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Stopped taking metformin and had hypo

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K

karent

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Type 2
I have been on metformin ever since I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes four and a half years ago, I have always had an upset tummy with them but got used to it over time. Six weeks ago I had my gall bladder removed and since then the uspet tummy got worse, so I went to see nurse practioner last week who is also is the surgeries diabetic nurse, I had seen her week before for my review, she was really pleased with my blood results and weight loss. Because the Hb1ac was now good she has decided to stop the metformin and iron tablet I was taking as, she thinks after having the gallbladder out my stomach cant deal with these two drugs at the moment while my body gets used to not having it there anymore. Out of blue yesterday I came over very light headed and shaky, told my supervisor about an hour before this I needed a break but was ignored, have only gone back to work this week so I am working on different deptartment, usually if I need a break I just go. When I tested my bs was down to 2.9 the lowest I think I have ever had, soon started to feel better once had something to eat. I am bit worried this is going to happen again, I thought it would be going higher without the metformin so this was bit of a shock. I have definately noticed that since stopping the metformin and iron tablets I havent had anymore upset tummy, so must of been those causing it.
 
Hi Karen, that's really weird and I have no idea why that would happen. Unless you were doing summat you don't usually do (eg moving filing boxes instead of being at your desk or whatever, or had eaten less carbs than normal, or at a different time, or if you were under stress about summat)

But you do need to explain to anyone you are working for that feeling shaky etc is a symptom of hypoglycaemia and does mean you must test, and treat it which will take you literally a minute or so - otherwise if it's bad enough, he'll only land up dialling 999.

And if he still moans, then speak about him to HIS manager etc. It is not in your Job Description to educate their staff about diabetes!

Hang on though, did the person know you were diabetic? If not, that's your fault I'm afraid.

All you can do is test test test - if it happens again, straight to the doctors.
 
Thanks, seems maybe I am not the only one to have experienced this after having gallbaldder removed.

Before the op I would occasionally have a drop in levels but not as low as on Sunday, but knew before this was because I was busy rushing around in the morning doing a heavy job. at the moment I am sat at a till so not really doing anything more than normally would.


I am going to make a point of making sure what ever supervisor is on now makes sure I dont have to wait till so late for my break. I had my usual breakfast which sees me through fine. Just have to wait and see how I am this week if not its back to see my Diabetic nurse.
 
I don't know if this helps but when learning about diabetic drugs as a student nurse I was taught that hypo happen very rarly when on metformjn as its job is to encourage insulin production therefore when u stopped taking it it could have potentially put u at risk of having a hypo like anyone else would if not eating regularly so I suppose this could be a reason why 🙂
 
Nic:) said:
I don't know if this helps but when learning about diabetic drugs as a student nurse I was taught that hypo happen very rarly when on metformjn as its job is to encourage insulin production therefore when u stopped taking it it could have potentially put u at risk of having a hypo like anyone else would if not eating regularly so I suppose this could be a reason why 🙂
Click to expand...

I think metformin works differently to that, it suppresses glucose prduction by the liver and inhibits absorption of carbs in the gut rather than encouraging insulin production, Nic🙂 As you say though, non-diabetic people can also have low blood sugar episodes if they haven't eaten or have been especially active - happens quite a bit to a friend of mine!
 
I'd put money on my husband having one this afternoon Northie, he had several local anaesthetic jabs behind one ear to have a cyst removed at the hospital. He came out, he was fine, we walked to the car park and paid, went to the car and got in and he started to literally quiver all over like a jelly, looked bloody awful.

I thought he should get his head down, cos it could have been postural hypotension cos he does have quite low BP normally (it's OK cos his heart rate is also down) and of course he'd been lying down for ages and then stood up and started walking and taking (doing things) immediately. But he was in the driving seat behind the wheel and so I couldn't shove him down, like I might had he been sat on a normal chair.

By the time I'd said that to him, he was OK again, and then I said about 20 minutes later when we were driving along, Oh sugar - there's adrenalin in LA, isn't there? - and that can do either, and it was a bit near your brain and your jugular LOL God knows why I never thought to test him, but you just don't expect it do you?
 
jalapino said:
Very interesting this post....I take metformin and have never had any issues apart from....<< coff coff wind >> but been looking at the net and found this...may help or at least give you another angle to look at 🙂

Indeed an interesting post and I was going to post something seperate on this somewhat indelicate 😛 matter.

I am T2 with Metformin since July and since then I have experienced similar problems with ahem... wind. However, unlike the OP I haven't had upset tummy, rather the opposite. To punt it bluntly: constipation. Not something I have ever suffered from previously, which I am certain is due to the Metformin.

Any one with similar experince or advice??

Mark
Click to expand...
 
Hi Mark, I find it difficult to separate the effects of Metformin and the radical diet change when I started taking it 18 months ago... but yes, of late I've been having the same problem. The exception is my regular Wednesday night off, when I eat whatever I want!
 
Aha yes Diet! I suppose I guess I leapt on metformin. Could be a factor I suppose.

I'll ask my Nurse on next visit.

Thanks Lee
 
a) are you drinking enough water and b) eating enough fibre?

As a life long sufferer of constipation (which I've always managed to control with dietary measures when it decided to bother me) that does usually help, esp if I have an orange or two or some pineapple (tinned or fresh)

But I'm T1 so the extra carbs of course, don't matter to me so it's easy.
 
Agrees with Trophy...

I've never heard of Metformin causing constipation but that doesn't mean it doesn't for you. I have the opposite problem, I'm ok if I'm on a stable dose and take it with meals but the minute I take an extra tablet ,last week my blood sugar was all over the damned place, so I took an extra at lunchtime...sure enough, explosion!

Karen, are you taking any other meds other than Metformin? Some other meds also mess around with your blood sugar. Alternatively it's just one of those annoying diabetes things, you think you've got the b**ger licked and then it does something stupid like send you high or low for no apparent reason.
 
"sure enough, explosion!" after reading that, people around me are wondering what I'm giggling at :D

Thanks very much. Looks like it's diet. Has to be. All comment is also congruent with Diab Nurse view.

I'm definitely not drinking enouh water. As a result of the diagnosis my exercise level has increased massively, I'm also not drinking any cordial and soft drinks. And yes I think fibre as well. All bran from the shops this weekend I think. 🙄

Really looking forward to some sort of "Explosion"😉

Mark
 
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