Can hypoglycemia occur because of metformin?

This is the case: 35 -year -old woman, 1.70 high and 65 kg.No history of diabetes in the family.No recent operation/infection.No pregnancy.It does not follow any treatment, of any kind.Healthy lifestyle, Mediterranean diet, don't drink alcohol.It could be defined as a somewhat nervous person.

The result of an fasting analytics gives more than 200mg of blood glucose.Based on this measurement, and to another of similar results, performed with hair blood, the head doctor diagnoses as a diabetics and recipes metformin.
Two days later, he suffers hypoglycemia such that not even the glucometer gives it a value, "lo", (the test is repeated up to 3 times, with the same result).

She self -medicates, that is, you don't take the tablet at night and take two cocacolas.

The next morning its capillary blood value is normal.He decides not to take the metformin and, to see what happens.
At night, the value is normal.And the next day, too, and at the night of the next day, the same.

Comment with the doctor, this, supports the suspension of treatment, and decides to follow up.

The Mediterranean diet becomes even healthier, without having to change much;Fitangas are eliminated, the sugar of the two coffees of the day is changed to saccharin, the accompaniment potatoes are restricted and replaced by varied vegetables.You continue with pots, (but as for a flat plate), and still eating everything.Approximately 2-3 liters of water daily.

Every day 3 daily meals are made and at the same schedules.Half an hour of daily exercise at a strong rhythm.

Two weeks later, the positive glucose test, (218 mg at 2 hours).The Hemo goes out to 7.4.

Another two weeks later, the health center changes doctor.The new one insists on the patient to take half metformin pill, with the only argument, that, "is what the medical protocol marks, and we must follow it" .

I would be grateful in aooooormente that whoever could, answered me to these two questions.Especially at the first.
1. ,,,, If the glycometer values, day after day, pre and post-pandarial, are understood as normal according to medical parameters, still, you have to take metformin?, Do I have something to regulate?

I have only had a descent in my life, (the 2 days after starting treatment), or any climb, (this understanding this, from the follow -up they are doing to me).What do I do? Do I leave?

2. The fact that metformin says in the prospect, "it is rare that it causes hypoglycemia", does everyone refer to everyone in general, or from here you should remove those who still seem to work something the alpha cells, betaand Delta del Pancreas?

Greetings and thank you all for patience.

I do not know the subject much and, according to what I have read, metformin does not cause hypoglycemia alone but can do so if it is taken together with hypoglycemic agents, although I suppose this will not be the case.So I have no idea, perhaps hypoglycemia was due to a cause of metformin ...

As for the doctor, a specialist is supposed to be the one who knows the most although we all know that more than one acts as if he had no idea.If you tell you to take that dose, try to do it.If you have any more hypoglycemia or you see any change, that you talk to your doctor again.And if it is not comfortable, there is always the option to ask for the transfer or alms consult other medical opinions.

I'm sorry but I already say that I have no idea: |

The first thing is to determine the type of diabetes ... if you have diabetes.

To determine the type of diabetes, several tests are necessary: ​​peptide C and antibodies Ica, Gada and 2 more antibodies I do not remember.

Giving metformin without knowing the type of diabetes and a patient with 35 years, seems nonsense.

My opinion is that you must go to an endocrine and that he adjusts the treatment.

Half pill of metformin is almost impossible for him to cause hypoglycemia, except prolonged fasting or very intense exercise.

Half pill is what the new doctor has prescribed me, (to which so far, I have not listened to him).
The first doctor prescribed 2 daily pills every 12 hours, this is the treatment with which I spent those 2 days that ended in hypoglycemia.

If my levels are normal, the pres and the posts, even if it is only half a pill, would it have to take it?

But are your levels those of a person without diabetes and who has no possibility (at least close) to have it?Because then I think they should observe how you carry the levels without antidiabetic medications, just regulating your diet, exercise, etc.Before prescribing anything ... but I'm not a doctor, so I don't risk ...

Hello, I do not have much experience with diabetes, they detected it 1.5 years ago, I have low levels taking metformin (1 a day) that range between 5.8 and 6.2 depending on the time that the analysis does.As my trust in doctors is not total, there are some who are good professionals but there are others who would have to keep sheep because they do not arrive for more.Begin, progressively to reduce the dose of metformin, I will comment in the my experiences forum.
What I want to comment is that almost all metformin has an EFG coating film that is a retardant so that it does not begin to undo until it reaches adequate place (a part of the intestine) if a tablet is split, the section does notHe has the film that delays his action and this could get rid of all or mostly in an inadequate place or process.This comment was made by a pharmaceutical friend who knows this problem.
Greetings

It seems great, one more point for endocrinology.Anyway, some effect has to do the half pill, because I have been taking it for a few days, and as I say, something I notice.Not only at blood glucose levels, (that more or less seems the same), rather, in the intestinal part.

