starting Metformin - any tips please?

[PeppermintT]

hello, I have just been started on 550g Metformin, this week, HBA1C 7; GP said take every other day for 1st week then 1 a day.
I previously managed to keep my HBA1C round about 6.5 by diet , for 8 years, but the last lockdown I found very tough and I put on weight. I'm now on low carb, ( which I started as I anticipated a bad HBA1C reading). I have lost 6lb in a month, I'm doing 40 lengths of pool every week plus older persons keepfit class. (I'm 70+) .
Has anyone tips about offsetting possible side effects of Metformin? Its Day 1 today, I am scared it will destroy my active life and impede with my committee chairing and activism.
I am very motivated to drop 2 stone with the hope to get off this med. I also take atovastatin, 40 mgs, and Q10 to offset any muscle side effects , longterm, this has worked in that no side effects.

- should I eat some of my carb at breakfast? or leave it till late in the day, which I had been doing ?
- are there any vitamins which might help?
- has anyone dealt successfully with side effect nausea and what did you find you could eat or use to alleviate ?
- how much DIY blood sugar monitoring do you advise? I can do it several times a day if necessary. In fact I had spotted high readings before breakfast ( around 9) which had caused me to push the GP for an HBA1C test. I usually get readings between 7 and 5.6 at other times of day.

Thanks!

 

[chaoticcar]

Is your Metformin Slow Release or Extended Release these are kinder on the stomach than the normal one but more expensive so the GPS tend to prescribe the normal ones first .I take mine with a meal which also lessens the stomach problems .Hope that helps to start with
Carol

 

[Eddy Edson]

Most people get at most mild gastro probs for no more than a few days, so ignore the scare stories you see & assume you'll be OK until proven otherwise. It's generally only people who have had bad experiences with a med who comment, so it's easy to get a distorted picture.

 

[Drummer]

Just in case, though, you might want to avoid the swimming pool or any strenuous activity until you find out just how you tolerate the Metformin. If you are sensitive to it, it can be pretty dire.

 

[Sunshine time]

Hi
I've just started Metformin a couple of weeks ago and in all honesty, I had stomach upset for a couple of days ( a few days in ) then everything settled down and now I feel good.

I hope you get on with it ok

 

[SB2015]

Welcome to the forum @PeppermintT

You specifically asked about testing. You can use a BG meter, taking a reading before and 2 hrs after eating to see how food is affecting you as an individual (everyone is different, and it’s important to understand your own tolerances and ‘safe choices’). The numbers themselves don’t matter so much at the beginning, it is the difference between them - the ‘meal rise‘ which you want to keep as near to 2-3mmol/L as you can. If you happen to identify any carbs that seem to be spiking your BG, you can experiment with reducing amounts or swapping types of carbs. If you are interested in this apporach you may find test-review-adjust by Alan S a helpful framework.

Sometimes having things at a different time of day makes a difference, and I am not sure about any reasons to miss out breakfast, but others with T2 may be able to offer some advice on this.

For a bit more background information, the ‘useful links’ thread is a mine of helpful information - useful-links-for-people-new-to-diabetes

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @PeppermintT

Hope you get on well with the ‘metfartin’ and that any gastric upheaval is mild and short-lived. It is one of the most widely prescribed diabetes medications, and has been for years, so while some effects are quite common, severe reactions are rarer.

It’s good that you have been told to start gradually, and build up slowly. And as others have posted, taking it in the middle of a reasonably-sized meal is often a helpful strategy.

The BG checking around meals that @SB2015 describes can be very helpful in tailoring your meals to suit the way your body responds to different things at different times of day.

Good luck with it, and let us know how you get on 🙂

 

[Deleted member 21371]

I started on normal Metformin, not slow release.
No issues at all.

 

[goodybags]

I’ve been on Metformin for about 20yrs
initially was on a very small dose which ended up as the maximum dose
for me I don’t think it ever gave me any of the side effects people worry about
I believe I’m on the regular Metformin not the slow release people talk of

on testing
I would recommend test on waking
before and 2 or 3hrs after your meal
that way you can help you understand
what foods affect your levels,
we’re all different

Ive found testing a great help since I changed my diet lastyear
after I regularly started using this great forum

 

[Jacinta (Australian)]

I’m on slow release merformin and I take it at night with dinner I did get symptoms the first night when I first took it , then nothing after that . I’m also on low carb aswell which has helped me with everything including loosing weight 🙂 .

 

[Pine Marten]

Just in case, though, you might want to avoid the swimming pool or any strenuous activity until you find out just how you tolerate the Metformin. If you are sensitive to it, it can be pretty dire.

Yes, my side effects went on for quite a few weeks before they settled down more. I didn't want to be far from the loo...

Fortunately I was able to give it up after a while.