jfdawson

First off, I'm not a Doctor.. Been Type 2 since 2007. I currently take Glimepride, Metformin HCL ER, Levemier.

It's my understanding that the Glimepride and Metformin make your body do 2 different things. Glimepride makes you produce MORE insulin. The Metformin makes your body accept the insulin that your body produces.

As for Metfomin side effects.. Most ( if not all ) complain about the "upset stomach" and Diarhea issues. The recommendation to me was to ALWAYS take it with food or right before food. That never really helped me. My Doctor put me on the EXTENDED RELEASE version called Metformin HCL ER. It seems to help the stomach issue. Also, don't SKIP. If you miss just 1 day, the next time you take a pill your stomach will revert back to just like it was day 1. Your body will adjust to it but it takes about 2 weeks to get to normal.

I feel like the Doctors just need a drug that would change the Insulin composition that my body produces. Seems simple, but apparently more difficult to develop since no one has figured out a cure.

Nightshade

I find that the stomach issue goes away by eating some meat protein (NO Carbs!!) when you take the metformin. Also the potty issue goes away if you up your intake of plenty of raw fiber.

DiamondDave247

well today marks day 7 that i have been on Metformin. things have gone well for the most part. on the negative side,...i had some headaches for the first 3 days, nothing a couple of Tylenol didn't help ease. my sleep has been rather restless, and i often wake up tired even after 8 hours in bed. i also had a little irregularity for a few days (sorry about going TMI there). i feel a bit drained during my daily bike rides, and my elapsed times have been slower, but i'm not sure if its due to poor sleep, or the new medication, or both. the minor side effects have pretty much cleared up for now (except for the sleeping issue).

on the positive side,...i no longer have the sudden hunger associated with low blood sugar level onset. although i don't miss those hunger symptoms, they were a good reminder of when it was time to put some premium fuel in the tank. i now have to remind myself to eat a healthy meal even if i'm not very hungry (especially to avoid any binge eating). as a result, i've lost a couple of pounds from eating much less, yet my fasting blood sugar levels are still kind of "all over the place" (sometimes low 90's sometimes 110-115). it seems my body and schedule are taking some time to adjust.

although i have been quite happy that the side effects from Metformin have not been too severe for me, i really have no idea where my blood sugar levels are right now. i tried checking levels throughout the day for the first few days, but i couldn't see any clear pattern (although, no spiking and no extreme lows). the numbers all stayed somewhere between 125 and 155 an hour after a meal or exercise. i guess my next A1C lab test in 6 weeks will be the best indicator of how the Metformin is working in my system. so, as long as my fasting blood sugars don't go through the roof or start steadily climbing, i will stay the course as per my doctors instructions.

McCallum

The only issues I had was the gas; not stomache pain but excessive passing thereof. This passed (pun kinda intended) in about a month or two. The funny thing is after the month or two my premetformin potty issues went away and I had the better poos; with less having to run for the can to deal with the issue and not real issue except the gas.

What did not pass was the issue with cold; I work in Fast Food and pulled breakfast stock from the +/- 0 freezer, Pre-metformin I could do so without wear a jacket/coat after starting metformin I wowuld freeze my butt off. I also needed a jacket/coat if the weather was 50F or below. I had a friend who NEVER wore a coat even when the temp was sub 20F (read Kansas winter snow on the ground) saw her leaving work one day see was in a WINTER COAT. Ask the next time I saw her about if I had seen her in a coat. Her answer was "YES! Damn metformin!" It did control my sugar once I was controling my diet! (read eating right and losing weight!)

DiamondDave247

i'm not a big fan of cold weather either, but i have always been able to tolerate it pretty well until a couple of years ago. i would get so cold in the winter just sitting on the couch, even after adding several layers of clothing and wrapping myself up in a blanket. i was wondering why i had suddenly become such a wimp about cold temperatures! it wasn't until i read some information about the thyroid gland and its function in regulating body temperature, that i suspected an imbalance in thyroid levels as a possible cause for my cold intolerance. i take thyroid medication too, but i'm sure my levels can fluctuate from time to time. it seems that Metformin may also affect the thyroid, so this is another reason for regular lab work, strict monitoring of thyroid levels, and "listening" to your body. i found this interesting "blog article" online that sheds a little more light on the subject:

https://wildlyfluctuating.blogspot.co...oid-tests.html

tpy2010

I am curious, have any of the diabetics posting here have been to a diabetic education coordinator. This is a service covered by most insurance carriers and medicare. Even if wasn't covered, it is money well spent. Also, it's apparent that you are exercising (posting on a cycling forum is atleast circumstantial evidence!) how many of us are doing any resistance or weight training. As we age, lean body mass diminishes (muscle mass goes down). Weight training and increasing muscle tone may also help with heat generation and reduce your new intolerance to cold weather.
Lastly, your physician is your first source of info. This is why they are your physcian. Most physicians would rather care for people invested in their own health than treating those who don't invest in their own health. Just saying, your doc is on your team, if not, find a new one.

