Newly diagnosed type 2 on Metformin with dizziness

[Hobster]

Good morning everyone. I was diagnosed a few days ago with type 2 diabetes following my HbA1c reading of 58mmol. I have a strong family history of type 2 in the family and have several health problems including hypothyroidism for 18 years and cancer in 2021. I've been teetering on pre-diabetic for a couple of years but have unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, been unable to manage this with diet and exercise alone. I was started on statins a couple of months ago and my HbA1c has definitely risen since then too.

I have a real anxiety about taking new medication and have been halving my Metformin (500mg od) by cutting in half to ease into it. This will be my fourth dose. Yesterday and today I have been feeling a tad dizzy here and there just sitting still (for a few seconds and then goes). Is this normal? I've taken my BP which is spot on. Thanks for taking the time to read this and any advice you may be able to provide. I'm off to look round the other parts of the forum! 🙂

 

[Leadinglights]

Good morning everyone. I was diagnosed a few days ago with type 2 diabetes following my HbA1c reading of 58mmol. I have a strong family history of type 2 in the family and have several health problems including hypothyroidism for 18 years and cancer in 2021. I've been teetering on pre-diabetic for a couple of years but have unfortunately, for a variety of reasons, been unable to manage this with diet and exercise alone. I was started on statins a couple of months ago and my HbA1c has definitely risen since then too.

I have a real anxiety about taking new medication and have been halving my Metformin (500mg od) by cutting in half to ease into it. This will be my fourth dose. Yesterday and today I have been feeling a tad dizzy here and there just sitting still (for a few seconds and then goes). Is this normal? I've taken my BP which is spot on. Thanks for taking the time to read this and any advice you may be able to provide. I'm off to look round the other parts of the forum! 🙂

Welcome to the forum. Some people get stomach issues when they first start on metformin but depending on which type you have cutting in half is not a good idea as the slow release or modified release version requires them to be intact to be slow release and those are supposed to cause less issue. 500mg is the lowest dose and it would be from there you build up if needed. They are better taken with food in any case.
I would not think that such a low dose would be making much difference so soon on blood glucose levels to make you feel wobbly unless you have also made some drastic changes to your diet.

 

[Hobster]

Welcome to the forum. Some people get stomach issues when they first start on metformin but depending on which type you have cutting in half is not a good idea as the slow release or modified release version requires them to be intact to be slow release and those are supposed to cause less issue. 500mg is the lowest dose and it would be from there you build up if needed. They are better taken with food in any case.
I would not think that such a low dose would be making much difference so soon on blood glucose levels to make you feel wobbly unless you have also made some drastic changes to your diet.

Thank you. I am planning on taking a full dose today and not cutting them in half, I do this (rightly or wrongly) with all new medications just to get over the mental aversion to taking a new drug. I'm not on modified release. I also had iron deficiency anaemia show up and started iron 2 days ago, I'm wondering if that is a contributing factor too? I'll leave it a couple of days and contact the GP if it continues.

 

[Leadinglights]

Thank you. I am planning on taking a full dose today and not cutting them in half, I do this (rightly or wrongly) with all new medications just to get over the mental aversion to taking a new drug. I'm not on modified release. I also had iron deficiency anaemia show up and started iron 2 days ago, I'm wondering if that is a contributing factor too? I'll leave it a couple of days and contact the GP if it continues.

Good plan.
Just to note if you have anaemia then that can make the HbA1C test inaccurate as it is based on the measure of glucose that is attached to your red blood cells which are reduced in number if you have anaemia. There is another test fructoseamine test though rarely done which is a more accurate test in that situation. Iron tablet do have a reputation of causing constipation in some people so drinking plenty can help.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @Hobster

I think a degree of anxiety when starting a new medication is quite common, and only natural.

And of course when you are looking out for side effects, then naturally you become more alert and aware of sensations, and wonder if they might be related to the New Thing.

The most common side effects of metformin are gastric upset, which can be mild and quickly diminish as the body adjusts, or more severe and unremitting.

There is a write up of the common side effects here, which you may already have seen

Side effects of metformin

NHS medicines information on side effects of metformin and what you can do to cope.

www.nhs.uk

Dizziness isn’t a common effect, so that may be connected to something else, or simply coincidental. Good that you’ve already been checking your blood pressure.

It might be worth getting hold of an affordable blood glucose meter such as the Spirit Tee 2, so that you can also check what your BG levels are doing if dizziness recurs?