To kick a little, in this little time that I have been with life, or rather, the head upside down, I am realizing that the endocrine and doctors in general, you can consult about the beginning of treatments and//or of their modification.At the time they get out of this, they have the same idea as any of the profane in the field.

I guess it's because it has not yet been fully understood how our hormonal system works.And as it shows, a button;The thyroid solution is usually the removal of the gland and take a pill for life.This "arrangement" is as simple as effective.With diabetes, the problem is that they do not have this exit, but the understanding of both problems is the same, almost null.

I do not know, it gives me the impression that all the investigation has turned into chronic treatments, (which seems very good to me, because they are essential), but to the detriment of this, it seems to have neglected to try to understand the "why why"Of the problem, (I suppose it will be because they have left it as impossible).And it is a pity, no longer to find the cure, but because there are perhaps variables that could be modified, in order not to destroy all the pancreas cells.There is nothing more to see the explanation they give to people who are not yet insulin dependent, "is that you are in the honeymoon phase" .

I, who wants me to tell you, that seems the perfect answer to everything.So you are never wrong, because if you leave the moon, "is that it is over ,,,,, it was a honeymoon", me, as a rookie, it gives me the feeling ofThat all these "explanations" are even little serious.I imagine that over time, the perception will change.But right now, go disgust.

Greetings and thank you all for participation.

Hypoglycemia in metformin monotherapy is very rare.

In any case there are situations that we could call prediabetes so that we understand ourselves how the recent diagnostic categories of altered basal blood glucose or insulin resistance can be that in case of doubt they must be diagnosed with a glycemia curve (it is equal to what pregnant women do) and according to your age (I thought I read 35 years) and your characteristics should be more strict with metabolic control.

Regarding the way of working of my medical colleagues, it is true that it is totally incomplete.A diabetic can be decompensated by an infection, due to bad diet, but it can also be uncontrolled by a sentimental break, because it is making opposition, due to various personal problems or simply because it is lost.While doctors are not good guiding (now it became fashionable to call it coaching when NLP has existed for a long time) we will not get optimal results (not only in diabetes, but in any other situation).Today we are not guiding, either due to lack of time or lack of training.Certainly we are sometimes quite clumsy in this aspect with inappropriate terminology (to call it somehow).All diseases have a mental component (yes, even a miserable cold) and we do not address it insist that the results will not be optimal.

Greetings and I hope it serves you to improve.

arrobita said:
half pill is what the new doctor has prescribed me, (to which until now, I have not listened to it).
The first doctor prescribed 2 daily pills every 12 hours, this is the treatment with which I spent those 2 days that ended in hypoglycemia.
If my levels are normal, the pres and the posts, even if it is only half a pill, would I have to take it?
With what you describe 2 daily pills it seems a lot, I tell you because my mother is also diabetic with values ​​similar to those you comment, and there were a seasons that sent her 2 pills and gave her hypoglycemia, they reduced it to 1.5and it seems that they stopped giving her the hypos.
I still do not take them, I am a little scared by the same, for the theme of the hypos.It is that one thing happens, a doctor sends you the pills depending on the current lifestyle, but it does not take into account if you plan to change that lifestyle, put yourself in diet and exercise.So if the values ​​are not very high, putting together a pill, or and a half with a healthier lifestyle can lower more than the account.
On the other hand, my doctor also told me about being able to have gastrointestinal side effects.All the best.

The gastrointestinal effects is only at the beginning of treatment (first month).Once Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed, metformin must be taken in low dose (according to medical prescription) since even preventively helps preserve the pancreatic insulin reserve.At least that explained to me the endocrine.

Hugoglezp said:
The gastrointestinal effects is only at the beginning of the treatment (first month).Once Type 2 diabetes is diagnosed, metformin must be taken in low dose (according to medical prescription) since even preventively helps preserve the pancreatic insulin reserve.At least that explained to me the endocrine.
I am that the problem is that with my mother's glucometer it gives me quite "normal" values ​​94-118-105, if those values ​​are real, I am afraid that when I took the half pill I hit me a downturn.That is my uncertainty.It has sent me half breakfast, half food and half dinner and the truth is that I am afraid and more that I am changing lifestyle, diet and exercise that I did not do before.All the best.

@Ramón2 What glycosylated hemoglobin came out in the analytics?
You can repeat it within 3 months and, if it is above 6 or 6.5, take the pills ..

I take Media in the morning and a half at night and I have a great 5.2 hemoglobin.Always between 90 and 110 on an empty stomach

Hello,

As commented by @Wash (he is the "technician" of the forum).

