[Orio]

Hi...my name is Mark. I am 54 yrs old. Have been borderline diabetic for years, and really ignored it. I'm 5'10" and weigh in at @275. I smoked, and drank beer...both too much. I quit smoking, and stopped drinking beer, as they kinda go hand in hand. Went to the Doctor and had A1C done, along with other blood work. My A1C was 8.2
Today I picked up my perscription for Metformin, 500mg twice a day. I am a finance manager in the car business and work long hours with really NO consistency in eating times...it's kinda "when I can". A lot of days I only eat once...lunch, or maybe early supper...depends. I'm very confused on best times to take Metformin, and have read multiple scenarios. I want to thank you all ahead of time for the help I'm about to receive. Thank You !!!

 

[diabetes86]

Metformin is best taken with food. Food reduces the gastric side effects and increases the absorbing of Metformin. I take it in the AM with food and PM with food.

You do know its carbs that raise BG not just sugar

Carbs are... bread, pasta, potatoes, rice... most fruit

walking lowers BG, hard exercise raises BG

 

[Orio]

Metformin is best taken with food. Food reduces the gastric side effects and increases the absorbing of Metformin. I take it in the AM with food and PM with food.

You do know its carbs that raise BG not just sugar

Carbs are... bread, pasta, potatoes, rice... most fruit

walking lowers BG, hard exercise raises BG

And pizza sucks !! Had it as my "last junk meal"....before I took my first Metformin...and of course my BG is now 279. :yield:

 

[Shanny]

Welcome aboard, Mark. Some people can tolerate metformin on an empty stomach, but better to take it with food until you know how you handle it. Doesn't have to be a meal - just a few bites, like a beef or cheese stick, these being examples of low-carb foods to use. It takes a little while for met to gain maximum blood levels, so give it a coupla weeks to a month to really start making a difference. I find that it curbs my appetite too, so if you start losing weight, don't be surprised! Met and cutting carbs has that effect on some of us.

Diabetes86 is right about the carbs . . . quickest way to bring down your BG levels is to pass up the breads, potatoes, rice, pasta, fruit. Even milk is a villain.

 

[Orio]

I have successfully lost weight on a low-carb diet before, in fact my wife is doing it now, so I have been about half-way. Will be back on it "all the way" now !! Was thinking about taking a low-carb yogurt to work to take my metformin with. There...learned something here already. Thanks

 

[breezeonby]

Hi...my name is Mark. I am 54 yrs old. Have been borderline diabetic for years, and really ignored it. I'm 5'10" and weigh in at @275. I smoked, and drank beer...both too much. I quit smoking, and stopped drinking beer, as they kinda go hand in hand. Went to the Doctor and had A1C done, along with other blood work. My A1C was 8.2
Today I picked up my perscription for Metformin, 500mg twice a day. I am a finance manager in the car business and work long hours with really NO consistency in eating times...it's kinda "when I can". A lot of days I only eat once...lunch, or maybe early supper...depends. I'm very confused on best times to take Metformin, and have read multiple scenarios. I want to thank you all ahead of time for the help I'm about to receive. Thank You !!!

Welcome to the forum Mark! We are glad to have you as a member! There are plenty of posts and threads about Metformin on the forum, so your Metformin question should get answered quickly. I just added Metformin ER to my blood glucose medications and I take it after my evening meal. I hope you can find the time to visit the forum often and take care!

 

[ThoseBackPages]

Welcome to the Forums Mark!

as for the yogurt, be careful, they tend to have a lot of sugar in them.

one day at a time, thats all we can do.

 

[Orio]

Welcome to the Forums Mark!

as for the yogurt, be careful, they tend to have a lot of sugar in them.

one day at a time, thats all we can do.

Kroger has a great one called "carbmaster" 3g carbs & 3g sugar

 

[Shanny]

Kroger is a goldmine! The Carbmaster products are terrific. If you're an ice cream junkie, try the CarbSmart ice cream & frozen treats from Breyers too. I have to drive 40 miles to find Kroger, but there are so many things they keep in stock that I now keep in stock! My Olé brand high-fiber tortillas being number one on the list . . . I don't think I could go low-carb - at least not as strictly as I do - without those tortilla wraps. But go ahead & have the pizza - just eat the toppings & leave the crust.

(I hope your wife doesn't mind making this low-carb cooking a lifestyle change . . . that's what we had to do over here . . .)

 

[Orio]

Kroger is a goldmine! The Carbmaster products are terrific. If you're an ice cream junkie, try the CarbSmart ice cream & frozen treats from Breyers too. I have to drive 40 miles to find Kroger, but there are so many things they keep in stock that I now keep in stock! My Olé brand high-fiber tortillas being number one on the list . . . I don't think I could go low-carb - at least not as strictly as I do - without those tortilla wraps. But go ahead & have the pizza - just eat the toppings & leave the crust.

(I hope your wife doesn't mind making this low-carb cooking a lifestyle change . . . that's what we had to do over here . . .)

She pretty much already has...it's been me dragging my feet. She's an RN, and, apparently much smarter than myself.

Have not tried the CarbSmart ice cream...have the high fiber tortillas in the fridge !!

 

[Shanny]

Well keep browsing around here . . . you'll find all kinds of wonderful low or no-carb eats. Cutting carbs definitely does not mean deprivation from delicious foods. I just tried out a new low-carb breading on our fish last night and I'm going to extend it to our old southern favorites of chicken fried steaks as well as fried chicken . . . after a huge fish fry last night, I was 97 at bedtime. Can't beat that very often!

 

[Orio]

Well keep browsing around here . . . you'll find all kinds of wonderful low or no-carb eats. Cutting carbs definitely does not mean deprivation from delicious foods. I just tried out a new low-carb breading on our fish last night and I'm going to extend it to our old southern favorites of chicken fried steaks as well as fried chicken . . . after a huge fish fry last night, I was 97 at bedtime. Can't beat that very often!

Thanks...I am certain I will find tons of great stuff here. Really liking it so far!!

 

[onaughmae]

Hi...my name is Mark. I am 54 yrs old. Have been borderline diabetic for years, and really ignored it. I'm 5'10" and weigh in at @275. I smoked, and drank beer...both too much. I quit smoking, and stopped drinking beer, as they kinda go hand in hand. Went to the Doctor and had A1C done, along with other blood work. My A1C was 8.2
Today I picked up my perscription for Metformin, 500mg twice a day. I am a finance manager in the car business and work long hours with really NO consistency in eating times...it's kinda "when I can". A lot of days I only eat once...lunch, or maybe early supper...depends. I'm very confused on best times to take Metformin, and have read multiple scenarios. I want to thank you all ahead of time for the help I'm about to receive. Thank You !!!

Welcome Mark! Glad you found us...sorry you need us

Metformin is sometimes easier on your tummy if you take it with food. It will usually cause some gastric issues in the beginning of your treatment. It made me a little nauseated, killed my appetite, made me a bit gassy...and if I ate something a little too rich....let's just say I spent a lot of time studying the wall paper in my bathroom! Thankfully, just stick with it...the side effects wear off soon enough. If it gets bad, make sure you are taking the extended release form, it might help. I have been taking metformin for so long it doesnt bother me to take it on an empty stomach anymore.

Feel free to ask anything you need...we are all here for each other!