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...
Saw my doc for a follow up to my test results. He was very pleased with the 6.4% A1c and my cholesterol of 157.
I mentioned that the Metformin (2000mgs a day) was tearing me up, even making me get up a few times each night, and that I was having to take GasX regularly and Imodium every morning, so he took me off of it completely! My kidney function is compromised slightly from a kidney disease and Metformin can cause further damage to kidneys that don't function at 100%. Hmmm. Why did he have me on the Metform in in the first place then? Grrrr! I thought perhaps he would cut the dosage or put me on Metformin ER, but he discontinued it entirely and didn't prescribe anything in it's place.
I also take 5mcg's of Byetta twice a day and he does want me to continue that and if my BS comes back up he said he'll increase the Byetta to 10mcg's twice a day.
Gotta say, even though the Metformin tore me up I feel sort of insecure tonight without it. LOL
I also expected that since my cholesterol was down so far that he would let me go off the Lovastatin I'm on, but he said my cholesterol would just go back up. Well... I thought perhaps my improved diet, exercise and weight loss had at least a small role to play in my cholesterol coming down??? I've heard some scary things about statins and had hoped to not be on them long term. Anybody else take a statin and have low/normal cholesterol?
Any other thoughts on not replacing the Metformin with something else are appreciated too.
Thanks!
I mentioned that the Metformin (2000mgs a day) was tearing me up, even making me get up a few times each night, and that I was having to take GasX regularly and Imodium every morning, so he took me off of it completely! My kidney function is compromised slightly from a kidney disease and Metformin can cause further damage to kidneys that don't function at 100%. Hmmm. Why did he have me on the Metform in in the first place then? Grrrr! I thought perhaps he would cut the dosage or put me on Metformin ER, but he discontinued it entirely and didn't prescribe anything in it's place.
I also take 5mcg's of Byetta twice a day and he does want me to continue that and if my BS comes back up he said he'll increase the Byetta to 10mcg's twice a day.
Gotta say, even though the Metformin tore me up I feel sort of insecure tonight without it. LOL
I also expected that since my cholesterol was down so far that he would let me go off the Lovastatin I'm on, but he said my cholesterol would just go back up. Well... I thought perhaps my improved diet, exercise and weight loss had at least a small role to play in my cholesterol coming down??? I've heard some scary things about statins and had hoped to not be on them long term. Anybody else take a statin and have low/normal cholesterol?
Any other thoughts on not replacing the Metformin with something else are appreciated too.
Thanks!
All of that was to say, I'm guessing!!!
Hugs Liz,
lary
My PTC took me off of metformin and started me on januvia. She had to discontinue the metformin because of another med that I'm on which can cause kidney failure. She didn't want to take the risk of increasing my chances of any form of kidney disease. I didn't think the januvia would work on it's own since it is normally given with metformin, but so far all is well. You should ask your doctor if it can help you instead of being without any diabetes meds.
Kay
Some people cannot handle the metformin and you were on a high dose of it, in fact the max amount, so your doctor made the right choice to try you without and increase your other meds.
Thinking I should call tomorrow and request a script for the 10mcg Byetta instead of the 5mcg I'm on? Am I being impatient or worrying too soon?
mzizgayle I am going to stay on the Lovastatin. I did some reading and the risk of damage caused from discontinuing it is worse than any possible side effect.
I too take lisinopril. Have for years and it does a fantastic job. In the last 5 years I've had to add a diuretic to it, but I've always been happy with how well it works. As my weight increased I also had to add a second B/P med, Norvasc , to my regimen but with my weight loss now I have been able to cut that dose in half and hope to be able to drop it entirely as my weight continues to go down.