Metformin has a double function, to reduce the amount of glucose that the body absorbs from the food we eat and to make the liver produce a minor amount of glucose.

Theoretically, the use of metformin could cause hypoglycemia, simply based on the function of the medication (in the prospectus the possibility of altering glucose figures in Sanre).

In practice it is very difficult for this medication to cause hypoglycemia if it is not accompanied by "any more hypoglycemic" (exercise, bad diet or lack of HC intake, etc ...).

If it is possible that in the face of hypoglycemia and having less glucose reserves in the liver by the action of metformin, it is more "expensive" to trace hypoglycemia, but it is also true that the majority of people who take this medication have type II diabetes andHis pancreas is able to release glucagon.

Pedro Jiménez said:
hypoglycemia in monotherapy with metformin is very rare.

In any case there are situations that we could call prediabetes so that we understand ourselves how the recent diagnostic categories of altered basal blood glucose or insulin resistance can be that in case of doubt they must be diagnosed with a glycemia curve (it is equal to what pregnant women do) and according to your age (I thought I read 35 years) and your characteristics should be more strict with metabolic control.

Regarding the way of working of my medical colleagues, it is true that it is totally incomplete.A diabetic can be decompensated by an infection, due to bad diet, but it can also be uncontrolled by a sentimental break, because it is making opposition, due to various personal problems or simply because it is lost.While doctors are not good guiding (now it became fashionable to call it coaching when NLP has existed for a long time) we will not get optimal results (not only in diabetes, but in any other situation).Today we are not guiding, either due to lack of time or lack of training.Certainly we are sometimes quite clumsy in this aspect with inappropriate terminology (to call it somehow).All diseases have a mental component (yes, even a miserable cold) and we do not address it insist that the results will not be optimal.

Greetings and I hope it serves you to improve.

Pedro Jiménez said:
hypoglycemia in monotherapy with metformin is very rare.

In any case there are situations that we could call prediabetes so that we understand ourselves how the recent diagnostic categories of altered basal blood glucose or insulin resistance can be that in case of doubt they must be diagnosed with a glycemia curve (it is equal to what pregnant women do) and according to your age (I thought I read 35 years) and your characteristics should be more strict with metabolic control.

Regarding the way of working of my medical colleagues, it is true that it is totally incomplete.A diabetic can be decompensated by an infection, due to bad diet, but it can also be uncontrolled by a sentimental break, because it is making opposition, due to various personal problems or simply because it is lost.While doctors are not good guiding (now it became fashionable to call it coaching when NLP has existed for a long time) we will not get optimal results (not only in diabetes, but in any other situation).Today we are not guiding, either due to lack of time or lack of training.Certainly we are sometimes quite clumsy in this aspect with inappropriate terminology (to call it somehow).All diseases have a mental component (yes, even a miserable cold) and we do not address it insist that the results will not be optimal.

Greetings and I hope it serves you to improve.

Dr. Pedro Jiménez: Medicine should always be practiced from an ¨bio-psycho-social¨ approach.
Greetings
Agnes

I wonder how one knows that you should stop taking metformin, if it reaches normal levels in the curve and already eliminated the contributing factors such as diet, exercise, emotional situation, that fired it.Or should I continue taking Try?

Only with metformin they gave me quite serious hypoglycemia.
Now I am with insulin (lada type) and metformin.If I take more on average in the morning, or I stay short with the food, I fall as an ass.
Only with insulin or a single hypo.

arrobita said:
half pill is what the new doctor has prescribed me, (to which until now, I have not listened to it).
The first doctor prescribed 2 daily pills every 12 hours, this is the treatment with which I spent those 2 days that ended in hypoglycemia.

If my levels are normal, the pres and the posts, even if it is only half a pill, would I have to take it?

I would take it, but more than anything I would always try to eat the same.Same amounts.
To see what effect they do to you.Mine began exactly as yours.And after several analyzes a type 1 lada.
Apparently no doctor squared the dos with metformin.And apparently if you limit a lot of food and take it, it is easy to give you

Hello.Metformin use and the only dowers to say have happened due to lack of eating food.Sometimes if I'm going to run intense bicycle, I don't take any medication.Well, I'm going to control it with burning.The glucometers?Are they the same?Are they calibrated?You would be surprised to see how many crazy readings come out sometimes.I already have a measure, according to what I do in the day.Sometimes I have risen about 200 but since I know my body and ingestion I do the test and I have had such different readings at the same time, 190/118, for example.That is dangerous if I go with the discharge, so whenever I have to compare, I give the minor reading.

Don't take Coca Cola.Better water or natural juices.