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Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Diabetes / March 2006Decided to start metformin
Well, I researched metformin and decided to give it a try. My new doc recommended it after my A1c 5 months ago was an atypically high for me 6.1 or 6.3, can't remember exactly. At that time I totally resisted going on meds. My last A1c that he did was 5.7, which was more typical for me. I get that 5.7 with a lot of effort and attention to exercise and diet. I have several reasons for starting the metformin despite an essentially normal A1c. I want to improve my fasting A1c which averaged 112. When I get sick or stressed, my BG spikes and there's nothing I can do about it. I'm hoping metformin will smooth those spikes out. I've also read that they are now prescribing metformin for prediabetics and since I actually have diabetes, it seems appropriate for me. I want to have my sight and limbs when I'm in my 90's and if 5.7 is good, 5.1 is probably better. I see conflicting literature on this, but my sense is this is true. I'm sure I can't lower it any more with exercise and diet...I'm maxed out. I'm now taking 500mg with dinner and will probably increase to 1000mg twice a day if I can tolerate it. I started it 2 days ago and so far so good with the dreaded side effects. I know it takes a while to kick in, but today my FGB was 100.  SignatureBest wishes, Louise Type 2 since 2000 Controlling by exercise and diet and now metformin! > Well, I researched metformin and decided to give it a try. My new doc > recommended it after my A1c 5 months ago was an atypically high for me 6.1 [quoted text clipped - 21 lines] > I started it 2 days ago and so far so good with the dreaded side effects. I > know it takes a while to kick in, but today my FGB was 100. I had heard there were side effects to Metformin, too, but I never experienced any. Good luck with it. I've been taking it for a month now, 500mg daily for the first week, boosted to 1000mg a day in the second week. My FBG is still usually in the 110-118 range, no matter what I do. Through the day, the numbers are fine, but I don't know how to get that morning number down. Jeanie Have you tried testing 'early' in the morning? I tested a little extra the week before my last doctor appointment. Day of the appointment I was up about 4 am for a few minute...tested at about 93. Got up 2 hours later at the normal time and tested at over 140. (Started glyb/metformin 5/500 twice a day 3 months ago, along with Actos. Waiting on my latest A1C from the lab to confirm progress.. Other than the higher morning numbers which I think is the dawn effect my numbers are MUCH better.) Bill <snip> > I'm now taking 500mg with dinner and will probably increase to 1000mg > twice [quoted text clipped - 3 lines] > I > know it takes a while to kick in, but today my FGB was 100. I started with 500mg 2 times per day, with meals. No side effects. I upped it to 3 tims per day, no problems. I know a guy doing 5-7 per day and it is tolerated. I get the impression that it is well tolerated in general. I have taken it on an empty stomach without a hassle. They say it makes weight loss harder but it has always been hard for me. I would just use the med and see. Hopefully you get the right results! -Sax Saxology wrote: They say it makes > weight loss harder but it has always been hard for me. I would just use the > med and see. Hopefully you get the right results! Metformin makes weight loss EASIER. It is the other oral drugs that make it harder. I never could get my fasting blood sugar to drop with metformin though it chops about 20 mg/dl off my post-prandial numbers. At one point my doctor prescribed an overdose (2250 mg of the ER where the top dose is supposed to be 2000 mg.) It only made me feel poisoned but the fasting blood sugar wouldn't budge. --Jenny http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes Diabetes Info http://www.alt-support-diabetes.org/newlydiagnosed.htm Get Your Blood Sugar Under Control > Saxology wrote: They say it makes > > weight loss harder but it has always been hard for me. I would just use the > > med and see. Hopefully you get the right results! > > Metformin makes weight loss EASIER. It is the other oral drugs that make > it harder. That's what I've heard. In fact I forgot to mention that's another reason why I started the metformin. I've had this pesky "last 7 pounds" I've been unable to shed. If I never lose it it's no big deal, but it would be nice. SignatureBest wishes, Louise Type 2 since 2000 Controlling by exercise and diet and now metformin! > "Jenny" <lottadata@hotmail.com> wrote in message >>Metformin makes weight loss EASIER. It is the other oral drugs that make >>it harder. > > That's what I've heard. In fact I forgot to mention that's another reason > why I started the metformin. I've had this pesky "last 7 pounds" I've been > unable to shed. If I never lose it it's no big deal, but it would be nice. I lost 35 lbs. while on 