your blood sugars to drop to normal and stay there for as long as you like to stay on the regime.
Metformin is fine for some people and some find that it helps them with their blood glucose levels in the morning - but for me it was horrible - particularly when combined with a statin as well, so I stopped taking them.
Six months on the low carb diet sorted me out, no problem, and it is no effort to lose weight without a club for support, at least for me it is. Until my clothes began to fall off I did not realise how much thinner I was becoming. I was concentrating only on reducing my blood glucose.

 

[scottishlass]

Hello and welcome. I'm 6 months into living with diabetes and have found that drastic cutting of carb intake (ALL carbs, not just the obviously sugary stuff), together with increasing my exercise has worked for me. I've found having a meter really helpful, SD Code Free is the one that seems popular on here. Your healthcare team have probably told you that you don't need to self test. True in that (apparently) you don't have hypos when taking Metformin but it's invaluable particularly in the early days as you get to know what foods affect you most - lots of variations between individuals. I take Metformin with meals and initial unpleasant symptoms settled after a couple of weeks. Don't know about Slimming World.

 

[HOBIE]

Welcome & good luck. You have joined a good group. Low carbs do less damage 🙂

 

[Coco1963]

Thanks all for being so helpful. No side effects as yet which is a relief. Increase to 2 from Saturday so will see! May invest in a meter to help to understand tolerances better as I've no idea! been low but not no carb for a week now- no bread pasta rice etc but have had veg and some fruit. not sure of impact

 

[Ljc]

Hi Coco. Finger crossed you won’t have any side effects
TBH self testing is really the only way to find out which carbohydrates our bodies can and can’t tolerate, as we are all different in this.

Unfortunately unless a person who has T2 is on medications that can cause hypo’s (low blood glucose) Metformin doesn’t normally cause them, then it’s unlikely that they will provide you with a glucose meter and enough testing strips, but do ask them as you may be lucky.
It’s the ongoing cost of the test strips that you have to watch, high street brands are £15 to £30 for 50 .
Many here use the SD Codefree meter, it’s testing strips are around £8 for 50.
It’s available from
Amazon https://www.amazon.co.uk/Codefree-G...fm-21&linkId=f39210144fdc26c27738e45b6d957003
or
Directly from home health. http://homehealth-uk.com/all-products/codefree-blood-glucose-monitoring-system-mmoll-or-mgdl/

We use the mmol measurement in the uk. You are entitled to claim Vat relief. You will need to buy more test strips and lancets as they only provide 10 in starter packs.

If you haven’t done so already have a read of these,
Jennifer’s advise
http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14045524.php
Maggie Davies letter.
https://forum.diabetes.org.uk/boards/threads/maggie-daveys-letter-to-newly-diagnosed-type-2s.61307/
Test review adjust by Alan S
http://loraldiabetes.blogspot.co.uk/2006/10/test-review-adjust.html

For future reference you’ll find the above and more inc a recommended book at the top of the newbies say hello here forum, the thread is called, Usefull links for people new to diabetes,
Just scroll down to the T2 section,
Sorry for the long post and lots of reading.

 

[Grogg1]

I been on metformin. 12 months and take everyday on empty stomach as I never wake hungry. Not caused me any issues at all. I take second tablet in evening when I remember! I was given a meter, in fact when my finger pricker broke given a brand new meter too. Only get 50 strips a month though so I bought codefree one as 50 strips just £6 if you buy 250 a time the ones for my Contour meter three times that.

 

[goosey]

Hi all , im a newbie here having received my diagosis on Friday 15th December. I had been having lunch with a couple of colleagues who happen to be nurses and mentioned I couldnt seem to quench my thirst!! Next thing I new I was being whisked off for a finger prick to find high glucose levels! Upshot at GP was HbA1c of 85. So he prescribed Metformin 500mg and of course the healthy diet. I am on slimming world but have been playing at it for a while. My question is do any other forum members follow this regimen? From what I can gather with T2 its about balance and a healthy diet rather than cutting food groups out all together. Slimming world is fairly low carb anyway so have been following to the letter since Friday ( i know its only Monday lol!). Also im slightly worried about the Metformin having read of peoples experiences on here and also the really helpful pharmacist ( she was really!) was very specific that I take it during breakfast not before, not after but during!! Im rubbish at remembering meds at the best of times but it seems the window of opportunity to take these tabs is very small! Come next week Im up to 2 a day which might be even harder! So Im trying to get into that routine too! So far no side effects but it is early days. Oh and by the way other than thirst and visiting the loo I'd had no other symptoms! its all new to me so thought it worth asking! thanks in advance

Hi
I am on SW and T2, i have lost 4 1/2 st in 39 weeks. I have very few carbs but i am lucky i can eat fruit, not banana or grapes though. I was diagnosed Mid March , took 2 metformin a day and now i am below the Diabetic range and do not take medication at all

 

[HOBIE]

Are "U" a 1963 baby ? Coco. Same as me but I was diagnosed at the age of 3 T1. Good luck with the low carb diet 🙂