Insulin resistance..metformin

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-06-2004
Insulin resistance..metformin
24
Tue, 04-27-2004 - 6:12pm
So..I see my dr on May 7th. He wants too see how the Xenical is working out. I can tell you right now..it's hasn't done a thing. I am suppose to be losing 2 lbs a week. So by the 7th..I should have lost 10 lbs...nope. I'm telling you..it's this resistance thing. Never before in my life has losing weight bben any sort of problem. One year after having my 3rd child I was back in a bikini. This is nuts! So I'm thinking of asking the dr about trying metformin. Now,,first of all..it's not a vanity thing. LOL.My numbers these last two weeks have been higher then before. I think my lowest number 2 hrs after dinner was 137. It took 5 hrs for my number to come down to a 139 after eating crackers the other day. At two hrs my number was 198. Crackers! ARrrrrrrrrr. As you all are aware my dr isn't helping much and the wait for a specialist is 3 months. I'm wondering if I shouldn't try to get my hands on this medication. I'd like to know more about it and your opinions on weather or not you think this would be good for me based on what you know ( about the med) and have tried. Thanks guys!

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Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 04-28-2004 - 2:15am

I have been on metformin for probably four years now, maybe longer. Here in the lower 48 it is first line therapy for diabetes. When I was started on oral meds the first line therapy was a sulfonylurea and then metformin. In the year and half that I was on only one med the recommendation changed.


You do need to have kidney studies (serum creatinine level or creatinine clearance) done before starting the drug.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2004
Wed, 04-28-2004 - 2:39am
When you first wrote about the Xenical, I was concerned. However, have been reading articles and searching the web again. Apparently, it's a new thing for treatment of diabetes.

I can tell you for sure that I sure haven't lost on the Metformin. We're all different and meds react differently with each of us.

Hang in there along with me.

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-06-2004
Wed, 04-28-2004 - 8:42am
Well..actaully..I was surprised by the Xenical at first too. When I went to the drug store to fill the script..the pahrmacist looked at me like I was nuts. She even pulled out this huge text book and looked the drug up. There about 3 pages of info on it..with words I couldn't spell or understand LOL. She had no idea why my dr would put me on it. But..she said if I trusted my dr..then go ahead. I don't trust my dr..but I was desperate just the same. She said it would do nothing for my numbers...I WOULD lose weight..which may help the numbers go down...and that the side effects were pretty bad..forcing a lot of people to stop taking it. So..I tried it...odly enough..the opposite of what she said would happen..happened. I lost no weight...had no side effects..but for the first two weeks saw a huge improvement with my numbers. I don't believe I saw a number higher then a 119. However, now the last week and a half my numbers are now higher then ever. Some days being over 200. Of course my fast numbers are still fine. The drug came with a diet you should follow to help lose the weight. I read it over but there was way too much food and way too many carbs so I just stuck to eating the same way. I remember one morning it suggested 2 waffles for breakfast. I thought...ya right.

Anywhoo...I do understand that one of the best ways to control diabetes or stop it from occuring is to lose weight. I do not feel good at the weight I am at and do not feel my eating habits reflect my weight. I do need some help and I don't think Xenical is the answer. I need to arm myself with loads of info for my drs app cause I think most of what he knows he learns from me. LOL...I think I drive him nuts.
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2004
Fri, 04-30-2004 - 2:13am
You could write all your questions down. That way, you won't forget them. As long as you're talking, it would be rude for him/her to leave the room (ha ha).

After lots and lots of years working with doctors you'd think I could keep my wits about me. It's different when you're the patient, however. I don't see mine until July. Hopefully by then, I'll have a good track record of the metformin/glucophage. Am going to start the brand name tomorrow. Will see if there's really a difference in a few days, I hope.

Went down to 65 this evening at my 2hr post-prandial. Went to stand up, my knees were like jello, and I was so shakey. No wonder! Ate some cheese and crackers and two low carb ice cream bars. Waited for almost two hours and it was back to 130. So, guess I'm safe to go to bed.

Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Fri, 04-30-2004 - 1:02pm

Kathi,


Has the metformin affected your appetite? I found that I couldn't eat as much as I was eating before I started taking the medication and the reduction in amount was dramatic. I have never returned to the former amount either. No wonder I lost weight!


See if there are new varieties of Glucerna bars out. And you might look at what other food choices that with be demo'ed.

Mary Frances


cl-maryfrances40


Co-Cl Diabetes Board


iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2004
Sat, 05-01-2004 - 2:16am
OOOOOOOOOOOhhhhhhhhhhhhhh samples!!!

