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Type 2 Diabetes
- Thread starter Snowyowl
- Start date
- Status
Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Hi Snowyowl, welcome to the forum 🙂 I believe that the metformin takes a couple of weeks to start becoming properly effective - how long have you been taking them? How did you come to be diagnosed? I recommend getting a copy of Type 2 Diabetes: The First Year by Gretchen Becker, and reading Jennifer's Advice and Maggie Davey's letter to give you a good grounding in diabetes, what to expect, and how to deal with it 🙂
Please let us know if you have any questions and we will try our best to help! 🙂
Please let us know if you have any questions and we will try our best to help! 🙂
being Diagnosed
Hi
It was all a shock being told I had diabetes. Last year I had to go and see a spinal surgeon and I was told I needed surgery, so, I decided it would be advantageous to loose some weight. Over a year I lost 2 stone and 3 weeks ago, went for my pre op tests. This is where it was found out. Was a shock after loosing weight. Needless to say, I was put straight onto metformin as I had been eating a balanced diet for a year, so no chance of using diet to control it.
Ah well at least I know that it should have started reducing now. At least I now know how long it takes to start working 🙂
Hi
It was all a shock being told I had diabetes. Last year I had to go and see a spinal surgeon and I was told I needed surgery, so, I decided it would be advantageous to loose some weight. Over a year I lost 2 stone and 3 weeks ago, went for my pre op tests. This is where it was found out. Was a shock after loosing weight. Needless to say, I was put straight onto metformin as I had been eating a balanced diet for a year, so no chance of using diet to control it.
Ah well at least I know that it should have started reducing now. At least I now know how long it takes to start working 🙂
Northerner
Admin (Retired)
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
You may have been eating a balanced diet for someone who didn't have diabetes, but given that you were diagnosed with it it's likely that some of your choices were not best suited to keeping good blood sugar control. If you are still eating the same things then it may be that the metformin is not going to be a huge help - it will help, but making some modifications to your diet would probably help much more.
Diabetes is largely about carbohydrates - bread, pasta, rice, baked items, potatoes etc. - so the best way to get good blood sugar control is to be careful about your consumption of these items. I would suggest getting a copy of The GL Diet for Dummies - your local library may have a copy. This will give you a good idea of what sort of foods to select in order to have less impact on your blood sugar levels. Your weight loss to date is excellent, and you may find that by modifying your diet to reduce your carbs and substitute them with other items (like extra veg, for example) means that you may actually be able to reduce your medication in time.
Mark T
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Welcome to the forum Snowyowl 🙂
Yep, Metformin takes about a couple of weeks to generally get into your system possibly up to a month for some. I think the maximum dose is about 6 tablets (but I could be wrong).
Are you self testing your blood glucose?
Yep, Metformin takes about a couple of weeks to generally get into your system possibly up to a month for some. I think the maximum dose is about 6 tablets (but I could be wrong).
Are you self testing your blood glucose?
Many thanks for all the info everyone.
I have just purchased that book, Type 2 Diabetes - the first year as recommended by Northerner.
As to your question Mark T I am now self testing as my monitor has just arrived in the post. I was worried about my readings as, when I was at the hospital for my pre op tests, my reading was 35. This meant nothing to me until it was explained that the normal level that they like you to keep it at is between 5 and 7. My doctor tried to reassure me that I didn't need to self monitor, just have the regular blood tests. Hmm didn't think this was quite the correct way for me as I like to know what is happening.
I already have a serious condition (rheumatoid arthritis) that I have to be aware of and I like to be the one in control of it, not the other way round so hence my need to purchase a monitor. My fasting reading this morning was 16.5 so it seems to be going down. I just did not know how quickly it falls when on Metformin
I have just purchased that book, Type 2 Diabetes - the first year as recommended by Northerner.
As to your question Mark T I am now self testing as my monitor has just arrived in the post. I was worried about my readings as, when I was at the hospital for my pre op tests, my reading was 35. This meant nothing to me until it was explained that the normal level that they like you to keep it at is between 5 and 7. My doctor tried to reassure me that I didn't need to self monitor, just have the regular blood tests. Hmm didn't think this was quite the correct way for me as I like to know what is happening.
I already have a serious condition (rheumatoid arthritis) that I have to be aware of and I like to be the one in control of it, not the other way round so hence my need to purchase a monitor. My fasting reading this morning was 16.5 so it seems to be going down. I just did not know how quickly it falls when on Metformin
Hi Snowyowl
Welcome; looks like you were picked up like me during pre-op tests & after discussing diet they were happy with it & I went straight onto Metformin. (2 tabs a day). This was increased to 4 after 6 months as levels not where they wanted. But when on 4 with increased exercise as well my levels had shot down to 5.8 so metformin put back to 2 a day & still on this although last BG was 6.7 (put down to anti-biotics & infection over the new year).
Hoping to be back in low 6's next time due test in summer (if we have 1 of course).
I was told when first diagnosed it can take up to a year to establish steady levels & doses of metformin may go up or down, so I'd expect on your next test for it to come down again. The health centre I go to tend to leave you on 4 a day until you get under 7.
My hubby has been having increasing levels so he is now on another drug as at max of metformin (3 850g per day) so he was told.
Have you had your op & did everything go as was hoped & you are now recovering well.
Take care
Lynne
Welcome; looks like you were picked up like me during pre-op tests & after discussing diet they were happy with it & I went straight onto Metformin. (2 tabs a day). This was increased to 4 after 6 months as levels not where they wanted. But when on 4 with increased exercise as well my levels had shot down to 5.8 so metformin put back to 2 a day & still on this although last BG was 6.7 (put down to anti-biotics & infection over the new year).
Hoping to be back in low 6's next time due test in summer (if we have 1 of course).
I was told when first diagnosed it can take up to a year to establish steady levels & doses of metformin may go up or down, so I'd expect on your next test for it to come down again. The health centre I go to tend to leave you on 4 a day until you get under 7.
My hubby has been having increasing levels so he is now on another drug as at max of metformin (3 850g per day) so he was told.
Have you had your op & did everything go as was hoped & you are now recovering well.
Take care
Lynne
Mark T
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
Well Metformin by itself is only worth perhaps 1 or 2 mmol/L drop in blood sugars. But Metformin combined with diet and exercise is another matter!
The monitor is an excellent tool because you can use it to help make food choices! If you are eating something that sends you very high after meals (say >4 mmol/L above the pre-meal reading) then you know you have to moderate that. Personally I quickly discovered that most breakfast cereals sent me stratospheric even the muesli I was eating! 😱
The GP's don't like people self testing because it costs money and unless you do something with the readings, it doesn't do anything.
Where is your arthritis? That can impact on your ability to exercise (my mother and nan both have it).
Hi All
Thank you again for all your help and information. After only a few days, I now know that I have to be careful of carbs. Will have to try and find a good balance.
I am still waiting to go in the hospital SimplesL. went for my pre op but they do tell you it can be 1 to 6 weeks after before your op takes place
I have my arthritis just about all over but, I try and not let it interfere in my life. I have had to adapt some things but where there is a will there is a way,
I have been to my exercise class this morning and I am wondering what my reading will be tomorrow mornng🙂
Thank you again for all your help and information. After only a few days, I now know that I have to be careful of carbs. Will have to try and find a good balance.
I am still waiting to go in the hospital SimplesL. went for my pre op but they do tell you it can be 1 to 6 weeks after before your op takes place
I have my arthritis just about all over but, I try and not let it interfere in my life. I have had to adapt some things but where there is a will there is a way,
I have been to my exercise class this morning and I am wondering what my reading will be tomorrow mornng🙂
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