I am so sorry for your loss. Anxiety and stress certainly don't help our gastro. system. I took metformin for 8 years and had horrible gastro. symptoms. My dr. diagnosed me with IBS and it was really bad. After diet change, got off of metformin and all my symptoms went away. It was wonderful. Stayed off for 2 years, but had a bad virus which attacked my organs. Blood sugar and pressure went sky high. They put me back on metformin and my stomach bloated up like I was ready to deliver a baby. Nauseated, diarrhea and same symptoms I had before. Got off of it... Tried trulicity and was horribly sick for a week until it wore off. It gave me same symptoms as metformin. Waiting for my dr. appointment to come up....
I’m taking one metformin at night and one januvia in the morning and the ibs symptoms are 99% gone. If I have a slight cramp/urge I have much more time to get the loo!
I feel about the same way using Metformin. Every side effect that they warn you of I feel.
I was only taking half and that was ok for awhile but now I can't tolerate it. My numbers got down into the prediabetic stage so I quit Metformin. I don't see the endocrinologist until July so I'm expecting a scolding. Leslee
You know that what you eat and how much you exercise makes a difference in your blood sugar numbers. The doctor may not trust that you will eat to improve your lowever blood sugar, so does not trust your discipline in the matter.
There is no need to take Metformin with low numbers if you are successful with your diet in returning to normal. I have been at this for 14 years and studied nutrition extensively. It is the best plan for me, and I don't need to rely on pills. If the sweets are not in the house, I don't eat them. I will eat pumpking pie at Thanksgiving because the pumpkin is good for me, and then I will work hard to clean up the family party and my blood sugar will be normal in a day or two. It works for me! Dorisena
You know that what you eat and how much you exercise makes a difference in your blood sugar numbers. The doctor may not trust that you will eat to improve your lowever blood sugar, so does not trust your discipline in the matter.
There is no need to take Metformin with low numbers if you are successful with your diet in returning to normal. I have been at this for 14 years and studied nutrition extensively. It is the best plan for me, and I don't need to rely on pills. If the sweets are not in the house, I don't eat them. I will eat pumpking pie at Thanksgiving because the pumpkin is good for me, and then I will work hard to clean up the family party and my blood sugar will be normal in a day or two. It works for me! Dorisena
Hi Dorisena!! Haven't posted for awhile!! I love how you manage your diabetes. Changed doctors this summer and he put me on Metformin and scheduled an appointment for 3 months. I was to take (work gradually) 3 pills/day. However, after taking the second pill, I too had GI symptoms that wouldn't go away. So I decided to stick with the one pill a day. Had my 3 month check yesterday and my A1C was 7 down from 9.6. Plus, I've been eating horribly with harvest going on and my daughter having gastric sleeve surgery. The stress eating was horrible. It still lowered the A1c. I've also lost 10 pounds. So back to YOUR diet. Going back to watching carbs, exercising, and eating more fruits and veggies. I have enough Metformin to get me through the winter but hope to be totally off of it before my April doctor appointment. I've also found a Diabetes Group here in Iowa that will help me. I can have zoom meetings with their Pharmacist and she will work out a plan with me...one-on-one. Cost is minimal and out of pocket. I will try to post more often and read posts as it does help boost my spirits. Have a great weekend!!
Hi Dorisena!! Haven't posted for awhile!! I love how you manage your diabetes. Changed doctors this summer and he put me on Metformin and scheduled an appointment for 3 months. I was to take (work gradually) 3 pills/day. However, after taking the second pill, I too had GI symptoms that wouldn't go away. So I decided to stick with the one pill a day. Had my 3 month check yesterday and my A1C was 7 down from 9.6. Plus, I've been eating horribly with harvest going on and my daughter having gastric sleeve surgery. The stress eating was horrible. It still lowered the A1c. I've also lost 10 pounds. So back to YOUR diet. Going back to watching carbs, exercising, and eating more fruits and veggies. I have enough Metformin to get me through the winter but hope to be totally off of it before my April doctor appointment. I've also found a Diabetes Group here in Iowa that will help me. I can have zoom meetings with their Pharmacist and she will work out a plan with me...one-on-one. Cost is minimal and out of pocket. I will try to post more often and read posts as it does help boost my spirits. Have a great weekend!!
Way to go Katie! 2 of my cousins were also able to either lower or stop meds with weight loss (both are in their 70's) and keep the A1C below 7.0. I always love to cheer people on as I have with my husband who has been living with Type2 diabetes for 27 years now. We have largely taken bread and rolls out of our home, and I no longer bake like I used to, which I really miss, but we are both healthier because of it.
Keep up the good work.
Sue
I can't express how important it is to educate yourself, on good nutrition with low glycemic foods and you can get the lists on the web very easily. Choose food on the bottom half of the list and avoid food on the top of the list. Reach out to fresh veggies in the store and enjoy something new. It isn't the pills that make you better, it is the diet change and exercise. Most doctors do not have time to educate us on how to eat, so we need do do some reading and eating adventures. Losing weight is very helpful as well. Make the choices permanent.
