Metformin

Hello!

I am new to the website. I was just diagnosed a diabetic yesterday.  My doctor put me in Metformin 500 mg tablets (one pill every day).  I am pretty sick to my stomach since I have started taking the medication.  Is this normal?  Does this pass?  Also, what other side effects have you had - weight loss, etc. 

Can you recommend any good resources for me too since I am so new?

Thanks so much!

 

Thank you so much for your reply :) I appreciate it.

Thanks for the reply.  I am upset about being diagnosed (I am only 32) :(  But, I have heard that the medication can make you sick to your stomach.  Are you on a strict low carb diet?  How much weight have you lost?  My doctors tell me that I should lose weight and I really need too.  I am overweight (clinically obese) and I put 30 pounds on last year.  I have lost 10 of those with the help of a dietician - thank goodness!

Thank you very much :)  I just have one more question.  Which fruits do you eat?  I was told by my doctor that fruits are off limits.  How many portions do you have a day too?  I love fruit so not having it, is very hard on me.

Hi:)
I eat a very low carb diet. I follow the Bernstein diet and never go above 6g carbs for breakfast(usually lower here), and 12g carbs for lunch and dinner. I do have to use carbs to bring my bg level up at times though. I have lost about 90 pounds since August. I don't think this is average though. I was nervous when first diagnosed but after learning what my body could tolerate for food, I felt better. The ADA diet was killing me. I ended up back in the hospital with off the meter readings and it almost literally killed. Keep checking your bg until you know what you can eat and stay safe. I control my diabetes and I won't let it control me:) I get so much help and knowledge here that I feel safe coexisting with this disease. Jeannie, Lanie and gelchick have given me the food plan I live with. They are forever in my prayers:) Good luck.

J and J's Mom,
It's really true what Lainie said about everyone being different. If I'm really hungry I'll have a banana slathered in crunchy peanut butter (about a heaping tablespoon) and two hours later my sugar will be 74. I'll also eat an apple with nuts, celery with peanut butter, cheese and radishes, but only 1/2 orange at a time.

I don't mean to speak badly of your doctor but if he/she isn't a diabetic then you better start your own food plan and testing. Doctors usually get about one to two weeks nutritional training in all their years of medical school. He/she is right about some fruits. Pears, grapes, watermelon and several other fruits are just about useless as far as food value goes. But oranges have essential potassium, blueberries are high in copper and zink (I think?), pineapple is good for some peeps with IBS or crohnes, apples are high in malic acid which enhances glucose to energy production in the mitochondria of the cells... So don't throw the baby out with the bath water, just start a little research on your own and find which fruits are good for you and eat them with fats like nuts or whipped cream. Life with diabetes can be very good! Especially the whipped cream part!

It is really confusing figuring out what you can eat and can't eat. the best thing to do is try different foods followed by testing after 2 hours. I have been eating less carbs and more meat and have been doing a lot better over the last few weeks. I was diagnosed in February and currently my blood sugar runs in the high 90's to low 100's after my evening meal.

I too was started with Metformin 500 mg once a day. I sure didn't have to worry about constipation the first week. When I went back 2 weeks later for a followup  the doctor and I decided to give Janumet a try. It seems to be working better. No upset stomach. It also contains Metformin and another drug. I have been loosing weight fairly rapid which isn't uncommon at the begining of a low carb diet. I have lost about 25 pounds in 2 months. My goal is to get be 200 by the end of summer only 30 more to go. I honestly feel like i eat more now than I used to. It also helps that with the weather here getting warmer I work outside a lot more and harder.

I have learned a lot from this forum. Keep a positive outlook. Don't expect instant results and be patient.

Hi:)

Is Metformin the only med you are on? I really never had a problem with it except for constipation(still have that). If you continue to be sick from this med, talk to your doctor. I take the Metformin with my two major meals and it works wonders. Do you take it with meals? Maybe taking it on an emty stomach is the problem? Hang in there, things do get brighter:)

Hi:)

I am also on many asthma meds(advair, singulair, albuterol, duoneb and the pred). How is eating low carb going for you? Can you eat fruits? I can eat a few berries and just found out watermellon doesn't raise my bg. I am now down to 10mg of pred so hope I can add a few foods soon. I dream of apples and oranges:) Take care:)

Hi:)

Try the new carb and sugar control yogurt(3g carb) and yogurt smoothies(4g carb) by Light & Lively for breakfast. They are really good and don't raise my blood sugar. I have to really watch carbs in the morning when I take the pred.