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
Sat, 05-08-2004 - 1:51pm

Good Morning,


This is a very appropriate starting dose for metformin. Please make sure you take the medication with food in your tummy. That will lessen the gastric side effects. Also hang in there because it takes about 2 weeks for the side effects to go away.


Because I have been having so many problems with eating since I was started on the insulin, I asked my doctor for a referral to the dietitian for meal planning help. I last saw the dietitian 15 years ago and there have been a lot of changes since then. It is a two month wait before I can see the dietitian. I almost blew a gastic yesterday when they told me that. It is a 6 week wait to see a CDE. And this is in sunny California without universal health insurance. ARGGGGH! What is a non-knowledgeable patient to do!


Take care and have a great weekend,

Mary Frances


cl-maryfrances40


Co-Cl Diabetes Board


iVillage Member
Registered: 07-02-2004
Fri, 07-02-2004 - 3:11pm
Hello, I am new and this is my first message. I have been reading articles about insulin resistance in Prevention magazine and I am riled up again. So I will by pass my normally shy attitude and share my success story.

About 3 years ago I finally got some answers to my miserable existance that did not involve reccomending I see a psych. professional. I saw and Endocrinologist who changed my life.

he took one look at me ( literally here) and told me what was wrong. why I was exhausted from the minute I woke up, could not concentrate and my hormones were taking a wild roller coaster ride. I had very severe insulin resistance . Well we have all read about it but this wonderfull doctor not only had a series of blood tests that he felt were conclusive in diagnosing this. ( all the literature still insists there is none!) he had an immediate and successful solution. Two weeks later I believed in miracles. Not only had the medicine he put me on -Glucophage XL (extended release metaformin)- lifted the heavy wet veil of all of my symtoms previoulsy attributed to my psychological state of mind but the doctor re assured me that my prediciment could not be conclusively blamed on my lifestyle or my overweight. in his opinion NO ONE could say which condition came first!In his opinion, If we are genetically pre disposed to become insulin resistant it may cause us to put on weight and the snowball effect starts. we have problems with too much insulin , which everyone agrees makes us crave high carbs and makes our bodies store fat instead of using the energy from food. proving what I knew all along, I COULD eat less and still gain weight. It explained why the low carb diet would work well for me for a while. So I have this Endocrinologist that has treated hundreds of patients like me- normal blood sugar levels, good glucose tolerance test results but incredible fasting blood insulin levels and testosterone with metaformin. right away I dropped 20 pounds- 3 months with no diet or life style changes- Lord knows I did not want to sleep all the time- but with two children under 6 I hardly did that anyway. My cholesterol dropped to optimal and my blood pressure to normal. did I not say this was nothing short of miraculous? Maybe I am the exception and not the rule but if you are miserable is it such a risk? After a year on Glucophage XL, my insurance company botched the contract with the Hospital that my endocrinologist worked for so I could not see him and pulled Glucophage XL off the formulary. My primary care physician took over, disbelieving my success story but agreeing to prescribe metaformin.) so I tried the regular- generic Glucophage. It tore my stomach up and I could not tolerate it. after it became an option to see my endocingologist out of pocket. ( he is so caring and kind that he gave us a discounted rate and as many free samples as he had) Well after that I could not tolerate Metaformin in any form, as hard as I tried with pepto and anti diarheal medicine I could not get up to the reccomended dose. Then came Avandamet- Avandia and metaformin- of course my insurance would not cover it either but I had a month of samples- I had not realized how badly being off the medicine had made me feel- it was slow and insidious- Avandamet lifted the veil again. Well my horrible insurance was bought out! in February. I am on all the meds my doctor wants me on and I am unstoppable! I do more now than energetic normal people- I am making up for lost time. I want to get on my eliptical trainer because my legs don't feel like burning overcooked spagetti after two seconds and it feels so good to move. So my advice- do not stop, do not pass go try the Metaformin- but make sure it is the extended release- Glucopage XL- they don't have a generic yet- but get some samples from your physician if you don't have good insurance- it could change your life. Make sure you follow the working up to full dose schedule- Good Luck and if this works for you spread the word- it is not our fault!
iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2004
Sat, 07-03-2004 - 1:59am
About 3 yrs ago my PCP put me on Metformin, and I became very ill. It supposedly was supposed to help me lose weight. Hah! Yep, I'd rather do it another way than throwing up all the time!

Was dx with insulin resistence 12/2002, I think. Wasn't put on meds, but was encouraged to watch my food intake and see the CDE which I did. Didn't catch on very quickly. Was almost threatened in 2003 that I HAD to get on the treadmill for at least 30 minutes daily (the endocrinologist's suggestion).

Well, 1/23/04, DX: Diabetes II. Placed on Amaryl 8mg at night, and about 3 months ago, I guess went on Glucophage XR. Well, actually, tried the Metformin again. It's so much cheaper than the GlucophageXR. Repeat performance of the ill junk! Am doing ok on Amaryl 4mg (dropped down about 2 wks ago because I was getting 53-60 readings at 3AM) and 500mg of the Glucophage-XR. It's worth the $60 for 3 month's supply, I think.

Am pretty sure there will be changes made in two weeks when I see the endocrinologist again. Something really screwy is going on. Am sure MaryFrances would have a word or two for me, but she's on a much-needed vacation right now.

Am glad you're doing well, and congrads on the weight loss! Welcome to our group!!!

Kathi

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-20-2004
Sat, 07-03-2004 - 2:02am
Hey!!!

I thought you were on vacation! How was Russia? How did you & the diabetes fare?

Guess I've been gone too long. Am still having hip and leg pain. Am in PT, sort of.

The therapist doesn't seem available when I am. Gripe, gripe...

Ok...am sending another message to you. Any help will be appreciated as always.

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