Metformin might look like this, but it doesn’t
I have completely befuddled my GP. I am taking Metformin and insulin to control my Type 1 diabetes. I might as well have said I’m going to start walking on my hands in order to protect my feet from damage. His first thought was that I have suddenly morphed into a Type 2 diabetic, having spent almost 30 years as a Type 1. Interesting, but wrong. Here’s the real story.
I have polycystic o;
I’m on Metformin and Insulin – Initially they thought I was a T2 diabetic, so put me on metformin. When they worked out I was T1, they never took me off it….. Not noticed any additional flatulance or toilet trips either…..
From what I’ve read, I think the stomach issues are hit and miss – thankfully you seemed to have missed them! If I’d have left it a few months, they might have subsided, but that wouldn’t have sorted my issue of having to take the tablets, and therefore eat, at regimented times – otherwise the impacts on my BG were (for me) unacceptable.
Hey Alison, thanks for the post. The more I hear about this the more I wonder if it would be an option for me. Although I don’t have PCOS, I do have a big ‘ol waistline and can go through a lot of insulin resistence and seem to (according to the info above) use around 1.6 units of insulin per kg. Might be worth a chat with the doc!
AP
I’ve actually heard this one before…. as I did have a Doctor suggest the idea to me never went any further however. Due to me having very high insulin doses. (and come on I’m male, not over (partially) over weight and have had type one since I was 8).
Put simply its perfectly possible to have multiple types of Diabetes at once.
Also its perfectly possible to build up insulin resistance (hence cause type 2) by taking too much insulin. Lets just say that since I did Dafnee nearly 3 years ago I’ve managed to cut my insulin intake by half but improved my control to the extent I’ve lost about 2% on my HBA1c true its still not perfect, But then I’m not sure Perfection is possible I’m only human.
Peter.
I wouldn’t necessarily agree with all of that. Being insulin resistant is not the same as having Type 2, it’s just a shared symptom. And insulin resistance can be caused by many things – hormones, pregnancy, weight etc. You can reduce insulin requirements as you did by improving overall control (because when you get the doses right, you’re not having to correct highs etc), low carbing, losing weight etc but if you are genuinely resistant to insulin, that’s probably not going to sort the whole problem.
Interestingly, the first time I came across a Type 1 using Metformin it was in an average weight male, who’d seen his insulin requirements creeping up over the years, making it harder for him to maintain his weight, and decided to try Metformin which made a difference for him.
£128 a year?! For shame. I’m surprised he didn’t complain that you were using more than one test strip a month…
I’d heard of Metformin being used by someone with PCOS before, but I wasn’t sure exactly why – so you’ve cleared that up!
I hope the Metformin works nicely for you. And congratulations on the baby news 🙂
Thank you 🙂
Tablets, coated, metformin hydrochloride 500 mg, net price 28-tab pack = 91p, 84-tab pack = £1.53; 850 mg, 56-tab pack = £1.31.
Tablets, m/r, metformin hydrochloride 500 mg, net price 28-tab pack = £2.96, 56-tab pack = £5.92; 750 mg, 28-tab pack = £3.84, 56-tab pack = £7.68; 1 g, 28-tab pack = £5.33, 56-tab pack = £10.66
I’m not very good at maths, but those are the figures from the British National Formulary as to what the NHS pays for Metformin. The 2nd one is the Glucophage SR. But as I work it out, ordinary Metformin 599g per day works out at £13.03 for a year whereas Glucophage SR works out at £38.58 per annum. Multiply the figures by 2 for 1000mg per day. Stop feeling guilty Ali.
I take Metformin SR 1000g per day and like you, it has reduced my TDD about the same amount it’s reduced yours.
Sorry meant 500g per day.
Thanks @pattidevans good to know the NHS aren’t paying internet chemist prices for this stuff. So it’s actually almost 3 times the price, but that total price is probably less than the cost of the GP appointment I used to have the argument about what I need in the first place!
And I certainly don’t feel guilty – just irritated that I’m expected to be fobbed off with subjective expressions of “oo, it’s very expensive dear” rather than cold, hard, numbers.