[Gary Parent]

Hi!

I'm Gary from Boston.

I was diagnosed with Diabetes about a month ago. My reading was 370 and a big shock to me. I had no idea. Now I am on the beginning stage of learning, testing, and changing my diet and life style.

On Metformin 500mg (One tab with breakfast, one tab after my largest meal), with Meter readings, etc.

There is also a side effect issue that raises my blood cholesterol that I am in the process of investigating.

Thanks,

Gary

 

[rubystar2]

Welcome and I'm glad you decided to join us. It's good you are learning a lot. If you arm yourself with knowledge, you can take better care of yourself.

 

[Richard157]

Hello Gary, welcome aboard! There are excellent medications that help very much with both diabetes and cholesterol. Ask all the questions you want. Good luck to you!

Richard

 

[Gary Parent]

Hello Gary, welcome aboard! There are excellent medications that help very much with both diabetes and cholesterol. Ask all the questions you want. Good luck to you!
Richard

I have a cardiologist and a GP doctor, who is monitoring me and prescribes my meds. I've been on cholesterol reducing meds for years. I am currently taking 40 MG Lipitor which the cardiologist is happy with lowering my LDL. Yet, he prescribed Niaspan for raising my HDL. That was over 6 months ago and since then I have had a rather dramatic weight loss. More on that later.

On my last exam, the blood sugar was too high, and I am starting on a Metformin 500 MG tablet, twice a day. My readings after eating my largest meal, taken with the Metformin, was in the mid 200s.

I read that Niaspan can raise blood sugar. Nothing I read at Abbiot Labs but all kinds of cautionary notes from WebMD, etc. Without the GP's knowledge, I stoped taking the Niaspan. I started to feel better and my blood sugar reading went below 140 and as low as 90 on one reading. I am talking about fasting and non-fasting meter readings.

I told the GP and he made me go back to the Niaspan and its taking a while to adjust. Unfortunately, my meter readings are higher by at least 40 points with the Niaspan.

Anyone else have this result? And if so, is taking plain Niacin (cheap to buy and not time release) a good way to get around the Niacin and blood sugar raising potential?

I feel that my GP will just keep raising my Merformin dose until he negates the Niaspan effect. I see it as a war between the meds. Then again, I tend to be paranoid.

 

[pawan]

Hi! I am Pawan , being diagnosed diabitic, under treatment of my G. P. Having Zoryl l M1 Caps twice a day and on tab of Piolet after dinner.
Now got appointment with specialist of diabitic for 14th April 09.
Let me be properly diognosed then discuss with the Forum.

 

[Richard157]

Gary, I can understand your not wanting to use Niaspan. I would react in the same way. I don't know whether Niacin would help your HDL or not. I agree that your doctor will probably adjust your Met dosage to try and compensate. I hope it works out for you. I hope it won't take long to get back to normal blood sugar levels.

If this was happening to me I would go to an endocrinologist (diabetes specialist) for a second opinion. Maybe a better solution could be found by a doctor who knows more about diabetes. Good luck!

Richard