Tom

McCallum

Sort of; when I asked my doc if I needed a glucomitor (sp) he sent me to the diabetic education coordinator at our local Hospital. She showed me how to use the meter and looked at what I had been eating and said I had been doing Ok; do this this and this with the Carb level. Oh and we have a class on Tuesdays at 0900 till whatever. I said "I work nd asked anything in the evening?" You would have thought I said "I'm a three head sex maniac lets go ride!" She acted like I was out of my mind. I should just be able to take time off work and come! Well I work in fast food and THERE IS NO PAID LEAVE and I need to caaash to pay the doc and the like; to I did not go.

DiamondDave247

hello forum friends. I just wanted to add a quick update to this thread. in February, after 3 months of taking an 850 mg tab of Metformin daily (with minimal to zero noticeable bad side effects), I went in for routine lab work. my blood sugars were starting to creep up again at that point, so my new doctor suggested increasing the Metformin dosage to a 500 mg tab TWICE a day and scheduled more labs. I started this routine and 3 months later, once again went in for lab work during the month of June. my A1C level went from 6.0 to 6.4, but my doctor said this was still considered a "well controlled" level and no need for concern or adjustment at this point.

I must say that one of the nicer side effects of taking Metformin now for over 6 months, has been some very gradual weight loss. I am very proud to say that I'm now UNDER 200 pounds for the 1st time since high school (over 30 years ago)! this may still seem like a lot of weight for most people, but for those of us who have struggled their entire life with weight and eating issues, it is a HUGE MILESTONE for me. I believe that bicycling daily and switching to Metformin has helped me achieve this short term weight goal. my next goal is 190 pounds, and eventually, reaching a "normal" or "average" weight for my height of between 175 and 185 pounds.

to all those out there dealing with weight and diabetes, I encourage you to hang in there, and take things one day at a time and one mile at a time. on days when you feel like you don't have the energy for your usual ride, just do what you can, because a little is better than nothing at all. you would be surprised how many times I've started out with zero energy and end up doing a full ride! It just makes my day to know I've tried and my persistence paid off! best wishes, safe rides, and healthy living to anyone that takes the time to read this thread. peace.

McCallum

Funny you say this; I think that it helped me with my weight lose when I made the choice to control my intake. It was after I told I no longer needed the metformin that I started to gain again!?!?!

kingsqueak

When you get time, check this video out, Robert Lustig : Sugar the bitter truth

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnni...20the%20bitter

I never had type 2, but had terrible carb sensitivity and had severe low blood sugar crashes. As I got older they were getting so severe that I had to sit around the office multiple times and wait them out before I could drive home.

I eliminated consumption of all sugar, no soda, no juice, no drinks with sugar at all. Went to just water and coffee (black, no sugar). After that, which helped quite a bit, I started to severely limit my carb intake. I don't follow any particular diet, but South Beat/Atkins/Primal etc are all interrelated. I went from eating pizza almost daily and lots of other heavy carb intake, like potatoes etc, to dropping most of them completely.

I spent a year on heavily (less than 100g daily) carb restricted diet. Aside from losing a bunch of weight, it was a revelation. My energy levels stabilized, no more afternoon severe crashes, no more pre-meal time crashes and shakiness, more alert, mood more even keeled. It made a huge difference.

I've introduce some carbs like rice or light bread on sandwiches now and have plateaued with the weight loss but sticking to no carbs as much as possible for breakfast and dinner with the hybrid lunch and my metabolism remains much more stable.

Not telling you to go do it, talk to your doctor, but I would be amazed if you couldn't go a long way with type 2 to controlling it with heavy sugar and carb restrictions in your diet.

DiamondDave247

thanks for the reply and suggested video link. i'm not sure who you were addressing your comment to, but rest assured, MOST people with diagnosed type 2 diabetes, and I would guess that ALL people with type 1 diabetes, know about simple carbs and restricting sugars in their daily diet. if someone with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes has not already reduced or completely eliminated simple carbs and sugars, then they must not be very serious about healthy living, or they are dwelling in a cave and have no access to the internet...lol...but I sincerely appreciate your reply and interest in this forum topic. best wishes on your continued healthy lifestyle. ride safe!

kingsqueak

Yes was directed for you, and yes, one *would hope* :-) I've seen several people who just inject away to offset bad habits, food, alcohol, etc. Was just informational and hopefully just redundant.

road1bike

I am am a big advocate of Bernsteins method. I've been following his advice for a few years and i am off all pills.