Better pack another bag to carry the stuff back home with me. Then I can spend my lonely Saturday night looking through my collection.

Strange thing about the metformin...I seem to have urges to eat more after taking the darn stuff. Last night my level was 85 (2 hr post-prandial) after the pills and my lemon pepper chicken salad. Had a 3 carb yogurt and a piece of string cheese so I'd be good throughout the night.

Numbers were wnl upon arising, hanging around 110 during the day.I started out before dinner with 101. Ate a turkey sandwish and splurged on 1/2 bag of chips. Was hungry when I got home. Had 3 iced cream bars (1 measurement per bar)over an 1.5 hrs. Ok, had too many carbs total for dinner, but am confused about the heighth of the numbers now. Two hours after I stopped eating, it went up to 203 (10PM), and is now 194 at 11PM. Hopefully the numbers will be much, much improved in the morning.

I've actually been doing quite well. In fact, have been concerned about the low numbers throughout the day. Have been really, really tired, too.

Thanks again for your help!

Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Sat, 05-01-2004 - 11:47pm

Kathi,


Are the bars 15 grams of carbohydrates? Some of the low carb stuff just drives me crazy. It has the strangest way of telling you how many carbs are in it. Anyway just look at the total carbs and see what they say.


Do you like the low carb yougart? I got some yesterday and had it for the first time. It is sweetened with splenda so that should help a lot of people like my sister. I had the peach and it was okay once I added some cereal to it.


Glad you are enjoying the conference and learning a lot.

Mary Frances


cl-maryfrances40


Co-Cl Diabetes Board


iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2004
Sun, 05-02-2004 - 9:06pm
The conference was only so so. See my thread, please.

Yes, I like the 85 Blue Bunny (not the complete name)yogurt. It has 13-15 carbs which is only 1 for me. Either that or a glass of milk is just right after I give the cats their insulin at around 5:30AM.

I think that I may not be getting enough water. I've been drinking a lot of iced tea, but it's caffeinated and think that depletes your body. Anyway, will up my water intake now that the temp look like it's going to be 100+ degrees daily now. It may be the heat is making me more sleepy, too, but that shouldn't explain the low numbers. Had a tuna salad today for lunch and my post-prandial was 122. So, that was good. My 5AM today was 77 so I had a yogurt. That was enough, I figured.

Got a sample can of, heck can't remember, a meal replacement for diabetics. Was surprised that it had 39 carbs. Of course, it is a meal replacement. The guy said that if I opened it, it would stay fine in the fridge for 48 hours in the can. I don't think I'd like to drink part of it and either waste it or try drinking it after it's being in the refrigerator.

Avatar for dajh63341
iVillage Member
Registered: 05-16-2003
Tue, 05-04-2004 - 11:43am
For whatever it's worth, i've been taking Metformin for about 3 months now, and have lost about 14 lbs during that time. However, I have also been counting calories, along with carbs. I aim for 1200 calories a day, but usually go over. Even at about 1700 calories a day, I am slowly but steadily losing. I try to limit each meal to about 300 - 350 calories, which leaves a little wiggle room for snacks, etc. I also work out at the YMCA twice a week on the weight machines and the recumbent bike. I have to do that for my arthritis and spinal stenosis. I didn't think I could ever lose weight....I'd been so overweight (100# +) for so long. I finally now have some hope that it can be done. I'm 67, so I figure if I can do, so can you. The hardest part will be limiting access to to the Blue Bunny (LOL).

Good luck!!!! I know it's hard, but you can do it!!

D.

Avatar for cl_maryfrances40
iVillage Member
Registered: 03-25-2003
Wed, 05-05-2004 - 2:15am

You keep talking about the Blue Bunny and I see it advertised on the top of the boards but I have never seen it here in my grocery stores. What store do you find it in? I got some Dannon yoguart that is sweetened with Splenda and has a total of 3 grams of carbs in it. It tastes pretty good. The nice thing about it is that it comes in a 4 ounce carton and so I can take it with me and not worry about only eating one half of it. Doesn't come in too many flavors though.


What was the name of the meal replacement drink? I don't usually buy those. I usually just get the bars because I can carry them in my purse.


Do make sure you get enough fluids in you. Of course the one down side is needing to get up in the middle of the night but not feeling like you are going to pass out unless you get something to drink isn't a nice feeling either. In someways I think the heat is bothering me more than the insulin reactions and when you put the two of them together it isn't pleasant!


Take care,

Mary Frances


cl-maryfrances40


Co-Cl Diabetes Board


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