New to metformin- any ideas as to what I should be avoiding?

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Alleycattus

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hello all ,3
I have recently started Glucophage for insulin resistance...Going to dietician next week, but until then, would like some ideas about what food to avoid...I know that things like breaded fish and chicken are a no-no, but what about burgers without the bun? I am not a fan of fast food, but right now it is hard to cook 3 times a day in the heat- Just looking for quick food that is ok and I can use .
Thanx in advance!🙂
 
...And confused too! Just discovered I have insulin resistance, and I need some advice on foods and traps to avoid with metformin!
I am Alley, 65 years old, cancer and sepsis survivor- seems my insulin resistance was post- cancer and only discovered now.
Any insight would be valuable! <3
 
Hi and welcome.

Why would you need to cook 3 times a day?

I have creamy Greek style natural yoghurt for breakfast with berries (usually raspberries because they are my favourite and one of the lowest carb fruits) and mixed seeds and cinnamon.

Lunch is often a salad with meat, fish, eggs or cheese. I dress my salad with balsamic vinegar and have a big dollop of creamy coleslaw or sometimes homemade soup that I have made in advance or a chunk of nice cheese and half a green apple.

Evening meal is usually meat and veg, but I don't generally have potatoes/ rice/pasta etc. It might be a curry or bolognaise which I can serve on a bed of cooked shredded cabbage or on broccoli or courgettes or some people grate cauliflower to make cauliflower rice. You can also mash cauliflower to substitute for mashed potato and if you add a dollop of cream cheese and a spoon of mustard, that goes really well with high meat content sausages or gammon. Lots of low carb options.

Had to laugh when you mentioned "the heat"! I am guessing you are not in the UK since I am wearing a ski shirt and thick fleece to keep me warm in mid June!! ..... Or perhaps you are in the UK but just an eternal optimist? 🙄
 
Alleycattus said:
hello all ,3
I have recently started Glucophage for insulin resistance...Going to dietician next week, but until then, would like some ideas about what food to avoid...I know that things like breaded fish and chicken are a no-no, but what about burgers without the bun? I am not a fan of fast food, but right now it is hard to cook 3 times a day in the heat- Just looking for quick food that is ok and I can use .
Thanx in advance!🙂
Click to expand...
Welcome to the forum, you have signed yourself as 'at risk' so it is quite unusual to be prescribed metformin unless dietary changes have not been sufficient and your HbA1C actually increases.
It is all carbohydrates which convert to glucose so it is those that you need to reduce in your diet. Basing meals on meat, fish, eggs, cheese, dairy, nuts, vegetables, salads and fruit like berries still give you plenty of options. Breaded foods are not out of the question but check the carb content and as long as you don't then have more carbs at that meal may be OK.
Burgers and sausages which are high meat content but with only half the bun and not chips should be fine.
Anyway have a look at this link for some ideas, https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
 
rebrascora said:
Hi and welcome.

Why would you need to cook 3 times a day?

I have creamy Greek style natural yoghurt for breakfast with berries (usually raspberries because they are my favourite and one of the lowest carb fruits) and mixed seeds and cinnamon.

Lunch is often a salad with meat, fish, eggs or cheese. I dress my salad with balsamic vinegar and have a big dollop of creamy coleslaw or sometimes homemade soup that I have made in advance or a chunk of nice cheese and half a green apple.

Evening meal is usually meat and veg, but I don't generally have potatoes/ rice/pasta etc. It might be a curry or bolognaise which I can serve on a bed of cooked shredded cabbage or on broccoli or courgettes or some people grate cauliflower to make cauliflower rice. You can also mash cauliflower to substitute for mashed potato and if you add a dollop of cream cheese and a spoon of mustard, that goes really well with high meat content sausages or gammon. Lots of low carb options.

Had to laugh when you mentioned "the heat"! I am guessing you are not in the UK since I am wearing a ski shirt and thick fleece to keep me warm in mid June!! ..... Or perhaps you are in the UK but just an eternal optimist? 🙄
Click to expand...
You beat me to it and I was going to say 'WHAT HEAT' so wondered if the OP was not in the UK.
 
rebrascora said:
Hi and welcome.

Why would you need to cook 3 times a day?

I have creamy Greek style natural yoghurt for breakfast with berries (usually raspberries because they are my favourite and one of the lowest carb fruits) and mixed seeds and cinnamon.

Lunch is often a salad with meat, fish, eggs or cheese. I dress my salad with balsamic vinegar and have a big dollop of creamy coleslaw or sometimes homemade soup that I have made in advance or a chunk of nice cheese and half a green apple.

Evening meal is usually meat and veg, but I don't generally have potatoes/ rice/pasta etc. It might be a curry or bolognaise which I can serve on a bed of cooked shredded cabbage or on broccoli or courgettes or some people grate cauliflower to make cauliflower rice. You can also mash cauliflower to substitute for mashed potato and if you add a dollop of cream cheese and a spoon of mustard, that goes really well with high meat content sausages or gammon. Lots of low carb options.

