Gastroparesis & Metformin

Wow… I stopped taking metformin months ago… currently having a major Gastroparesis flare. I’m not diabetic- I was taking metformin for PCOS. I have idiopathic Gastroparesis.

I stopped 20 years of Metformin use in August 2022 after YEARS of food "sensitivities" too numerous to list that caused diarrhea, bloating and nausea. Once I stopped the Metformin, my food "sensitivities" dramatically stopped! I could even tolerate milk products! Definitely long term use of Metformin could be linked with severe gastro issues. It was my endocrinologist that told me to stop Metformin immediately when I told her about my severe gastro issues. I never told her because I didn't think gastro issues were a concern for a diabetes doctor. Who knew??

Wow! That is such good news! I also experience food sensitivities and found eliminating gluten helped some but still have gastoparesis. I am going to try the 30 day metformin pause after my gastric emptying test. I do hope the pause will help. I was able to download the Freestyle 3 app on my phone and got a coupon for one Freestyle Libre 3 sensor so my blood sugar can be automatically monitored every minute without finger sticks. My big fear was having my blood sugar crash without knowing. So happy you found the source of your food "sensitivities"!

I share your digestive problems and stopped 1000mg 2x day Metformin about 9 mo ago. The diarrhea is gone. I am also continuing to reduce my daily Toujeo Insulin injections. The Continuous Glucose Monitor has changed my life… I have great control due to ability to react immediately when my glucose numbers rise or fall. I use food to increase numbers and exercise (just walking) to decrease rising numbers and maintain 95-99% within range of 70-180! This tool will make control of diabetes easier and you will be able to avoid health complications later. Medicare and my supplemental insurance cover the cost completely. I urge you to demand your doc prescribe this for you. Many mfg available at varying cost- mine is Dexcom G6 that provides glucose reports and even allows my mate to receive all hi or low alerts. I recommend highly. Bette

Hi Bette!
I am in Total agreement with you!! The CGM has changed my life! I use it to do the same thing as you do. I eat food when it goes low and I hop on the treadmill when it goes high. I am using the freestyle Libre 3 and love it. My insurance doesn't cover it because I'm not a type 1 but I'm a type 2 diabetic. My average glucose has been 118 since I stopped that metformin (after 20+ years at 1000mg BID) and started the CGM. I am going to do it for at least another 3 months. It's so great to be able to see how your body reacts to specific foods. I log everything I eat during a meal and snack on during the day. My GI symptoms have improved significantly! The reports are wonderful to be able to analyze the data. The sensor is so small that it never catches on any thing. I share with my readings with my spouse and both our phones alarmed simultaneously in the middle if the night when my blood glucose dropped to 69. I immediately drank some apple juice and fixed it. I check my blood sugar by looking at my phone about 50 times a day, which would be unrealistic with finger sticks.
All the best,
Annabelle

I was just diagnosed and I’m afraid my favorite foods are off the list.i love sandwiches with different lunch eats and cheese. I was told I have to change. I feel like my whole world is being turned upside down.where do I start.

I’ve already lost 25 lbs

Hi, why this popped up in my email I don’t know. It seems old. While I’m here I did use Metformin for side effects only. I suffer severe constipation and gastroparisis . I was hoping for diarrhea. I had nothing.
First, if anyone responds how were you checked for a true diagnosis of gastroparesis.
I originally had the nuclear meal. I passed with flying colors. About 6 months later after 2 doses of Covid vaccine and trying a new Gastro she wanted to confirm with Smart Study pill and I failed severely giving me a gastroparisis diagnosis. Today, gastroparisis doctors are not sure. Is there another way to verify I have it. I honestly don’t care anymore because this has been going on since 2020.
Thanks
Joanne

It's all confusing and frustrating. I was telling a friend that sometimes certain foods bother me and sometimes they don't. She suggested that maybe it's not what I eat. Good thought. Neuropathy?

I’m not sure why I got this notification because I mostly hang out in the Diabetes & Endocrinology group. But there are some commonalities. I don’t take Metformin; but I do have a history of gastroparesis. As a diabetic of 50ish years there are some complications. Gastroparesis is one of them. It is an autonomic neuropathy. Basically food doesn’t move out of the stomach as it should because the nerves that help control that function are damaged. So it sits there fermenting causing nasty symptoms (bloating, constipation &/or diarrhea, cramping, heartburn, indigestion, nausea, vomiting…). Mine was diagnosed by doing a stomach emptying test which was to eat a meal that had radioactive substances added. That allows the stomach emptying to be tracked and timed. Mine turned out to be slower than normal and incomplete. One Dr. described it as everything getting backed up / clogged until it blows from both directions! Very unpleasant! I ended up in the hospital twice (the ER and an inpatient stay) due to this before it got figured out. There are medications that can be taken for this. But the one I was put on had neurological side effects and caused a terrible movement disorder (Tardive Dyskinesia). A better solution for me was to identify the types of foods that caused the most aggravation and limit them to smaller portions less often. For me it was high fiber foods. Another helpful thing was smaller meals more often. Instead of 3 substantial squares a day I had 3 little meals alternated with 3 teeny tiny snacks. That was difficult for me because I can REALLY eat if I want to. I’m like a bear preparing for hibernation or a boa constrictor that can put away 3 times it’s weight in food. All kidding aside it is possible to live and eat well with gastroparesis, maintain a healthy body weight and feel good.