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Posted 11/24/2020 4:53 PM (GMT -6)
My blood sugar has been high since my first pregnancy (30 years ago), close to the top or above the healthy range. My A1C has been always well above the range. I have diabetes on my mother side. My mother controlled blood sugar with diet, exercise, and Metformin for 25 years.

I was able to control my blood sugar with chromium picolinate, diet, and exercise until I started antibiotic treatment for Lyme disease two years ago. I am done with antibiotics but my blood sugar doesn't want to go down and my doctor put me on Metformin, 500 mg a week ago. After the first tablet that I took with meal and a lot water, I got nausea. I lowered the dose to half of the tablet, nausea was a little better but I started having extreme fatigue, maybe caused by lowering blood pressure? I have very low blood pressure due to mitral valve prolapse. The other new symptom is getting itchy fits about two hours after taking it lasting for 30 minutes. I haven't added anything new to my regime recently besides metformin.

Are these side effects of Metformin? Is it save to take it? What was your experience? I cannot ask my Mom, she passed away 12 years ago.
Posted 11/24/2020 6:30 PM (GMT -6)
Hi Borelka and welcome to the Diabetes Forum! Sorry about your reaction to the metformin - I'm guessing that's what it's from. Lots of people do have various symptoms like upset stomach, nausea but in most cases I think it settles down and as you know it should be taken with food. The other thing that makes the symptoms worse is if you eat greasy food and lots of carbs. Food with those two things will definitely make stomach problems worse.

I don't know about the blood pressure though. So you really need to ask your doctor about this or even an experienced pharmacist.

Diabetes is also on my mom's side and both my brother and sister have diabetes although I am only on metformin whereas they take other medication. I eat strictly low-carb. This hasn't changed since I was diagnosed but I haven't been exercising as much as I used to and that does make a difference in daily blood sugar readings and the A1c.

So, ask your doctor if your dosage can maybe be spread out during the day or even a different manufacturer. Metformin is a generic and sometimes there's a difference among generics.

I wish I could help you more. Maybe you'll find more information about this in the link in my signature. Try that. I'm glad you posted!
Posted 11/25/2020 11:09 AM (GMT -6)
Thank you Lanie!

I will continue Metformin. Last night I took 1/4 of the tablet and I didn't have itching but today still nausea. I hope it will get better!

Diabetes 2 has such a strong genetic component. In my family my grandmother, my mother, her sister, my cousin, my sister, and my daughter were/are affected by it. Only my aunt was on insulin injections, she didn't have enough patient/will to do diet and exercise. We all are/were slim individuals.

I am concerned about my 26-year-old daughter's high blood sugar. She also has Lyme disease and her blood sugar went up during antibiotic treatment. Do you think there is a link between long-term antibiotics causing changes in gut microbiome and in turn high blood sugar? Just a theory. I have to ask this question on Lyme forum.

Thank you again!

Post Edited (Borelka) : 12/4/2020 8:18:43 PM (GMT-7)

Posted 11/25/2020 1:20 PM (GMT -6)
Glad you got some lesser symptoms. As always, the blood sugar reading is the key, so however you can figure out how to take the medication and eat decently, then that sounds good (making sure you keep your doc informed).

There is definitely a genetic tendency in type 2 and from my own experience, how well the blood sugar is controlled really depends on what you're eating and the level of activity. I can tell you that having high blood sugar, whether or not you're on meds for diabetes, over the long term will lead to complications, so stay the course and stay informed. Again, check out the link in my signature for lots of information.

Have a great Thanksgiving!
Posted 11/25/2020 8:24 PM (GMT -6)
Thank you Lanie again, excellent website.
Posted 12/4/2020 1:52 PM (GMT -6)
My husband had some GI effects when he first went on the metformin. (diarrhea)

It has resolved for the most part.

It has really helped to lower (along with Berberine) his blood sugar level.
Posted 12/4/2020 8:32 PM (GMT -6)
Yes...uncontrolled sugars
Esculate quietly then bang.
Be not like the HT.
Ticker..eyes neuropathy...teeth etc. HT
It is known as a creeper..diabetes.
Posted 2/28/2021 6:27 PM (GMT -6)
My doctor had a saying about the diarrhea with metformin.
If you overdo...
You go pooh.
Because of the way it reacts with carbs in the gut decreasing the amount of carbs in your food plan should help with the gastro symptoms.

Jeannie143
Posted 3/27/2021 12:21 PM (GMT -6)
Icthg after taking a medication is an alergic reaction. Consult your Dr.
I just stop taking Metformin, I had runny stool everyday for a month. Two days off and I'm good as gold...fake gold..but gold.
Posted 3/27/2021 12:45 PM (GMT -6)
Ohio, very often this happens because the person eats too many carbs. This will cause stomach upset and diarrhea. It happened to me years ago when I was getting used to changing my eating plan and taking metformin. I would suggest never to quit a medication without talking to your doctor.
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