hey all im new to the group i started off gestional diabetes back in 2002 now type 2 im on metformin and insulin (novorapid/tresbia) and ozempic 0.5 once a week i use the libreview sensor 2 (when it stays on and ive noticed my blood sugars vary so much dont know if anyone else has any experience with it i do struggle to swallow my metformin (cut into tiny pieces and a load of milk seems to be the only way)
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newbie
- Thread starter sharkgirl
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Hi sharkgirl, welcome to the forum.
I used to struggle with taking tablets too as I hadn't taken any until my 30s so whatever works for you is best!
Have you been advised of your HbA1c number which is the result of the blood test you'd have taken to get your diagnosis? It can be really helpful to keep a note of this so you can measure your progress.
We've got a few on the forum who use the Libre so it might be worth having a search around or creating a thread in the general section if you have any concerns.
We've got loads of other info on the forum and we're more than happy to offer advice so do feel free to share and questions or concerns and we'll do our best to assist.
I used to struggle with taking tablets too as I hadn't taken any until my 30s so whatever works for you is best!
Have you been advised of your HbA1c number which is the result of the blood test you'd have taken to get your diagnosis? It can be really helpful to keep a note of this so you can measure your progress.
We've got a few on the forum who use the Libre so it might be worth having a search around or creating a thread in the general section if you have any concerns.
We've got loads of other info on the forum and we're more than happy to offer advice so do feel free to share and questions or concerns and we'll do our best to assist.
Leadinglights
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
- Pronouns
- She/Her
If you put ' Libre sensor issues' in the search box there are quite a few post relating to problems people have had some of which may be relevant to your issue.
Do any Libre users have any suggestion for this new member's issues.
Do any Libre users have any suggestion for this new member's issues.
hi and thank u so much for the reply ill check that out
thank u so much
Lucyr
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Welcome, I assume you’re on regular metformin not slow release if you’re cutting it up? They are huge tablets, I take the 1000mg slow release metformin tablets and they are massive. Do you have your libre funded or do you buy them yourself? If you’re buying them yourself then libre should replace them when they fall off if you call them. If you have them funded, hopefully someone else can help with the process.
hi Lucy im on the slow release metformin and cutting them up into 4 small pieces still with milk 4 days and seems to be staying down i have libre funded (uk) i have called them they are really good at replacing but they seem to have stopped issuing the wipes in the box that helped it a little
can i ask how do u find the ozempic have u been on it long did you have any side effects.
rebrascora
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
- Pronouns
- She/Her
I bought an arm strap for my Libre off ebay and it helps enormously with keeping it safe both from me (mostly forgetting and scrubbing it off in the shower) but also catching on clothing and other inanimate objects. The strap consists of a 3D printed plastic surround a little like a watch cover and an elastic strap. The strap serves as a visual reminder as to which arm my Libre is on when I get in the shower, so I don't forget and scrub it off as well as general protection.
I find it also helps to apply a new Libre at bedtime (even if you don't need to activate it then) and that allows the adhesive to get a good hold when you are not moving too much and your arm is usually nice and warm under the duvet.
The other important thing to do is to ensure that the site is clean and dry so giving it a wash with a non moisturing soap and drying it well before applying should improve adhesion. I often give my arm a quick blast with my hair dryer to ensure it is thoroughly dry after washing and towel drying. That also warms the skin up a bit and helps with adhesion I think. And I hold the applicator firmly against my arm for about 60 seconds after application before wriggling it free, again to give the adhesive the best chance of getting a good hold.
As regards, BG levels varying, it is normal for a certain level of variation throughout the day and night but as a Type 2 diabetic, reducing the amount of carbs you eat will reduce the height of the spikes you get and help to improve your diabetic control and HbA1c. Milk contains carbs (Lactose is a sugar), so the benefit you might get from taking the Metformin may be being counteracted by the amount of milk you are drinking to swallow them and their slow release mechanism will be removed by breaking them into pieces, so I am not sure you will be achieving a great deal of benefit from taking them in that way or even taking them at all, assuming you wouldn't normally drink milk if you didn't have the tablets to take. There is a liquid form of Metformin I believe, but it is more expensive and not commonly available, but you could ask about it.
If you want more information on dietary changes and reducing your carb intake we can help and support you with that as that is probably the most powerful factor in controlling Type 2 diabetes and certainly has a much bigger impact than Metformin. A short term very low calorie weight loss program is also very effective but you have to be able to stick to it and then maintain the weight loss afterwards, which can be difficult if you have struggled with Yo-Yo dieting previously.
I find it also helps to apply a new Libre at bedtime (even if you don't need to activate it then) and that allows the adhesive to get a good hold when you are not moving too much and your arm is usually nice and warm under the duvet.
The other important thing to do is to ensure that the site is clean and dry so giving it a wash with a non moisturing soap and drying it well before applying should improve adhesion. I often give my arm a quick blast with my hair dryer to ensure it is thoroughly dry after washing and towel drying. That also warms the skin up a bit and helps with adhesion I think. And I hold the applicator firmly against my arm for about 60 seconds after application before wriggling it free, again to give the adhesive the best chance of getting a good hold.
As regards, BG levels varying, it is normal for a certain level of variation throughout the day and night but as a Type 2 diabetic, reducing the amount of carbs you eat will reduce the height of the spikes you get and help to improve your diabetic control and HbA1c. Milk contains carbs (Lactose is a sugar), so the benefit you might get from taking the Metformin may be being counteracted by the amount of milk you are drinking to swallow them and their slow release mechanism will be removed by breaking them into pieces, so I am not sure you will be achieving a great deal of benefit from taking them in that way or even taking them at all, assuming you wouldn't normally drink milk if you didn't have the tablets to take. There is a liquid form of Metformin I believe, but it is more expensive and not commonly available, but you could ask about it.
If you want more information on dietary changes and reducing your carb intake we can help and support you with that as that is probably the most powerful factor in controlling Type 2 diabetes and certainly has a much bigger impact than Metformin. A short term very low calorie weight loss program is also very effective but you have to be able to stick to it and then maintain the weight loss afterwards, which can be difficult if you have struggled with Yo-Yo dieting previously.
Lucyr
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
You cannot cut up slow release metformin. They must be swallowed whole as it is the coating that makes them slow release.
hi it was the gp says to try cut them up as he refuses to give me liquid metformin as to expensive
Bruce Stephens
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Worth talking with the pharmacist (maybe there are lower dose ones you could be prescribed). Just be aware that as other have said once you cut them up they're no longer slow release. (Which is presumably working OK for you.)
Hi I used to work in the pharma industry and a lot of work is done to ensure that tablets dissolve in the right place in the gut. The design of these tablets do not usually allow for the tablets being chopped up before being swallowed. Doctors are not always aware of this and their advice to chop up a tablet may be counter productive to the effectiveness of the medicine. I would discus you problem with an experience pharmacist as they have more understanding of how tablets are made and are in a better position to advise (and may even speak to the doctor if they feel it is warranted). I can not specifically speak for metformin tablets but most tablets actually contain very little of the active ingredient. The rest of the tablet contains what is known as excipients. These do several functions such as help to bind the active ingredient into a tablet, affect its speed of breakdown in the gut (some need to be dissolved in the stomach whilst other in various places of the duodenum) as well as aid in actual tablet formation.
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