Diabetics Progress Reports

[Cherylg]

Good morning,

I think the januvia is helping - I don't know if it has side effects, though - not really feeling 100%

[Butternut]

Lantus users: How many units are you taking?

[Rickie]

Hello , Everyone.......New to this group , and would love any help I can get...... I am a type 2 diabetic with the insulin levels apparently of a type 1.....Have had two children 10 years apart and with both pregnancies, I have had Gestational Diabetes....since 2002 I have lost 100lbs... I now am at a stand still for the best part of this year..........It sucks !!!! I have just started running, god help me ...... anyways.....I am on 16 units of insulin at night before bed,and still on orals, although I have now been told I can come off the Metformin ( dam thing , hurts the belly ) lol.

Hope to find some great support and a kick in the rear here !

[Jewelthief]

Hi, Rickie and

I think you're in a great place for info, support, folks who know what it's like where you were, are, etc., and while we don't kick each other in the pants so much we definitely have a lot of things to share & learn from each other.

Settle in and read some of the posts in this thread and others, lots of folks (self included) landed here looking to lose weight and get our blood sugar in better shape. If you have questions or comments, jump on in!

Looking forward to seeing you around LCF and hope you enjoy it as much as we do.

Karyn

[carrielyn]

Hi, I was diagnosed last October and was put on Metformin 2x daily. Seems to be working pretty good ....but I have a question.

I've seen where some have abdominal pain taking metformin. Did your pain start at the beginning of your taking the med or did it come on later? I'm asking because I've been experiencing unexplained upper abdominal pain off and on for the past couple of months. My doctor had me take an ultrasound and an upper GI to rule out gall bladder, ulcers, etc. Came back fine. Since I've been on the metformin for 7-8 months prior to the pain would be this be normal?

I go back to my endo next month for my regular check up and will also ask her about this but just curious about your experiences if you don't mind telling me.

Thanks a bunch and have a great day. (Raining here in Houston)
Carolyn

[Rickie]

Thank you for the great welcome !!!! My stomach upset with Metformin has been from the onset. Yes it causes some pain, to the point where it was becoming hard to function. My Doctor said he has many people complaining about Metformin. I was running to the bathroom constantly. It is definitely worth mentioning to your doctor.

[Buffy45]

I also take Metformin, just worked up to the dose Dr. wants me on, 2000 MG per day. I am having to take Immodium with it to offset the diarrhea.

[Cherylg]

Okay - when you say metformin - it is the same as I am taking which is Janumet? - right? so your only choice is to live with this stomach pain? -

Can I ask this, too? - when do you take the pills (times of day) - he has me taking 1000 mg and also one pill - glimepiride per day but I am not sure best time to take these pills. I also take cholestorol which I try and take at night?? -

I so hate all these pills - I don't feel 100% when I take all these

Also, I like a glass or two of wine at night sometimes - I suppose I am not to do that either?

Any help you wonderful guys can give!!

[Dave L]

Originally Posted by Cherylg

Okay - when you say metformin - it is the same as I am taking which is Janumet? - right? so your only choice is to live with this stomach pain? -

Can I ask this, too? - when do you take the pills (times of day) - he has me taking 1000 mg and also one pill - glimepiride per day but I am not sure best time to take these pills. I also take cholestorol which I try and take at night?? -

I so hate all these pills - I don't feel 100% when I take all these

Also, I like a glass or two of wine at night sometimes - I suppose I am not to do that either?

Any help you wonderful guys can give!!

You should call your doctor to find this out! Dave.

[Stormyskies]

Originally Posted by Cherylg

Okay - when you say metformin - it is the same as I am taking which is Janumet? - right? so your only choice is to live with this stomach pain? -

Can I ask this, too? - when do you take the pills (times of day) - he has me taking 1000 mg and also one pill - glimepiride per day but I am not sure best time to take these pills. I also take cholestorol which I try and take at night?? -

I so hate all these pills - I don't feel 100% when I take all these

Also, I like a glass or two of wine at night sometimes - I suppose I am not to do that either?

Any help you wonderful guys can give!!

Cheryl, when I first started taking Metformin, I also had painful stomach trouble. It lasted a few months. I just kept on with it and finally I 'm not used to it, but I almost quit because I didn't think the pain would ever go away.

The Dr had put me on Byetta, which actually caused my blood sugars to rise! Next, she put me on Glyburide and as long as I eat at least 3 meals a day, my blood sugars balance out and I stay about inthe 100 to 125 ranger. I'm happy with that, but sometimes, if I revert back to my old eating habits of eating a big meal and then not eating for several hours, my blood sugars will take a big dip and have went down as low as 30. Not good! The glyburide has done wonders for me, but it works best if you eat several small meals a day. Just wanted to jump in here and say that. Good luck.

[Buffy45]

Not sure if the metformin is the same as Janumet, google it or like Dave said, call your dr. I asked my Dr. about drinking wine while having diabetes and being on metformin, she said in moderation, such as 1-2 glasses. I do sometimes drink more than that but it usually makes me feel bad if I do, so I am doing that less and less.
I was told to take 1000 mg of metormin with my morning meal and 1000 at night. It still bothers my tummy but plan on taking it until I talk to Dr. next visit, which is in Oct.

[gumdrops]

Originally Posted by Butternut

Lantus users: How many units are you taking?

