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What med would you try next?

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Posted 1/29/2013 3:07 PM (GMT 0)
So, I can't take metformin. I have an A1c of 6.8. Metformin and metformin extended release both give me diarrhea. I've been trying for months. So, what drug would you ask for next? I do not want to take actos and I have a sensitive stomach. Anyone taking the GLP1's with success? I hate that I can't take metformin b/c overall I felt better but the diarrhea and stomach cramps were bad. I had more energy though and in better spirits when I took it. I might try to take 250 a day but I don't think that will keep me at 6.0 where I want to be. Thanks! I'd appreciate people's thoughts of what worked for them. I am lucky that my sugars are not that high yet.
Posted 1/29/2013 7:50 PM (GMT 0)
Oh gosh, I don't know. There are so many different diabetes meds out there but they do act differently in the body and may have side effects, too. What does your doctor think?

Have you tried cutting the metformin in half and taking them at different times with food?
Posted 1/29/2013 8:37 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for your reply. Oh yea, I've tried the metformin every which way. It just doesn't matter. I can tolerate 1/2 of a 500 mg metformin and that's my tolerance level.

Well one answer she had for me was actos and I told her no way am I taking actos. Everybody I know that took it either gained a ton of weight or had problems losing even half a pound. With my blood sugars not all that high, I think glyburide or glipizide would send me low. I wonder if it's even worth it to try Victoza or Byetta with my sensitive stomach. That pretty much leaves januvia, onglyza or trajenta. It seems like a lot of diabetes meds can cause stomach issues. I hope this isn't going to be a big problem for me. I don't want to have to go straight to insulin b/c I think I'd go low but I'd be willing to try like lantus or levemir. It might save me the hassles. I have no problem with needles.

Posted 1/30/2013 2:41 AM (GMT 0)
I've got a pretty cast iron stomach, byetta did me in. I'm much happier with insulin. Glyburide and byetta together put me in the 30s. YMMV
Posted 1/30/2013 3:02 AM (GMT 0)
Yes, it does seem that many of the diabetes meds affect the stomach.  With your doctor's approval, maybe you could take half the 500 Metformin with a morning meal and the other half with dinner.  See if that's tolerable.  Food seems to tame the effects.  Don't jump ahead too fast thinking about insulin because you may not need it.  If you're still producing insulin naturally, using insulin will not help your blood sugar if you're insulin resistant.  How's the exercising coming?

 

Posted 1/30/2013 1:39 PM (GMT 0)
Yea, I'm going to try the 250 twice a day starting today. I can tolerate 250 once a day. We'll see what twice does.
I do need to step up my exercise. I know that would help greatly. I can put on some videos at home or do more walking. Yea, I still make insulin for sure as my A1c isn't all that bad. I think if I could get up to an hour a day of exercise, it might actually take care of things for me. I've had problems with inflammatory arthritis the past few years. I swim 6 months out of the year. This time of year is my tough time for exercise.
Posted 1/30/2013 1:53 PM (GMT 0)
Swimming is really good for the body overall! I've been interested in watching some basketball games on TV so I spend much of that time stretching and using some dumb bells and I'm not even aware of the time passing. By the end of the game I've done quite a lot.
Posted 2/4/2013 10:48 AM (GMT 0)
Do you have diabetes, Philly?

Post Edited By Moderator (LanieG) : 2/4/2013 6:23:33 AM (GMT-7)

Posted 2/5/2013 4:08 PM (GMT 0)
I couldn't take Metformin either.  It made my kidney function go bad.  The kidney function went back to normal once I stopped taking it.  I didn't have the physical problems you have, though.

 

I also tried Actos and my blood sugar plummeted and I spent the rest of the day eating to try to keep it above 60!  Now, that really frightened me.

 

I now am taking Glyburide.  It's an older medication and it does very well with me.  Glucotrol is another good older medication that I have used in the past.  I like the older ones because they have been used for so many years with very few problems....and no lawsuits!  LOL

 

Sherrine

Posted 2/10/2013 1:45 AM (GMT 0)
I am T2 ( 20 years) on an insulin pump. After reading about Amylin and how Symlin mimics Amylin, I mentioned Symlin to my Endo and he thought it made a lot of sense. Prior to going on the pump, I had good results with Byetta. However, one of the benefits of Byetta is that it stimulates insulin production and, unfortunately, my recent lab tests show that my peptides were at 0 so there is no insulin production to be had in my pancrease. One of the benefits of Symlin is that it slows down the digestion so that the insulin has more time to do its magic.


Anyway, I started taking 15 units of Symlin prior to higher carb meals. On these occasions, I reduce my recommended insulin bolus units by 30% and an hour later my BGs start to go below 80 so I need to take in a few more carbs. When I do not take Symlin, I am usually at about 150 up to two hours after a high carb meal. Accordingly, Symlin is very effective in my case. However, one of its side effects is nausea which has not been an issue for me.
Posted 2/10/2013 1:27 PM (GMT 0)
Welcome to the Forum, dtw.  I'm glad you've found the best way to control the blood sugar.
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