Hi Guys – I’m struggling to find info on here from anyone who has totally stopped type 2 medication at start of the diet , my Doctor is reluctant to even discuss with me I have cut down from 4 met slow release 2000mgs per day and 2 glixozade 80 mgs per day to 1 of each per day – and have tried for the last 3 days with none at all , meter testing has went up slightly fasting from in the 5 s to around 6.3 – 6.8 much the same at night before bed – I’m not sure if it’s the diet or the meds any help / advice is greatly appreciated Thanks

Hi Henrick67, I’m not diabetic so can’t help, but one of the great success stories of the forum is Bill. There a (very big) thread documenting his journey from diabetic to med free. You can find it here https://thebloodsugardiet.com/forums/topic/this-has-to-work-for-me/

It’s probably worth the time reading through it all, as I suspect it will answer many of the questions that you want an answer to.

Thanks

Metformin …. It takes a few weeks to kick in. I was put on insulin for a few weeks when i was first diagnosed until the Metformin could kick in.
I fasted for about 17 days before i really tried to do this BSD plan …. so i didn’t take any metformin.

I haven’t reached the 800 calories goal to many days …. i took a Metformin now and then (was at 5 pills a day).

That was risky.

When i started eating again, after the fast i took an occasional Metformin. In the last couple of days i’ve gone back up to 1 per meal. One night i just had pumpkin seeds to i didn’t take any. BUT i’ve been sick for days now with sinus problems and a cold.

I went back on it after 3 readings about 10 ….. not that high, but not in the “good” range.

When i see whether if i can consistantly do 800 calories …. or do a 5:2 plan …. i will adjust my metformin depending on my readings.

I really need to test ALL the time …. and if my readings are good …. i will decrease the Metformin again.

I am in contact with a local Diabetes program but not a doctor ……………. but over the years i have lost a good opinion of doctors. I will see the walk in doctor when my cold is better … and try and get her to take some baseline tests …. so i have some stats is things are working according to plan.

Otherwise … i’m going to rely on my body to tell me what to do. It’s going to be gradual … unless my BS tests get too low while taking Metformin.

That’s my story.

P.S. I’ve been a diabetic type 2 for about 25 years …. and frankly i think taking so much Metformin for so long isn’t that great for my body either. If i can stop … say by next summer … i will be happy. And if i am on some form of a BSD program for that long i will have learned to treat my body with love and good nutrition.

Hi Timmy , thanks for coming back to me so quickly , had a good read at most of the posts will read the rest later

great help many thanks

Hi Shalimar , thanks for reply – I haven’t went near the Doc , no real point and I don’t mean that in a cheeky or ungrateful way , I started on the 13th July at 21stone 11pounds sitting now at 17 stone 3 12 weeks later , no question fasting has worked for me yet in general most gp’s are against it , anyway another weigh in tomorrow at weightwatchers so fingers crossed I have been type 2 for 10 years but my doc says I will need meds for life I’m hoping not

I wish us luck …. and healthy eating Henrik67!!!

I do think i can get off Metformin eventually.

Not medical advice, but I can share what my Diabetes Team is doing with my meds…

Current
Metformin 1,000mg 2x day
Forxiga 10mg 1x day
Insulin (long acting) Bedtime (currently 60 (3.6mg))
Victoza 1.2mg every morning

Plan
Reduce as BS Stabilizes in this order:
1. Victoza (1.2 -> 0.6 -> 0.0)
2. Forxiga (10 -> 5 -> 0)
3. Insulin (as needed until eliminated)
4. Metformin (1,500mg -> 1,000mg -> 500mg -> 0)

Plan may change as we go, but that is what I’ve discussed with my GP and Clinical Pharmacist (they work together). YMMV.

The plan also includes blood tests and an in person exam every three months, and the CP is available via email for questions/concerns. I wouldn’t adjust your meds yourself, blood sugar is a dangerous thing that shouldn’t be messed with without supervision.

Best of luck!

