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Afternoon all...
I've posted on here a few times about the fact that I seemingly managed to develop T2 diabetes after having COVID for a second time, I felt tired, and eyesight became blurry, and i just thought it was COVID, until the wanting to pee all the time started (knew symptoms as daughter is T1).
I asked when first diagnosed if i could not take Metformin and try to control it with diet and exercise. Over the coming months, i lost 2 stone in weight and went from cycling 2-3 times a week, to buying turbo trainer and exercising 6 days a week to help control it. By first review at 4 months post diagnosis. hba1c was 37 and i was told i had managed to place it in remission.
I have kept up the diet (98% of the time, i have slipped a few times!) and exercise, and by last summer felt the fittest I had in years.
But, I have had the respiratory lurgy like many over xmas that i cannot seem to shift, and I have tried to exercise through it, by sitting on turbo but staying in low Zone 2 so i didn't have to breathe heavily etc, but feel that I am getting some of the symptoms again from when first diagnosed, felt dizzy a few times standing up, eye sight blurry, feeling of "cold/ pins and needles" in feet. Although my fasted BG scores are good on waking, i finally have a diabetes review after 14 months next wednesday and anxious as to what hba1c is going to come back as, and whether they will try and get me on metformin again, always been worried about the side effects...
Sorry for the essay..
Any practical experience, good stories, horror stories, if you have a drug lowering BG levels, can you now "hypo" when exercising etc?
T2 here.
Been on Metformin for a number of years (at least 5), after more than that managing through diet/exercise. Dose has crept up and Siptaglyptin and Dapaglifozin added to the mix, as in spite of my efforts, couldn’t get it to stay down.
Can honestly say, I’ve not had any side effects from my of them.
Currently awaiting review to be scheduled at hospital diabetic team. Combination of other factors pushed my HbA1c numbers up unexpectedly, and then Covid + bonus flu/RSV before Christmas have pushed them even further up. 🙁
Based on genetics, I suspect I’ll be on some form of insulin approach at some point.
I also got T2 all of a sudden, docs are beginning to think covid can do ut, i think i was eating to much an exercising to little during lockdowns.
I started focusing on what i ate, cut out all crap. Went for 2 walks a day, lunchtime and after dinner and lost a lot of weight fast.
I was put on Metformin in april, at 6 month they did the bloodtest and it was at normal level for non diabetic.
I was checking my blood sugar regular to and it became clear exercise makes a huge difference.
At Christmas we went away and i forgot tablets so decided to just see what would happen, nurse later agreed to this approach and wait for next blood test, which was also normal so officially gave up on the tablets never any pressure to keep taking them.
I dont even think about what i eat these days as long as i exercise blood sugar is normal.
horror stories
FIL is an insulin-dependent T2DM patient of 30 years. He's had two strokes in that time. He had a serious respiratory infection (not COVID) over Christmas and this has exacerbated his diabetes. He's hospitalised. Infection can drive loss of blood glucose regulation, it's not just COVID.
On the positive side, metformin has been shown to extend life expectancy (if you are a mouse).
No real help other than apparently it helps with Osteoarthritis too
Thanks all...
I have seen with my blood glucose scores and in trying to control BG for T1 daughter going through puberty and swinging between wild hypos and hyperglycemia how much even gentle exercise can calm blood glucose levels...
Because often i have to get up to her 5-6 times a night, i have also realised how important a good 8 hours sleep is also. I struggle sometimes because i sometimes have a week where i really don't sleep well, but then try and exercise just as much to stay on top of BG levels, but then dig myself into a bit of hole fatigue wise.
Diagnosed T2 a couple of months back, symptoms of raging thirst kicked in the morning I got Covid, weight loss followed, got to the point I was peeing five or six times per night and at one point I was losing three or four pounds per week, who knows if there was a link with getting Covid, my bloods were 138 so was put on metformin straight away, instantly my symptoms stopped, no more thirst or constant weeing, I've also put some weight back on, thankfully, as I'd lost a lot of muscle mass. I can honestly say the only side effects I've noticed is I'm a lot gassier than I was but that seems to be calming down a bit. Next review in about six weeks and take things from there.
Diagnosed T2 a couple of months back, symptoms of raging thirst kicked in the morning I got Covid, weight loss followed, got to the point I was peeing five or six times per night and at one point I was losing three or four pounds per week, who knows if there was a link with getting Covid, my bloods were 138 so was put on metformin straight away, instantly my symptoms stopped, no more thirst or constant weeing, I’ve also put some weight back on, thankfully, as I’d lost a lot of muscle mass. I can honestly say the only side effects I’ve noticed is I’m a lot gassier than I was but that seems to be calming down a bit. Next review in about six weeks and take things from there.
Sounds like you have had it rough mate, there does seem to be a causal link with COVID for some, there is a genetic history with getting it after illness in my family, although usually with cancer.
Glad you're feeling better. I kept hearing warning stories of side effects with metformin and it put me off, as i genuinely really enjoy my cycling and exercise, and didn't want it to effect it. But if it is needed at the next review, maybe i will go for it as comments above have set mind at ease a little.
First diagnosed 14 year ago.. start of with Metformin within 2 months. 12 Years later on Insulin. GP also told me my pancreas would eventually 'give up' over time.
I've not experienced any low blood sugars from Metformin (by Slow release and 'normal'). I don't particularly think metformin alone will induce a hypo, but do speak to your medical team and continue to try out new things and also test your BG pre / during /post. ALso no two days are the same, BG can be affected also by lots of other factors.
I'll try and post up some clinical papers when i have more time. Also have a look at the NICE clinical guidelines for Diabetes management ( https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng28)
JP
Slight thread resurrection, as I was thinking and realised that there were a couple of things to add, basically small things that happened in the first week or two of going on to Metformin that you should be aware of if you're thinking of going down that route.
Firstly I had an upset tum for a week or two, this has now disappeared but is something you should be aware of, it takes a little time for your stomach to get used to it, also take it with or just after food, my Dr suggested taking it just before to get it rolling but I found this gave me quite bad stomach ache, so I now take it just after and have no problems, except I'm a bit more farty.
Secondly as it worked so well and my sugars dropped quickly this affects the pressure within the eyeball and my vision became extremely fuzzy, I'd more accurately describe it as being unsharp but after a few weeks it's returned to normal. Just a couple of things I thought you should be aware of.
Also the metformin seems to work really well and my sugars are now down from around 20 when I wake up to 8 and dropping as low as 6,during the day when before the lowest they'd be was about 15 unless I exercised but they wouldn't drop far below that, they'd also climb up above 25 which just doesn't happen any more thankfully.
Hope all goes well.
Another thing to be aware of is that long term or high dose Metformin use has been associated with b12 depletion so worth checking regularly or supplementing if you get any b12 deficiency symptoms.