The only food I have not liked is kale, and I have learned to eat baby beets. I don't like stuffed green peppers because I don't like tomato sauce on rice, and I do better with brown, mixed rice once in a while. There is more food out there I haven't tried yet. Dorisena
I can't express how important it is to educate yourself, on good nutrition with low glycemic foods and you can get the lists on the web very easily. Choose food on the bottom half of the list and avoid food on the top of the list. Reach out to fresh veggies in the store and enjoy something new. It isn't the pills that make you better, it is the diet change and exercise. Most doctors do not have time to educate us on how to eat, so we need do do some reading and eating adventures. Losing weight is very helpful as well. Make the choices permanent.
The only food I have not liked is kale, and I have learned to eat baby beets. I don't like stuffed green peppers because I don't like tomato sauce on rice, and I do better with brown, mixed rice once in a while. There is more food out there I haven't tried yet. Dorisena
Hi Dorisena - I could not agree more with your statement " Choose food on the bottom half of the list and avoid food on the top of the list. Reach out to fresh veggies in the store and enjoy something new. It isn't the pills that make you better, it is the diet change and exercise." We started this when my husband was diagnosed with diabetes 27 years ago, and while he must take 2 meds to keep his A1C down, he has not had to progress to insulin, which amazes his doc.
The other statement "...Most doctors do not have time to educate us how to eat..." should perhaps say "doctors are not well-trained in nutrition..." Our friend's daughter is a nutritionist who taught doctors in her last job - in all their years of education, she said they get roughly 32 hours on nutrition!
My cousin with diabetes was really struggling, and her daughter with whom she lives wasn't sure how to help, so she asked at the clinic and they were referred to the "diabetes educator" who had all the dietary info, as well as recipes and on-line resources for them. Mom, daughter and son-in-law ALL lost weight, and were able to get rid of some meds for diabetes, blood pressure, and cholesterol.
Thank you for sharing your experience with all of us!
Sue
Way to go Katie! 2 of my cousins were also able to either lower or stop meds with weight loss (both are in their 70's) and keep the A1C below 7.0. I always love to cheer people on as I have with my husband who has been living with Type2 diabetes for 27 years now. We have largely taken bread and rolls out of our home, and I no longer bake like I used to, which I really miss, but we are both healthier because of it.
Keep up the good work.
Sue
It's really hard work. I see so many Type 2 diabetics that just eat anything they want and compensate with their medications. I don't want to do that. This way I don't have to worry if blood sugar is way too high or way too low. I don't have to check glucose only once or twice per day. Plus, if I want to eat a dessert, I can plan for it that day with my diet. Yes, I have to exercise but need to do so anyway!! Breads, pasta, etc. are a no no here as well. Plus my husband eats anything that I want to make. Thanks for the compliment!!
Ingegerd Enscoe, Alumni Mentor | @astaingegerdm | Oct 24, 2021
My blood sugar has been going up slowly over the years. Pre- diabetic to diabetic and knowing that diabetes now is considered a cardiovascular disease I got scared enough to start a weight loss program, limited carbs, and lost 45 lbs in a year. My blood glucose numbers and A1C are now almost normal values. I stopped Januvia and also did not need CPAP again.
Hi Dorisena!! Haven't posted for awhile!! I love how you manage your diabetes. Changed doctors this summer and he put me on Metformin and scheduled an appointment for 3 months. I was to take (work gradually) 3 pills/day. However, after taking the second pill, I too had GI symptoms that wouldn't go away. So I decided to stick with the one pill a day. Had my 3 month check yesterday and my A1C was 7 down from 9.6. Plus, I've been eating horribly with harvest going on and my daughter having gastric sleeve surgery. The stress eating was horrible. It still lowered the A1c. I've also lost 10 pounds. So back to YOUR diet. Going back to watching carbs, exercising, and eating more fruits and veggies. I have enough Metformin to get me through the winter but hope to be totally off of it before my April doctor appointment. I've also found a Diabetes Group here in Iowa that will help me. I can have zoom meetings with their Pharmacist and she will work out a plan with me...one-on-one. Cost is minimal and out of pocket. I will try to post more often and read posts as it does help boost my spirits. Have a great weekend!!
Love that you have a support group
I too was recently placed on Metformin, so far tolerating ok. My problem is I have such a sweet tooth. Was doing really well till we got our fall apples and made apple crisp.
Love that you have a support group
I too was recently placed on Metformin, so far tolerating ok. My problem is I have such a sweet tooth. Was doing really well till we got our fall apples and made apple crisp.
I love sweets too!!! One thing we do is slice up apples and place in a bowl and microwave them for a couple of minutes. Can add truvia and a little cinnamon. We then top with a smidgen of Great Grains cereal. For one thing it's an individual serving so when it's gone....it's gone!! It makes a great crisp. Simple and easy but tastes great!!
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I’m taking one metformin at night and one januvia in the morning and the ibs symptoms are 99% gone. If I have a slight cramp/urge I have much more time to get the loo!