Cheers,

Deb

Hi Deb , thanks for reply , are you Type 2

Yes I am – for about 15 years.

Hi , thanks for coming back to me , this is day 4 of no medication , managed to lose another 6 pounds at weight watchers this morning – sugar levels are raised slightly but still below at night and in morning – the fasting has definitely helped me , my only worry is that most on here reckon that coming off meds should only be by doctors instruction , problem is in Bonnie Scotland where I am from my particular Doctor wouldn’t care less if he never saw me again ( Ha Ha )

Congrats on the weight loss!

I know how lucky I am that my doctor is interested in working with me. Of course, he’s been my Dr for 40 years and is well used to my stubbornness. He know’s it’s easier to give in, and as long as I give him the research he is open to trying new things, which is a rare commodity.

There is a part of me that thinks his whole “Diabetes Team” scheme is to get more money out of OHIP (like your NHS, but Provincial, and in Canada). But if it benefits me, who am I to argue?

As long as you are keeping a close eye on your BS readings, I think you should be okay. Just record everything

Cheers,

Deb

Is there any proof that Metformin works long term? I have read in study of 13000 people worldwide it had minimal effect on long-term onditions such as amputation and eye failure between those who took it and those who didn’t. I have taken it on docs orders for 4 years and it has ruined my digestive system (never leave loo paper at home, never pass a toilet- you get the drift). It has dominated my life. Stopped taking it as part of blood sugar diet a month ago. Now no problems on the toilet front at all. Blood sugars between 4.4 and 7.4. So,what is my gain for taking it? Any other stories or comments welcome. Ps: I’m 55 and otherwise fit. In 4,weeks of BSD down from 12st 7lbs to 11st 7lbs

Hi Andy, I have also read that metformin makes no difference to diabetic complications….I have chosen to stop taking it, my numbers are close to normal and hopefully will improve in the future. Try looking at Jason Fang or Fung? on you tube. He makes the case that metformin treats the symptoms not the cause. He is a doctor and kidney specialist and has some interesting comments to make about diabetes and fasting and low carb diets. Hope this helps.

Aged 49, 4 months on bsd, 46 lbs lost and my GP has suggested I stop my Glicozide (formerly 4 a day, but I kept getting hypos) but not reduce my Metformin. . 6 months ago was diagnosed t2d though had absolutely no symptoms at all, fit, slightly o/w ( about 21lbs) but following a broadly low carb diet for some years, cyclist, swimmer, walker.

Tbh have never felt so ill and out of control of what my body does since I started taking these meds. Digestive issues, pain in joints, fainting from low bs, feeling SO TIRED, unable to sleep, permanently nauseous. And will the flatulence ever stop?? Plus, in three months I gained almost 3 stones – no energy to exercise, no appetite, no energy for life, basically. Yes, made some bad food choices, because I didn’t want to eat and couldn’t be bothered, but you couldn’t say I was pigging out in any meaningful way. Yet up my weight climbed, relentlessly, and I got fat round my middle – never been that shape before, even at my heaviest 6 years ago.

But here’s a thing. I was away earlier in the week for a couple of days and -quelle horreur – forgot the bag with drugs and monitor. Drive back home 260 miles? Emergency chemist? Or take extra care with food and wing it for 60 hours or so? My OH is a bit of a benevolent policeman when it comes to my drugs (drives me MAD) so I. Said. Nothing. And winged it.

Result? Felt so bl**dy well! No joint pain, no wind issues, no hours in the bog. Deep sleep (though giant crispy bed in luxe and quiet woodland cabin and hot tub under stars probs helped! – sorry – but it was fabulous). Best bit was I just felt so well, so normal, with loads of energy. My old self, in fact. Kept my carbs low low low, below 30. When I got home yesterday, measured and got a 6.2 reading, it’s 5.8 today, medicated. OH said I’d been like a new woman while we were away, the break must have done me loads of good. But I wonder….

