Type 2 Diabetes.... Metformin side effects

[WILL52]

I was diagnosed with type 2 in December. I had 3 months to get my blood sugar level down through diet and got it down but not enough, so I was given Metformin. I started taking 2 per day but had problems with nausea. I was then given slow release which seems better although I now seem to have serious problems with fatigue... I can sleep 12 hrs per day if I let myself and have problems concentrating... Is this normal. Is there anything I can do or take to increase me energy levels. I have also had problems with vitamin d deficiency.... struggling at the mo as there are no doctors appointments and my diabetic nurse says that there should be no side effects.

Any help appreciated

 

[trophywench]

What's your day to day blood glucose looking like - or don't you test? I ask because certainly when my BG is too high - I can sleep the sleep of the dead.

 

[WILL52]

What's your day to day blood glucose looking like - or don't you test? I ask because certainly when my BG is too high - I can sleep the sleep of the dead.

Thanks for your reply. TBH I don't test because I didn't think I needed to. I do try to watch what I eat but I do admit I have the odd bit of chocolate etc. I work odd shifts so find my sleep pattern can be affected BUT I don't seem to be able to sleep enough... (by enough... I can sleep 10-12 hrs no problem..) I've a chap who works for me who also takes metformin and he said that he suffers from fatigue regularly... Would like to feel rested for once...

 

[HenryBennett]

Welcome Will, you’re in the right place. Notwithstanding what your GP and diabetes nurse might have advised, it’s really important to have a BG meter and to test regularly. You need to build up a picture of your personal reaction to foodstuffs. Keep a food diary and measure your BG just before you eat and then two hours afterwards - possibly one hour as well in the early days.

There‘s plenty of advice here about meters and testing. It’s the only way to determine what is effecting your energy levels etc.

 

[DaveB]

Hi. Fatigue is not a normal side effect of Metformin but we are all different. This drug doesn't have that much effect on blood sugar but is a very safe drug. It may be worth stopping it if you think that is the cause of fatigue. It's important to get a meter and to see how you are doing and learn what foods affect you. Nothing wrong with chocolate but not the usual rubbish which is loaded with sugar. Go for 85% dark if you can but nothing less than 70%

 

[Totalwar]

I have diabetes and have been on metformin for years.the only side affect I had with it was the runs to the toinlet.But if you eat before taking it’s fine and any side affects do settle down over time.When my sugar levels are high I feel Fatigue as well get very tired during the day and fall asleep couple times a day.not sure maybe your a bit down it’s a big shock when your first diagnosed with Type II diabetes.

 

[WILL52]

Hi. Fatigue is not a normal side effect of Metformin but we are all different. This drug doesn't have that much effect on blood sugar but is a very safe drug. It may be worth stopping it if you think that is the cause of fatigue. It's important to get a meter and to see how you are doing and learn what foods affect you. Nothing wrong with chocolate but not the usual rubbish which is loaded with sugar. Go for 85% dark if you can but nothing less than 70%

Thanks, I spoke with the diabetic nurse at our practice and she more or less said that the Metformin should not have an effect. Tried the normal twice per day and it made me feel sick. Swapped to slow release which is better but Ive just not got any energy at all. I manage my own business and some days I'm struggling to keep going for more than 5-6 hrs before I need a rest. And I can sleep 10-12 hrs no problem. It's making life very difficult.

 

[Drummer]

Do you snore?
I am just wondering if you might have sleep apnoea, where you don't get any rest as your airway closes up and your body wakes you to stop you suffocating. You might be unaware of this going on but it can go on and on - my husband used to stop breathing for half a minute, then snort and splutter for half a minute and stop again, for hour after hour (he is lucky to have survived). He now has a CPAP machine and no more danger.
Metformin did not suit me at all, so I stopped it and have not had problems. I do have to keep to very low levels of carbs by some standards, but it seems far easier to cut carbs than try to deal with the side effects of Metformin.

 

[WILL52]

My wife says yes... But I wouldnt say sleep apnoea. If you have sleep apnoea the DVLA can suspend your truck licence. More that the 10-12 hrs is not restful.

 

[RuthB]

My wife says yes... But I wouldnt say sleep apnoea. If you have sleep apnoea the DVLA can suspend your truck licence. More that the 10-12 hrs is not restful.

I have sleep apnoea and what you describe is how I felt before I got my cpap machine. The DVLA haven't taken away my licence as I am getting treatment, though I don't know about truck licences. Sleep apnoea means that no matter how much sleep you are getting, it is disrubted due to the episodes where you stop breathing, so you don't get the deep sleep you need. so you can sleep for 12 hours but not actually be rested. But diabetes can also have that effect. I agree with everyone above - get a tester and take your blood sugars on a regular basis as you need to know what is going on internally to find out a solution. And consider talking to a sleep clinic about possible sleep apnoea - which is also linked with diabetes. i find with metformin it upsets my stomach from time to time. i am very fatigued at the moment but I know that is due to my high blood glucose. Good luck and I hope you feel rested soon.

 

[Drummer]

When sleep apnoea was suspected it was just a matter of collecting a tester device, returning it and a few days later went for the results and came home with a CPAP machine. It was very quick then - you might like to consider it as it makes a lot of difference to life in general.

 

[rebrascora]

Hi Will

Do you know what your HbA1c results have been... these are the blood tests used to diagnose and track your progress with diabetes.
I too would strongly encourage you to get a Blood Glucose monitor to enable you to test your levels at home on a day by day and meal by meal basis.
Since you are diabetic, the most likely cause of fatigue is high BG levels and if you had a meter you could test and rule this out or adjust your diet to prevent it, if it is high. Those people who need to self fund a meter use the SD Gluco Navii or the Spirit Healthcare Tee2 as they have the cheapest test strips. You get through a lot of test strips in the first few months so make sure to buy plenty of additional pots of test strips.... at least 2 extra. Testing immediately before a meal and then 2 hours after will show you whether the food you ate is causing you a problem and if necessary make low carb substitutions or reduce portion size.
If you are finding this fatigue sets in an hour or two after you have eaten something high in carbs then that would be the obvious cause, but using a BG meter will show you quite clearly if this is the problem.