You know that what you eat and how much you exercise makes a difference in your blood sugar numbers. The doctor may not trust that you will eat to improve your lowever blood sugar, so does not trust your discipline in the matter.
There is no need to take Metformin with low numbers if you are successful with your diet in returning to normal. I have been at this for 14 years and studied nutrition extensively. It is the best plan for me, and I don't need to rely on pills. If the sweets are not in the house, I don't eat them. I will eat pumpking pie at Thanksgiving because the pumpkin is good for me, and then I will work hard to clean up the family party and my blood sugar will be normal in a day or two. It works for me! Dorisena
Hi Dorisena!! Haven't posted for awhile!! I love how you manage your diabetes. Changed doctors this summer and he put me on Metformin and scheduled an appointment for 3 months. I was to take (work gradually) 3 pills/day. However, after taking the second pill, I too had GI symptoms that wouldn't go away. So I decided to stick with the one pill a day. Had my 3 month check yesterday and my A1C was 7 down from 9.6. Plus, I've been eating horribly with harvest going on and my daughter having gastric sleeve surgery. The stress eating was horrible. It still lowered the A1c. I've also lost 10 pounds. So back to YOUR diet. Going back to watching carbs, exercising, and eating more fruits and veggies. I have enough Metformin to get me through the winter but hope to be totally off of it before my April doctor appointment. I've also found a Diabetes Group here in Iowa that will help me. I can have zoom meetings with their Pharmacist and she will work out a plan with me...one-on-one. Cost is minimal and out of pocket. I will try to post more often and read posts as it does help boost my spirits. Have a great weekend!!
Way to go Katie! 2 of my cousins were also able to either lower or stop meds with weight loss (both are in their 70's) and keep the A1C below 7.0. I always love to cheer people on as I have with my husband who has been living with Type2 diabetes for 27 years now. We have largely taken bread and rolls out of our home, and I no longer bake like I used to, which I really miss, but we are both healthier because of it.
Keep up the good work.
Sue
I can't express how important it is to educate yourself, on good nutrition with low glycemic foods and you can get the lists on the web very easily. Choose food on the bottom half of the list and avoid food on the top of the list. Reach out to fresh veggies in the store and enjoy something new. It isn't the pills that make you better, it is the diet change and exercise. Most doctors do not have time to educate us on how to eat, so we need do do some reading and eating adventures. Losing weight is very helpful as well. Make the choices permanent.
The only food I have not liked is kale, and I have learned to eat baby beets. I don't like stuffed green peppers because I don't like tomato sauce on rice, and I do better with brown, mixed rice once in a while. There is more food out there I haven't tried yet. Dorisena
Hi Dorisena - I could not agree more with your statement " Choose food on the bottom half of the list and avoid food on the top of the list. Reach out to fresh veggies in the store and enjoy something new. It isn't the pills that make you better, it is the diet change and exercise." We started this when my husband was diagnosed with diabetes 27 years ago, and while he must take 2 meds to keep his A1C down, he has not had to progress to insulin, which amazes his doc.
The other statement "...Most doctors do not have time to educate us how to eat..." should perhaps say "doctors are not well-trained in nutrition..." Our friend's daughter is a nutritionist who taught doctors in her last job - in all their years of education, she said they get roughly 32 hours on nutrition!
My cousin with diabetes was really struggling, and her daughter with whom she lives wasn't sure how to help, so she asked at the clinic and they were referred to the "diabetes educator" who had all the dietary info, as well as recipes and on-line resources for them. Mom, daughter and son-in-law ALL lost weight, and were able to get rid of some meds for diabetes, blood pressure, and cholesterol.
Thank you for sharing your experience with all of us!
Sue
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1 ReactionIt's really hard work. I see so many Type 2 diabetics that just eat anything they want and compensate with their medications. I don't want to do that. This way I don't have to worry if blood sugar is way too high or way too low. I don't have to check glucose only once or twice per day. Plus, if I want to eat a dessert, I can plan for it that day with my diet. Yes, I have to exercise but need to do so anyway!! Breads, pasta, etc. are a no no here as well. Plus my husband eats anything that I want to make. Thanks for the compliment!!
My blood sugar has been going up slowly over the years. Pre- diabetic to diabetic and knowing that diabetes now is considered a cardiovascular disease I got scared enough to start a weight loss program, limited carbs, and lost 45 lbs in a year. My blood glucose numbers and A1C are now almost normal values. I stopped Januvia and also did not need CPAP again.
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Helpful -
Hug
1 ReactionLove that you have a support group
I too was recently placed on Metformin, so far tolerating ok. My problem is I have such a sweet tooth. Was doing really well till we got our fall apples and made apple crisp.
I love sweets too!!! One thing we do is slice up apples and place in a bowl and microwave them for a couple of minutes. Can add truvia and a little cinnamon. We then top with a smidgen of Great Grains cereal. For one thing it's an individual serving so when it's gone....it's gone!! It makes a great crisp. Simple and easy but tastes great!!
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Helpful -
Hug
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