Not in any way advocating anyone, ever, stopping prescribed meds without supervision, blood sugars are not to be messed with, as mentioned by other posters. But I’m going to look out that research. If I thought I could stay well on diet alone and manage without Metformin I’d do it in a heartbeat. I’m not sure all the side effects are necessarily appreciated or explained by those who just routinely prescribe. MK x

Really interesting post Maharani!

Maybe you should go back to your GP and ask his/her opinion about your ‘wellness’ when drug free. Just wondering how long it takes for the metformin to completely leave the body.

A few days ago I found some blood test results from 2011 before I started taking metformin. My HbA1c was 6.9 which was really pre-diabetic but nonetheless I was put on metformin and at the time didn’t give it much thought. My HbA1c has been normal, 5.5, for the last 4 months, and I really do wonder if in fact I do have diabetes. I will certainly speak to my GP about coming off the tablets at my next review.

Henrick there are lots of people on here who have stopped or reduced meds. Look at captainlynne, Mahrahni Kitten, Kristie and so on. I have reduced from 38 units insulin nightly to 22 and want to go lower but have a HbA1c test in 2 weeks so will just leave it until I see those results. I have also cut glicazide from 90mg to 60mg.

Hi Verano, I also wondered about Metformin effects time- wise, I wondered if it was my mind that was better off the meds! But I felt physically better the first day, and really, really well the second day and third days. I guess it could be the R&R making the difference.
Back on Metformin, joint pain gradually returning since I got back – two doses in – and heartburn/nausea’s returned.

When I last spoke to GP about side effects, his response was – more or less – well, blindness, stroke and amputations, or upset stomach? You choose!

My Metformin dose would apparently stay in my body for 72 hours but presumably with a half-life of 16 hours effects would be lessening throughout that tome’. I was 80 hours 82 hours between last dose and first dose. Interestong… Mkx

Yes very interesting Maharani. When did you last have an HbA1c? Maybe you should go and see your doctor again despite his attitude.

I have the occasional nausea from metformin but it’s so little and so very infrequently that it’s not a problem. But lots of people don’t live happily with it. I know of three women who were put on statins and all became positively ‘ill’. One had joint pains similar to you but she looked so ill we were all really worried about her. As soon as she stopped the pills she was fine!!! Similarly with the other two. Sometimes actually the cure is worse than the disease and if you have your blood sugars under reasonably good control maybe he will let you stop metformin altogether, or if not, then at least lower the dose.

Yep, Verano, with you on the statins. I’m a carer for a couple of elderly rellies, both in their late 80s and prescribed statins without it being properly explained to them. Both were very ill indeed on them, with very rapid improvement when they came off, though their GP’s both said it wasn’t the statins that had made them ill. Hmmm. Wouldn’t touch them with a barge pole, myself.

My last HbA1c was in December after 4 months of meds and 2 months of bsd and the tester put a note to GP that said ‘excellent diabetic control, ‘discuss with this lady how she’s got her numbers down so quickly’ – GP wouldn’t believe I’d stuck to 800 cals for 8 weeks and said it was all the drugs, though he dropped the glicozide when I started reporting hypos. He keeps telling me I’m on Metformin for life, whatever else I do, but yep, maybe reduced dose might improve things.

He’s very much of the ‘well, what you think is very interesting Mrs Kitten, but as I’m the one with 15 years of training, we’ll need to agree to disagree…’ Oddly, the other doc in the practice tells you to go away, look up the two choices on the Internet, then let him know how you want to proceed. But since he almost killed me last year by putting me on a different drug because it was cheaper for the practice, I’m not sure his approach is necessarily better, but he’s so embarrassed to see me that he always gets the receptionist to hand me over to someone else. No apology, naturally. Lol. They make me laugh, they’re like children. But I live 25 miles from the next nearest practice, so changing is tricky. Mkx

MK just tell your doctor you have had 21 years living inside your body and you know it pretty well (I know it is 50 but hey ho). I go to my doctor with a plan and ask him how I can best achieve it given a) whatever I am going to do and b) what he thinks will be my best outcome. For example, last time I saw him I asked him if he preferred me to reduce insulin or glycazides, so that was his choice, one or the other, no other bull. He took it like I had really valued his opinion and told me to try to come off insulin – that’s gone from ‘you will always be on insulin’ so I have slightly modified his view. But it is up to us to keep proving ourselves and proving them wrong. We can do it.

