Diabetes Type 2 Support Group

Type 2 Diabetes is a condition in which the body either does not produce enough insulin or does not make efficient use of it. Insulin is a hormone needed to convert food into glucose, a sugar that the body uses for energy. Without enough insulin, glucose can accumulate in the blood, and can cause serious health problems such as heart disease and strokes and organ damage...

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Metformin and Low Level???

deleted_user
deleted_user
Ok, Metformin isn't supposed to cause a low reading. Yesterday my fasting reading was 92. Just before lunch it was 72. Two hours later it was 104. Just before dinner it was 63. I've not been that low before. For breakfast I ate a "trail mix" I make of high fiber cereal and some raw cashews/almonds. For lunch I had a bowl of Fiber One raisin bran with a half pint of 1% milk and a small apple. For dinner I ate out, having a cup of soup and a dinner salad. I had drive after dinner and my reading was 70 about 15 minutes after I ate. I drank 1/4 cup of orange juice and my reading went up to 90, so I drove home. I slept from 7:00-midnight when my husband got home from work. My reading was 81 so I ate two crackers with peanut butter and went back to bed. Isn't this really unusual for taking metformin alone? I usually supplement with cinnamon, garlic, and bitter melon, but I didn't do that yesterday with these readings. Also, the day before I had gotten a pneumonia shot. Could that have caused this?
deleted_user
deleted_user
I'm not sure what is going on. I take Metformin, only once a day and I don't have that problem. I hear you are supposed to take 2 a day, but I'm new to all of this. But my morning BS is still a little high. I wish I had an answer for ya. Have a good day. Vickie
deleted_user
deleted_user
how much Metformin do you take? I was started out on 2000mg a day. I had to cut it to 1500 and then down to 1000 a day because I was going way too low and it seemed like it was harder and harder to get out of it and get back to normal.
deleted_user
deleted_user
That could be my problem. I'm on 2000 a day. I've thought about cutting them in half and taking a half pill 3x a day.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I am only on 500mg twice a day. It sounds like your doctor may need to reduce yours. good luck
deleted_user
deleted_user
I have taken metformin since Dec. of 2000 and yes, I go hypo also. You will have to eat more carbs or, lower the dosage. Check with your Dr. first.

Ira
foxysdad
foxysdad
I take a med called Janumet. It's a combination of sitagliptin and metformin,,,50mg of sitagliptin and 500mg of metformin. At first, I was taking only one per day because my doctor gave me a bunch of samples and I couldn't remember her telling me how many to take. My readings were mostly in the average range, 93-127. When I got the prescription filled, it said to take 2 per day. Nothing has really changed. I have never gotten a low or high reading. Once or twice, it's been just above the high average number. I don't know what difference the combination makes, but I don't seem to have the problems with metformin that others have. Mike
deleted_user
deleted_user
Your problem is not Metformin. It is the fact that you are not eating enough food.
I am not a big eater, But my dietician gave me the amoutn of food I should eat for breakfast lunch and it was way too much for me. Also in some instructions for daily meals. It said your sugar can get too low from not enough food.
I take 500 metformin twice a day. My numbers are well within range.
deleted_user
deleted_user
I was taking only 500mg. of Metformin once a day (in the morning) for over a year and maintaining A1c readings in the 5.someting range. When I had to go on steroids for my hepatitis last December, of course my blood sugar went through the roof. Consequently, I had to up my dosage to 1000mg. twice a day. That is now too much for me since my blood sugars are down because I'm off all steroids. My fasting sugar this morning was 78. My doctor told me yesterday that I may begin cutting down on my dosage again. I'll drop to 500mg. in the morning and at night for a while and see what impact that has. Hopefully I'll be back to just one pill a day before too long.

With regards to taking it three times a day, that's not an option. I don't understand it fully but my doc says it has to do with the way the pills are made and their suspended release or something like that. He also said that 1000mg every twelve hours is the maximum dose of Metformin.

Whatever, you need to get your doc or your diatition involved. Ask him to prescribe the 500mg. tablets rather than the 1000mg. ones though so it will be easier to manage when you need to cut down.

Good luck. Keep us posted and start eating some food!!
deleted_user
deleted_user
"...your doc or your diatition involved." That should say dietitian. Oops ...
deleted_user
deleted_user
If I had to choose between less metformin and less food, I would lower the metformin like a shot!

I have never heard of a vaccination LOWERING your readings. It can raise it by panicking your immune system.
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