alternative to metformin for diabetes

Hello, I'm new to this forum, but thought I'd ask a couple of questions. I was diagnosed about 10 years ago with Type 2 Diabetes (I'm 33), and I've never really been under good control. I have been prescribed Metformin, but it always makes me so sick (Low Blood Sugar feeling as well as diarrhea) so inevitably I stop taking it. My first question is, does anyone know how long it typically takes for these side effects to subside?

Not everyone can tolerate medicine/drugs alike. Glucophage, or commonly known as Metformin, MUST be taken with foods or one will experience nausea/upset stomach. If irritation continues discuss with your doctor these other medications as I'm not aware of what is available to you in your country of residence. http://www.*************.com/diabetes/find-drug.html "Please advise me what foods to avoid.... eat alot of bread and rice.

Why not give the LCHF diet a try for a few weeks, and see how it can be an alternative to being a walking pharmacology experiment with diarrhea? Good luck to you.

t feel you have diabetes ask your doctor for tests to rule out other diseases related to high glucose levels.

I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2005. I really want to lose weight and I know I gotta take the Metformin but it makes me very nauseous. The diarrhea I can handle but not the nausea, so I haven't been taking it. I see an endocrinologist Wednesday. I was wondering if there's an alternative to Metformin/Glucophage without the nausea side effects. If there's not how long does it take until you get used to the side effects?

Do not be afraid to ask your physician to work with you to determine if the Lantus is the cause, and get you on an alternative medication if you feel it is the right solution for you. It is your diabetes and your life.

I have suggested everything to my doctor to do things different. Even going to alternative doctors and such. He said those guys are for healthy patients and nothing they can do will improve what I'm already doing. So geez i'm out of ideas and am really tired of being tired and no energy. And when I mean no energy it's the type where you come home and have to lay down because you are just wasted sort of feeling.

Hi, I'm in treatment for anorexia and trying Seroquel XR 50mg to help with mood and anxiety. Really scared of the weight gain I've researched associated with it and have a strong history of hypothyroidism and diabetes in the family. Can anyone help?

It also take knowledge and supplementation (B vitamins) to do it in a healthy way. Need to pay attention to getting adequate protein. Alternative is simply lower carb eating.

I treated over two years ago for HCV and am now cured. About 6 weeks ago I started taking Metformin for Diabetes Type 2. I was a little concerned to take it since my liver is damaged but was told the benefits outweighed the benefits. For the first couple of weeks the side effects were really bad as far as gastrointestinal disorder. I called the doctor and she said that this was normal and to give it time, I would adjust.

I am 25 and have been married to my husband for 5 yrs. We have been trying for 3 years now for a baby! Before I even knew about the diabetes thing my ob said she considered putting me on metformin. She said it helps your body use it's hormones but in the end she decided against it. Said I should loose some weight first. about 3 weeks ago I found out that I have type 2 daibetes. and the doctor put me on metformin. I have lost 10 lbs. With enough luck I will hopefully get pg soon.

Hi everyone! I'm new to your Diabetes 2 Community but have been involved some with the MS community. I have Multiple Sclerosis but was diagnosed about 2 years ago with diabetes 2. When I first learned my blood sugar was high at 364, I immediately and without hesitation went on a diet and lost about 45 lbs. I did pretty good for a year and a half, but then I began eating sweets again. Plus, my best friend and Mom were very ill and dying, so I did a lot of stress eating.

because your doctors conviniently not to mention to you that all oral diabetes medicines, including Metformin, only works for some years and even expensive and painful Insulin dosage will loose their effectiveness over the years.Now, to save yourself from this horrible disease, immediately reduce your carb to (6,12,12). Read this book : Diabetes Solutions by DR. Richard Beirstein , and log onto this website: diabetesdaily.

It sounds like they think you have PCOS. Metformin is commonly used for that to regulate your cycles so that you can ovulate without any other drugs. I know I was on it for 6 months and it didn't work for me but my cycles were off from a bad miscarriage. They figure I should have had a D&C but they lost my referral to the OB so it wasn't done. I had a HSG and they think that cleared out whatever was remaining from the miscarriage. The following month I got pregnant. 17wks now.

I am taking Metformin at 3000mgm per day for diabetes and I have pains in my lower chest is this related?

So, at one point, it will not be able to make enough insulin= diabetes. Plus, the cells react to the excess insulin by blocking it -- they become increasingly resistant (insulin resistance) and obviously the insulin will not be able to conduct glucose to the cells (they block it) = hyperglycemia. Well this is why I am scared -- I've read about diabetes and this is how it happens in normal individuals who simply eat a very poor diet.

I too am on Metformin and am having much of the same problems.

Is Lantus and Metformin ok to take or is the Metformin harmful to my liver? I know several with Hep-c who take Metformin.

I also wanted to tell that throughout both my pregnancies, more so my first, people had all kinds of ignorant things to say to me, so my advice is to not listen to everything you here or read, until you have talked to a knowledgeable person, such as an endocrinologist, midwife, obstetrician--you are getting my idea-someone knowledgeable about pregnancy and diabetes. If you have questions have your daughter ask her doctor and follow that advice.

About 5 months ago, the doctor said that my mom was at risk of being diabetic and diagnosed her with pre-diabetes and prescribed her to take a 500 mg tablet of Metformin every day. After another checkup one month ago, the doctor said her glucose levels were normal again, and she was to stop taking Metformin. Starting one week ago, fearing that her glucose levels might rise too high with all the holiday food, my mom unwisely decided to take a 500 mg tablet of Metformin every day again.

s a post by Gus who asked the same question yesterday. Diabetes medicine Metformin helps to produce insulin in the gut to "help" lower your glucose levels. It doesn't perform miracles nor does it lower your glucose levels by itself. The key word is "help." Lifestyle change is required. This is done by controlling your glucose levels with proper nutrition, moderate exercise, and weight control. Read my posts in the threads from Darkestlight and Gus on this forum.

I have no personal experience with bitter melon and it is hard to say how strong the tea is (I doubt it is as strong as taking the pills,but I don't know) but what little I have read, it can have an additive effect to whatever you are taking for diabetes. We would need someone's opinion that understands how the Metformin works. I have a vague idea but not enough to give advice. Below is something I copied that could be helpful.

Alternative to metformin for diabetes

Common Questions and Answers about Alternative to metformin for diabetes

glucophage