I know I will never give up on this journey as the alternative is a train wreck.

Mk I think I’m with sunshine-girl on this one. We do have to take control of our own health and if that means giving the GP choices then so be it.

I’m certainly going to suggest reducing my metformin at my next review. At the end of October my HbA1c had fallen to 5.5 from 6.4 6 months prior to that. It was still the same last month when I had it done again. When my GP rang me with my blood results she was so excited about my HbA1c but it wasn’t really the time to get into a discussion. I would love to come off metformin altogether, which was my original goal when I started BSD, but you know if I can manage to keep my blood sugars under control but still have to take it then I shall. At the end of the day I think we would all like to reverse our diabetes but control without complications has to be a second best.

Mk don’t get me started on statins which are a whole different ball game. I think there is some sort of directive to doctors to get as many people as they can to take them. Cheap, preventative medicine for all ….. except me and you!!!

When I first signed on with my current doctor I was on 60mg of statins because the doctors in UK couldn’t seem to get my cholesterol down or understand why it was so high when I ate low fat, low calorie, low flavour, low everything food. Funnily enough they had never tested me for diabetes even though I had all the symptons, blurred vision, fuzzy headed, mood swings etc as well as a raging thirst and my mum was T2. Anyway, back to statins. Here 40mg is the top legal dose so I went on that and was fine for years. Then I started having screaming, dancing around the bedroom leg cramps so my doctor stopped mine completely. When I said ‘but it is only a bit of leg cramp’ he said ‘no it is muscle cramp and your heart is a muscle, just imagine…..’. My cholesterol shot back up so he put me on 20mg which seems to be fine but he doesn’t believe in them EXCEPT for diabetics or people who have already had a heart attack or angina. So, BSD reduced my cholesterol into below normal levels so I will, eventually, ask him to help me reduce the statins.

I will be sorting a strategy with my GP to come off Metformin. I don’t let him bully me – he just thinks I’m compliant – lol- he said at the start I’d always be on glicozide and ta da! I’m not, six months in. He is utterly obsessed with me getting my weight down to 22/23 on BMI which I think is far too scrawny for me at my age, but determined to get fitter, get bs down and be 25 – 26. He is married to a woman my age and she is a tiny, petite person and an utter twig – her choice, don’t get me wrong, but I think it skews his perception – she’s a GP at the same practice. i think it’s eminently possible to be 5’10, 165lbs and healthy. He wants me below 142 lbs. never going to happen…. Mkx

142lbs does seem very low at your height Mk maybe you should get the doctor to check his weight to height charts!!

I like your doctor sunshine-girl!!! His use of statins sounds far more sensible to me than the ‘preventative’ notion they have here. I was absolutely resolute that I wouldn’t take statins unless I was in a risk group but try as she might my GP just couldn’t get the computer to sanction statins. In the end she gave up!!!

I think we all know our own bodies best. Most of the people here who have diabetes want to come off drugs so maybe we are just a ‘special’ group. Others, like my OH, seem to be quite happy to take anything that’s prescribed just because ‘the doctor’ ‘said ‘and he/she must be right!!!

I’m convinced in my case that the high dosage of metformin over so many years has no doubt contributed to the joint & foot pain I suffer , as my latest HBA1C is 6.1 with overall cholesterol 3.3 blood pressure normal range , my nurse has however told that I will always be classed as diabetic once diagnosed , I took simvastin statin for a few years then stopped blaming that on the joint pain ??? , there never seems to be a straight answer as to why and what metformin really does , so from today I’m not taking it again , no real point if no benefit and it’s the last step in ruling things out