Had to laugh when you mentioned "the heat"! I am guessing you are not in the UK since I am wearing a ski shirt and thick fleece to keep me warm in mid June!! ..... Or perhaps you are in the UK but just an eternal optimist? 🙄
Click to expand...
Hiya!
Thanks for replying and the warm welcome!
I usually do a cooked breakfast for hubby before he goes to work...I usually have toast or something like that- I can't do Yoghurt and fruit in the morning...not a big fan...For lunch, I do have salad, but recently have had gut problems with salad stuff and have been advised to avoid , at least for now- or just have a very small amount- family hate salad, so have to cook for them anyway...Evening meals are easier- just looking for ideas...I love potatoes but they are off the menu, I am not a pasta fan thankfully...you have given me some great ideas to start, will be trying them out for sure!!
I am not in the UK, I am in Cyprus, and it is really scorching here...appetite reduced, but still need to eat something
 
Leadinglights said:
Welcome to the forum, you have signed yourself as 'at risk' so it is quite unusual to be prescribed metformin unless dietary changes have not been sufficient and your HbA1C actually increases.
It is all carbohydrates which convert to glucose so it is those that you need to reduce in your diet. Basing meals on meat, fish, eggs, cheese, dairy, nuts, vegetables, salads and fruit like berries still give you plenty of options. Breaded foods are not out of the question but check the carb content and as long as you don't then have more carbs at that meal may be OK.
Burgers and sausages which are high meat content but with only half the bun and not chips should be fine.
Anyway have a look at this link for some ideas, https://lowcarbfreshwell.com/
Click to expand...
Thank you for the warm welcome <3
I have been prediabetic for a while, since 2018 post septic shock, and have tried with dietary changes, but piled on weight and can't lose it ...Also, metabolism was wrecked post- chemo, so two strikes there :'(
I will look at the carb content for things like breaded fish and maybe use it as a once a week treat...Burgers I tend to avoid the bun and usually the chips, so I will give that a go too
Leadinglights said:
You beat me to it and I was going to say 'WHAT HEAT' so wondered if the OP was not in the UK.
Click to expand...
I live in Cyprus- and the heat has arrived way too early this year sadly !
 
Alleycattus said:
...And confused too! Just discovered I have insulin resistance, and I need some advice on foods and traps to avoid with metformin!
I am Alley, 65 years old, cancer and sepsis survivor- seems my insulin resistance was post- cancer and only discovered now.
Any insight would be valuable! <3
Click to expand...

Welcome to the forum @Alleycattus

Well done on surviving Sepsis and Cancer! You must be made of strong stuff.

Metformin is commonly prescribed as a ‘first line’ medication.

Many people are able to take it without and significant side effects - especially if they start at a low dose and increase gradually.

It can cause a little gastric upset in some people, thankfully this often resolves in a few weeks. Unfortunately some others find that they have a more dramatic stomach upset, or that their symptoms persist over time - but it’s impossible to tell how anyone might be affected.

There is also a ‘slow release’ version of metformin which can be easier on the tum. Some of our metformin users may also have other tips!

Metformin generally works gently in the background by reducing insulin resistance, and reducing glucose output from the liver. So it doesn’t necessarily work directly on food and meals - it more seems to provide background metabolic support.
 
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Hi Alley from another 65 year old T2 cancer survivor. My diabetes was also discovered post cancer.
Re metformin, I'm one of the lucky ones who can tolerate it but I always take it while I'm eating which seems to ward off the worst effects.
A low carb diet is recommended for us T2s. Not just low sugar but all carbohydrates which convert quickly to glucose in the system. So a reduction in potatoes, rice, pasta and bread is recommended. Green leafy veg is fine, so I tend to load my plate up with broccoli, green beans and cabbage. Also, the old NHS mantra that fats are bad can be ignored. If you're cutting down on carbs you need to replace them with something to stop you feeling hungry.
Hoping @Leadinglights will be along soon with a link to a low carb website which is really useful.
Best of luck x
 
@Alleycattus Did you have immunotherapy to treat your cancer? If so, it may be that you don't have insulin resistance but are perhaps in the early stages of developing Type 1 diabetes..... which is where the immune system kills off the beta cells in the pancreas which produce insulin.

As regards taking Metformin, start on a low dose and gradually increase it over a few weeks to whatever you have been prescribed and take it mid meal with a reasonably substantial amount of food. If you have digestive upset at the lower dose, don't increase the dose until the digestive upset settles down. If it doesn't settle down, then ask for the slow or modified release version of Metformin, which is usually kinder to your stomach.
 
Vonny said:
Hi Alley from another 65 year old T2 cancer survivor. My diabetes was also discovered post cancer.
Re metformin, I'm one of the lucky ones who can tolerate it but I always take it while I'm eating which seems to ward off the worst effects.
A low carb diet is recommended for us T2s. Not just low sugar but all carbohydrates which convert quickly to glucose in the system. So a reduction in potatoes, rice, pasta and bread is recommended. Green leafy veg is fine, so I tend to load my plate up with broccoli, green beans and cabbage. Also, the old NHS mantra that fats are bad can be ignored. If you're cutting down on carbs you need to replace them with something to stop you feeling hungry.
Hoping @Leadinglights will be along soon with a link to a low carb website which is really useful.
Best of luck x
Click to expand...
Posted in the OPs other thread.
@everydayupsanddowns could the threads be amalgamated.?
 
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