10u once daily

[Cherylg]

Thanks for your help and input - I know I should ask my dr. Just wanted other opinions

Buffy - yeah, I 'll have a glass or two but I am slowly elminating it. The Janumet does say 500 mg of metformin and I am suppose to take two. Preferably with food. My blood sugar is down - I have been over 200 in the mornings and this morning was 136 so it is working. I have only been on this for like the past two weeks so we will see.

Stormy - thanks for answering me - we are suppose to eat small meals anyway so that makes sense. I always feel awful if I eat a huge meal - all bloated and yech - now if I could just make them all lc, maybe I'd actually lose a pound

[Butternut]

Dr started me on Januvia two days ago. My numbers are already soooo much better. I feel ok, so far, also. Anybody had trouble with Januvia? I've read a lot of negative side effects and a few good posts.
I did notice a cough yesterday and I am at work and coughing occasionally.

[Cherylg]

Butternut - I am noticing a cough once in a while, too? I am also on it and my numbers are much better but I am worrying about side effects.
I guess the good outweighs the bad?

[Rickie]

Well.....just finished my first week off, of metformin......to see if it helps the stomach problems, not only am I not running to the bathroom every half hour, but I have lost 6 lbs this week !....Is there a connection , because other than taking up running, I have not change much, although my appetite is clearly less.................This is the first jump in weight since the end of March.....5 more lbs then for the first time in 16 years, I will be in onederland !!!!

[Butternut]

Two questions:
Anyone notice swelling with Januvia or have I just eaten a lot of salt this week (I have)?

Do you think this statement is true?:
"The more insulin you take, the hungrier you will be"

[Cherylg]

Butternut - a friend a mine had swollen lips and face with Januvia and had to stop.

[Butternut]

Is it power of suggestion or am I really starving for carbs while taking Januvia?????

[Cherylg]

Okay - I went to Walmart and they wanted $170.00 per month for Januvia so that is not going to happen

[Dave L]

CHERYL, how much glimepiride (mg) are you taking with it a day?

[Jewelthief]

Originally Posted by Cherylg

Okay - I went to Walmart and they wanted $170.00 per month for Januvia so that is not going to happen

Ouch! I forget, did you say you didn't have insurance?

Is there no generic for it?

Check out their website and see if they have a link there where you can contact them for help in getting/continuing their product.

How about this? Prescription Assistance for JANUVIA™ (sitagliptin) tablets

I haven't tried any of the prescription assistance programs myself, but I would hope that if they're offering, anyone could benefit from applying. Also check out BloodSugar101's site because she has some info on similar programs, if I remember correctly.

Good luck!

Karyn

[Cherylg]

Hey, all! - I got my doctor to get me a generic form of metformin and it was $4.00 at Walmart - big difference!!!

Karyn - thanks for all your help - I probably make too much money for any kind of assistance and I do have Blue Cross but I have to meet my Calendar Year Deductible first with my pills. So I will try with this metformin - and see.

Dave - I take one pill of glimpiride a day, not sure of mg and pills are at home.

Butternut - I have the opposite with Januvia - I find my appetite is not as bad?

Ok, since you guys are all so wonderful with help - this morning I drank two big cups of coffee, with half and half and sweet low, - nothing to eat from 7 pm last night and my sugar was 208 - was it the coffee? and is that considered fasting? after the coffee?

Have a super day and I am so thankful that Huricane Ike escaped us and pray for those Texans!!!!

[Jewelthief]

Hi, Cheryl

I never took any other meds except the Metformin, and it seemed to help me with appetite and weight loss. A few stomach upsets in the beginning, nothing major when I took it with food, and even that passed after a few months. Good luck on it.

As for your reading this a.m... I didn't read backwards to see what kinds of results you normally have but if you'd eaten nothing since the night before at 7p then I would absolutely call that "fasting," and 208 sounds very high. One thing to note though is what your food was like the day/night before or even a few days before. If I'd had a high carb food before bedtime, I might not expect 208 the next morning, but I'd certainly expect it to be higher than usual.

I control my diabetes strictly with diet and have for a year now. My meter rarely reads over 180-ish but those are always when I've had what I call my no-no foods, and I try to limit those when I do have them. If I indulge, however, I will see higher results for hours afterward, and it will affect my results for a couple days more even if I jump right back into LC after my HC meal.

What type of meter do you use? Are your strips fresh, I think the guideline is to use an open vial within a month's time... Did you wash your hands--could there have been any food residue on your finger where you tested? Always make sure your hands are clean whether it's from soap & water or with an alcohol swab.

And lastly, if I saw such an abnormal-seeming reading (do you keep a running log of your results, time of day tested, and foods/meds?) then I would have tested a second time. Occasionally I am POSITIVE my reading shouldn't be what it says, and for some odd reason it is off. In those cases, I will "waste" another strip to be sure. (I am sometime wrong but not all the time... Sometimes a wrong result happens. )

Karyn

[Cherylg]

Thanks so much Karyn, - no, I have always been high in morning but since taking the Januvia, it was much better - but I will try in a little while again and see what it is.............

[MissyC]

Hello. I'm a new member and have been diagnosed diabetic about a month ago. Started on Metformin today, and am on a low dose of Lisinopril for kidneys. My doctor said they are leaking protein. My question is: If my kidneys are leaking protein, should I be eating protein? I'm not a doctor, but it would seem that I shouldn't overload my kidneys with protein if they aren't processing it. What do you think?

I'm doing low carbs, and high protein diet, like Atkins. I eat Atkins stuff, drink soy shakes, etc, and have vitamin shakes.

Thank you for your opinions.