500 mg/d of metformin (regular). I also upped my exercise and did some calorie restriction. After 3 years, the dose was upped to 2x500. I took it at breakfast and dinner. My new doctor switched me to ER and immediately I noticed less BG control in the evening. I wasn't testing earlier postprandials. I didn't want to waste the ER so I took it in the morning. My A1c went up 0.5 % during that 6 months. My breakfast and lunch have been fairly standard for several years and I did not anticipate higher postprandials. So I decided to do some post breakfast and lunch tests. This may very well be the reason my A1c went up while my FBG averaged 88 mg/dl and my evening tests were typically closer to 110 mg/dl. My previous doctor said he did not prescribe ER to his diabetic patients because it adversely effected their lipids. While not bad, mine were worst on 3/2/06 then they had been for several years. Exercise does help the efficiency of metformin. I know you do the treadmill and pump iron. Frank Frank: I was taking ER but noticed many times "dry powder" on the inside of "passed" pills when cut open with a razor blade. This tells me that the ER may "pass through" without complete absorption. Larry > > "Jenny" <lottadata@hotmail.com> wrote in message > [quoted text clipped - 24 lines] > > Frank : Frank: I was taking ER but noticed many times "dry powder" on the : inside of "passed" pills when cut open with a razor blade. This tells : me that the ER may "pass through" without complete absorption. : Larry Frankly, I don't care! I take 1000mgs 2x a day of teh extended release adn I don't have to live on immodium type stuff all the time. My bgs are very good, (73 this am, last night 100 at 2 hours pp) and my A1c is ok at 5.8, even though I am trying to get it back to 5.2. It learly, is working and saving me an enormous amount of stomach distress and embarassment. Wendy >>Metformin makes weight loss EASIER. It is the other oral drugs that make >>it harder. > > That's what I've heard. In fact I forgot to mention that's another reason > why I started the metformin. I've had this pesky "last 7 pounds" I've been > unable to shed. If I never lose it it's no big deal, but it would be nice. I lost 35 lbs. while on 500 mg/d of metformin (regular). I also upped my exercise, reduced carbs, and did some calorie restriction. After 3 years, the dose was upped to 2x500. I took it at breakfast and dinner. My new doctor switched me to ER and immediately I noticed less BG control in the evening. I didn't want to waste the ER so I took it in the morning. I wasn't testing earlier postprandials. My A1c went up 0.5% during that 6 months. My breakfast and lunch have been fairly standard for several years and I did not anticipate higher postprandials. So I decided to do some post breakfast and lunch tests. This may very well be the reason my A1c went up while my FBG averaged 88 mg/dl and my evening tests were typically closer to 110 mg/dl. My previous doctor said he did not prescribe ER to his diabetic patients because it adversely effected their lipids. While not bad, mine were worst on 3/2/06 then they had been for several years. Exercise does help the efficiency of metformin. I know you do the treadmill and pump iron. Frank >I never could get my fasting blood sugar to drop with metformin though >it chops about 20 mg/dl off my post-prandial numbers. At one point my >doctor prescribed an overdose (2250 mg of the ER where the top dose is >supposed to be 2000 mg.) It only made me feel poisoned but the fasting >blood sugar wouldn't budge. I'm lucky; Metformin does help my FBG. With the combination of diet change, exercise, weight loss, and 500 mg Metformin twice a day, I eventually got my FBG down to the mid-seventies (though it took a long time to get there). My doctor then decided to try cutting the Metformin back to just once a day, and after a month my FBG crept up to about 90-95. She was fine with that, but I told her I didn't want it to be anything over 85 if I could help it, so she agreed to put me back on a twice-a-day dose. And my FBG returned to ~75, and has stayed there ever since then. --bittersweet > <snip> >> I'm now taking 500mg with dinner and will probably increase to 1000mg [quoted text clipped - 12 lines] > med and see. Hopefully you get the right results! > -Sax If you are taking the 500 mg regular tabs (not the extended release), you can split them. My endo had me ramp up the dosage from 500 mg per day by 250 mg per day for 5 day, then add another 250 mg for 5days, etc., until I hit 2,500 per day. I noticed hardly any of the side effects plaguing others. It took longer, but metformin takes time to affect BG's anyways. Dennis (Type 2) > I started it 2 days ago and so far so good with the dreaded side effects. > I > know it takes a while to kick in, but today my FGB was 100. Cool! Sounds like you're over the hump. Nicky. SignatureA1c 10.5/5.4/<6 T2 DX 05/2004 1g Metformin, 100ug Thyroxine 95/74/72Kg |
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