scotland10

[scotland10]

Hi,
I am a type 2 diabetic with my recent Hba1c of 6.8 ( 51mm ). I am on insulin
i.e ;
1 x lantus + 3 x humalog. As my Hb has reached the desired target my
consultant has introduced me to metformin 500mg only to compliment the
insulin in order to reduce weight. The humalog dose has a 4 hour cycle &
lantus has a 24 hour slow acting cycle. What is the cycle for 500 mg of
metformin . I need to know this in order to adjust my insulin dosages
accordingly.

 

[Mark T]

Welcome to the forum scotland10 🙂

From my understanding Metformin is a background drug. It takes about 2 weeks to get into your system (as long as you keep taking the doses) and once there it takes a while (my DSN said 7 days) to completely come out if you stop taking.

It doesn't have peaks or anything like that.

 

[LeeLee]

Hello Scotland10 - are you a transplanted Scot? A few words about metformin... beware of the windy side-effects. It's at its least noticeable for me if I have a it with a very low carb meal. If the gastric side-effects are really bad, there is a slow-release version - so do go back to your GP if that happens.

 

[trophywench]

You can't predict how much it will improve a person's need for 'added' insulin because it isn't a scientific formula - every different patient will react differently!

So you just start taking it, and test, test test!

It takes up to 3 weeks to take full effect and the minimum recommended dose to actually be effective, is 1500mg a day - though some people DO get away with less, many others don't ! It's one of those YMMV things - ie 'your mileage may vary'.

However, if you eat a lot of carbohydrate, you could kill one bird with two stones - Metformin AND reducing your carb consumption. Because LeeLee is right - one of the things it seems to do is interfere with how the body actually absorbs carbohydrate and if it gets too many for it to cope with, whether you are injecting insulin or not - then your body excretes them which can result in terrible diarrhoea along with a fart fest !

 

[pippaandben]

Regarding the windy effect - do ask for the slow release tablet. It does help but if still suffering I found charcoal tablets really do work. Two after each "proper" meal and a very happy OH is the result (and dogs who were taking most of the blame!!!). After about 4 months I found I could reduce the tablets and now only rarely take them. Of course I do not know if this would have happened anyway.

 

[scotland10]

Welcome to the forum scotland10 🙂

From my understanding Metformin is a background drug. It takes about 2 weeks to get into your system (as long as you keep taking the doses) and once there it takes a while (my DSN said 7 days) to completely come out if you stop taking.

It doesn't have peaks or anything like that.

Thanks Mark T

 

[scotland10]

Hello Scotland10 - are you a transplanted Scot? A few words about metformin... beware of the windy side-effects. It's at its least noticeable for me if I have a it with a very low carb meal. If the gastric side-effects are really bad, there is a slow-release version - so do go back to your GP if that happens.

Thanks Lee Lee. My dad was a scot - 10 reminds me of my birthday as well as the first time I first saw Chelsea play @ Stamford Bridge !! I've only been on metformin since last saturday so I shal have to wait for any climate response to the tablet !!

 

[scotland10]

You can't predict how much it will improve a person's need for 'added' insulin because it isn't a scientific formula - every different patient will react differently!

So you just start taking it, and test, test test!

It takes up to 3 weeks to take full effect and the minimum recommended dose to actually be effective, is 1500mg a day - though some people DO get away with less, many others don't ! It's one of those YMMV things - ie 'your mileage may vary'.

However, if you eat a lot of carbohydrate, you could kill one bird with two stones - Metformin AND reducing your carb consumption. Because LeeLee is right - one of the things it seems to do is interfere with how the body actually absorbs carbohydrate and if it gets too many for it to cope with, whether you are injecting insulin or not - then your body excretes them which can result in terrible diarrhoea along with a fart fest !

Thanks for the reply it was most helpfull !

 

[scotland10]

Thanks for your help you've all been most helpfull !