Please Talk To Me About Metformin And Type 2 Diabetes

[cahill]

I was just ( today) diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.

 I was prescribed metformin,

I have spent the afternoon reading up on metformin and how it works. And , of course , looking for an ingredients   list .

 

I am FREAKING OUT ,, just a bit ,,, actually I am going back and forth between crying and being angry .

I dont meet with my " diabetes educator " until  April  8th

Any advice ( calming thoughts)  would be appreciated .

 

 

 

 

** just a note to my body ,,, I have had enough. ,, I am at my limit

[sisterlynr]

Glucophage/Metformin:  You can call the manufacturer and ask if their product is gluten-free.  Since there is a generic, I would call the specific company.  If you have gut problems with Metformin, there is a  medication that is Jentadueta which is linagliptin and metformin combined.  I've been taking it with no ill side problems.  My problem was gut upset.  May not cause you one bit of an issue and several doctors have told me Metformin is the best medicine out there to control Diabetes.

 

If you shop the outer rim of the grocery you should be good with the diet.  Fruits are better than juices due to added sugar.  Low fat fresh meat such as chicken, fish, turkey are good.  Vegetables, fresh or fresh frozen work best for me.  Sweet potato breaks down slower than white potato (starch which turns to sugar) so I choose them.  I will not use artificial sweetening products.  Your body will react to them just as it does to sugar but you have to watch those nasty chemicals.  I use natural sugar instead of diet drinks.  You can do this!  Anyone that has given up gluten foods, corn,potato and dairy. . . this will be a breeze for you.  May be that you need smaller portions of food throughout the day, more protein, less sugar/starch.  Good luck! 

[cahill]

Thanks sisterlynr,

 

I think one of  the reasons I am  so upset is I have worked soooooo very  very hard to get/be healthy and now, now I develop diabetes . My doc said "luck of the draw"`  

 

**she is a really good doc and I am lucky to have her,,, just not my fave right now **

[nvsmom]

(Hugs) Oh no. 

 

I don't know much about diabetes but I do know that eliminating as many starches as possible is usually helpful. That would be all flours (except maybe coconut or almond), stachy vegetables (most root/tubers) and beans, peas and corn consumption should be greatly reduced.  Cutting back on very sugary fruits is often helpful too; ie. pick a handful of berries over a banana.

 

I found the book Primal Body, Primal Mind to be helpful with advice on a low GI diet. Wheat Belly was good too.

 

I hope you can tweak your diet enough so that extra meds will end up being unneccessary.  Best wishes.

[ravenwoodglass]

I am first going to state that this is my personal opinion and experience. I am not a medical professional.

I was prescribed this drug a few years ago. I read up on it and the black box warning that it comes with before I picked up the first script. I went back to my doctor and explained that the symptoms in the black box were the same as the symptoms that I had when glutened. I asked how I could know if what I was dealing with was a glutening or a serious reaction to the drug. He had no answer for me. At that point I asked if I could try changing my diet to see if I could get my BS under control with diet. I went out and bought a book on low glycemic index foods and got a BS meter. The doctor wanted me to test my BS only in the morning. Instead I tested in the morning, before I ate and then at 1, 2 and 3 hour intervals afterwards. I figured that way I could see what foods were spiking my BS and avoid or eat much less of them at a sitting.

In my own case I was able to get my BS under control that way and was able to avoid having to take any med. Don't know if that would work for you but it might be something to think about.

[sisterlynr]

Ravenwoodglass has a very valid point.  That is why I mentioned the combination drug as Metformin/Glucophage can cause gut issues.  The JentaDueta solves that problem.

 

Celiac can cause Diabetes Type II, along with many other autoimmune disorders.  I've been hit with way too many.  Besides Diabetes, I'm diagnosed with Osteoarthritis, Premature Ovarian Failure, had PCOS, Fatty Liver, Iron D Anemia, NH Lymphoma.  No one could understand why I was so puny when everyone else in my family had good health.  NOW, I know . . . if only my doctors had put 2 and 2 together years ago.  

[cahill]

I am first going to state that this is my personal opinion and experience. I am not a medical professional.

I was prescribed this drug a few years ago. I read up on it and the black box warning that it comes with before I picked up the first script. I went back to my doctor and explained that the symptoms in the black box were the same as the symptoms that I had when glutened. I asked how I could know if what I was dealing with was a glutening or a serious reaction to the drug. He had no answer for me. At that point I asked if I could try changing my diet to see if I could get my BS under control with diet. I went out and bought a book on low glycemic index foods and got a BS meter. The doctor wanted me to test my BS only in the morning. Instead I tested in the morning, before I ate and then at 1, 2 and 3 hour intervals afterwards. I figured that way I could see what foods were spiking my BS and avoid or eat much less of them at a sitting.

In my own case I was able to get my BS under control that way and was able to avoid having to take any med. Don't know if that would work for you but it might be something to think about.

Thanks ravenwoodglass,

 My preliminary diagnosis was reactive hypoglycemia. While working to stabilize my levels with diet and timing/content  of my meals, I was also tracking my blood sugar levels , this was when  we discovered the extreme of my levels .

 

As to the side effects of the metformin ,, I had /have the same concerns. Three years ago I would never have even considered taking this medication because of the possible side effects. Even now I am cautious  and apprehensive about taking this ( really any ) medication.

As to knowing whither or not I have been glutened vs the side effects of the medication ,,,,,I am EXTREMELY  strict with my food,,, I do not eat out AT ALL nor do I eat anything that is prepared by anyone else. I know it can still happen but I make every effort to prevents gluten/soy from reaching my lips. My endo is concerned that I am to strict with my food /diet..  But my GI understands  and is OK with it. Too bad  there is not an endo/GI doc combo pack out there   

So far any adverse  reaction to  this med has been slight.My endo reassured me any nausea ect should dissipate with in the first month or so. I will not trial/reintroduce any new foods during that time  .

 

 

I tried the diet and meal timing, and I would recommend that  to anyone having BG issues to try that first ( I am not a medical profession just my personal opinion)  but unfortunately for me that was not enough.

 

I see my endo again in 6 weeks, I will give it that long and reevaluate at that point.

[cahill]

Ravenwoodglass has a very valid point.  That is why I mentioned the combination drug as Metformin/Glucophage can cause gut issues.  The JentaDueta solves that problem.

 

Celiac can cause Diabetes Type II, along with many other autoimmune disorders.  I've been hit with way too many.  Besides Diabetes, I'm diagnosed with Osteoarthritis, Premature Ovarian Failure, had PCOS, Fatty Liver, Iron D Anemia, NH Lymphoma.  No one could understand why I was so puny when everyone else in my family had good health.  NOW, I know . . . if only my doctors had put 2 and 2 together years ago.  

So far  any adverse reaction to the metformin has been slight. I see my endo in 6 weeks,, I will trial the metformin  and reevaluate at that time .

 

 Yep the wonderful ( sarcasm ) world of celiac