not diabetic, but on metformin (IR/pre-diabetic) and have a question...

[keriann_forgoodthistime]

Ok - so i'm not full blown diabetic yet - but according to my doc, I'm "pre-diabetic" because I'm Insulin Resistant (plus both my parents ARE diabetic and i'm pretty much next in line

I've been on metformin for about a year and 4 months now and I've only JUST finally listened to my doctor who's the one who told me to go on atkins (started 2 weeks ago!!)

now - I don't measure my blood sugar - but today I seriously felt like something wasn't right and I'm afraid that my blood sugar might have gone way down...I take 4 metformin pills/day (2*500 at lunch and then again at dinner)

I didn't want to eat something sugary - and the only thing we even have in the house, that's not like cookies or something (no fruit as i'm still in induction) - instead I had about 2 tbsp of natural peanut butter (6 g carbs 2 g fiber / 4 g net carbs..) as well as a tbsp of sugar free jelly (5 g carbs)

that made me feel a bit better - but I just want to know if any of you who may have a drop in blood sugar - what do you do when that happens? I'm seriously trying to stop eating sugar & white flour and really do this plan right (which, believe me, it was really hard not to grab that oreo cookie! but I didn't!!

I DID go to the gym this afternoon and while I didn't burn that many calories (according to my heart monitor, only 175 calories in 1 hour - I did a chest & arms weight lifiting workout) - it was after that that I seriously felt weak...

I came home and ate a meal and felt a bit better but then fell asleep because I had a HUGE headache. I just woke up after a 3 hour nap and still felt shaky, so that's when I had the peanut butter/jelly.

Anyways - what do you guys do when you feel shakey like this? When your blood sugar drops? Thanks!!!!!

[Chef Kevin]

Re: not diabetic, but on metformin (IR/pre-diabetic) and have a question...

funny thing is, my blood sugar is always constant now.

i take 1000mg metformin 2x perday and my sugat is 90-110 all the time, even right after meals.

[ready2lose]

Re: not diabetic, but on metformin (IR/pre-diabetic) and have a question...

Hi Keriann. I hadn't heard that metformin will cause your sugar to drop too low. But if that's what is happening to you, you absolutely need to consult with your doctor about adjusting your meds. You absolutely should be testing yourself too. Monitors are not expensive, you can even get them for free. Some insurance companies will pay for your testing supplies (strips, lancets) if you have a doctor's prescription. Don't delay, see your doctor and start testing. Best of luck to you.

[Fozzy]

Re: not diabetic, but on metformin (IR/pre-diabetic) and have a question...

For someone who is not diabetic, that dosage seems awfully high. I have just officially been diagnosed as a diabetic (I feel shame), and I'm on metformin too, but only 2 pills per day and it seems to be doing the trick. My doctor says that she thinks that my diabetes is reversible so everyone cross your fingers.

[Cabingirl]

Re: not diabetic, but on metformin (IR/pre-diabetic) and have a question...

I also take Metformin but it is for a completely different diagnosis than diabetes. It seems to give me a headache...Does anyone feel like it helps with weight loss?

[imagood1]

Re: not diabetic, but on metformin (IR/pre-diabetic) and have a question...

I agree with Fozzy -- I had an A1C over 10 when I was diagnosed - my endocrinologist put me on 5/500 mg glyb/Metformin twice a day -- because I wasn't eating correctly I had to add 500 mg Metformin before bedtime.

When I saw my endo last month my A1C has gone down to just over 6.0 but my fasting glucose was still too high so I how take 1 5/500 glyb/Metformin in the morning (nothing at the evening meal) and I take 1000 mg Metformin at bedtime.

What was your A1C reading when the doctor put you on Metformin? If he has you on meds why doesn't he have you testing your blood sugar? Is this an Internist or an Endocrinologist?

I had an episode this afternoon where I was "fuzzy" so I got a large glass of water and a stalk of celery with cream cheese on it and ate it. I sat down for about 20 minutes and felt fine. I don't want anything sugary in my system and I refuse to eat anything not on this WOE so I'm learned what works and what doesn't. A slice of lunchmeat with cream cheese or mayo works real well also. Sometimes I grab a couple radishes and eat them, a few slices of cucumber or zucchini ...... not much at a time, maybe an ounce or two.

The reason I had my episode was because I didn't eat alot at lunch (wasn't real hungry) and we moved an electric stove from our kitchen to the basement. My husband had triple bypass/stents and a defibrulater so he can't handle a lot of weight so I was first going down the stairs and held most of the weight of the stove sliding down the stairway - plus I was stressed to begin with and when we finished I was shaky and my vision was a little fuzzy.

Hope this helps

[rkhufu7]

Re: not diabetic, but on metformin (IR/pre-diabetic) and have a question...

Folks on drugs always get low sugar on low carb. If you are not on drugs you end up with normal sugars/glucose. Metformin drops it way low.