[biblo]

Guys,
I seek your advise . I am on metformin since diagnosed diabetic and lost 30 KG weight in 2 years. Currently i look like a needle walking in the street. My doctor says this happen due to metformin.

Could anyone guide me how to recover and improve my weight.

Desperately waiting for response from the forum.

Regards,

 

[Shanny]

If I were you, Biblo, I would add more fats to my diet.

Welcome to Diabetes Forum!

 

[jwags]

I have been on Metformin (2550) for 4 years. Last fall I actually lost too much weight, too. My friends told me I looked terrible. I added more fats to my diet, and increased calories to 2200 most days. I've gained about 6 pounds and now my face looks human again. Are your bgs well controlled with the metformin. You may want to talk to doctor about decreasing metformin or even add a little insulin if needed. Many people put weight on with insulin.

 

[biblo]

Thanks Jwags and Shanny for your kind responses.

I am taking metformin 1000 in morning and 1000 in Eve. Afternoon is controlled through Amaryl.

Unfortunately since i went to Malaysia on holidays in January 2011, my HBA1C is showing high 8.2%.

I'm trying to add fats (from nuts and Avacado) however its of less help. Doctor told me if I start insuline then my body will be dependent on the insuline injection and may not respond to body natural insuline.

I once bought home a Mass Gainer carton from the body building shop. It showed sugar contents only 5% per glass, but it shoot up my Blood Sugar to 20 and it took me one week to bring it to normal.

Jwags, is it possible to start insuline for a month and then revert to metformine after gaining weight?

Thanks for your response in advance.

 

[jwags]

8.2 is an average bg of 189 which means most of the day you may be a lot higher. That could be the cause of your weight loss. High bgs = weight loss in many people. I do know people who went on insulin at diagnosis which really helped them control bgs. They also changed diet to low carb and included exercise. When they got their HbA1c closer to 6 or under, they transitioned off the insulin slowly and used metformin by itself and low carb diet. It is important to do what you need to do to get those bgs lower.

 

[biblo]

Thanks J.wags for your prompt response.

By the way do you have any idea which insuline injections should i start with.

I'm thinking to give it a serious consideration in order to control my bgs and then switch back to metformin.

 

[beefy]

I once bought home a Mass Gainer carton from the body building shop. It showed sugar contents only 5% per glass, but it shoot up my Blood Sugar to 20 and it took me one week to bring it to normal.

In my opinion you should never, ever, ever, EVER use a weight-gainer product as a diabetic.

Even those touted as low-sugar will have well over 100g of carbohydrate per serving.

One of the best things to do for gaining weight is to build muscle: IE: Weight/resistance training. Ensure you have a decent enough protein and fat intake to help with the muscle building.

 

[jwags]

Weight training is great for building weight and also for lowering your bgs. As far as insulins they usually start Type 2's with a long acting basal insulin like Lantus or Levimer. Your doctor will usually work with you on starting on a very low dose and very slowly increasing over a couple of months until your fastings fall in range. A long acting basal insulin will give you little bursts of background insulin throughout the day. It will not necessarily allow you to eat more at meals (carbs), for that you would need a fast acting insulin. My only other thought would be are you sure you are a type 2. Many people who are thin are often misdiagnosed and are really LADA's ( slow onset type 1). You should ask doctor for a C Peptide test and a GAD 65 Antibody test. If you test positive for antibodies there is a good chance you wil develop type 1 and will need to be on insulin.

 

[andrews]

I been on metformin for about two years and still 19 stone and have not lost any weight which i really should do.

Good luck with your weight, the only problem ahead is the more you eat, the more your blood sugar will rise. Like it or not its hard to have meals without some carbs or hidden sugars.

The other way of thinking is, your burning more calories than your eating, hence the weight lose. Have a think on how you can cut down on your hectic life style which in turn "hopefully" will start to slow down your metabolism.

If you are thinking of weight training to gain weight, here is some tips.
Eat small meals with no more than 30 grams of protein in every three hours as your body can only digests food once eaten in approx 3 hrs. Any excess protein will add strain on your organs and either be stored as harmfull fat or removed from the body( so wasted) eat a balance diet. An example is if you take a strong vitamin pill, when you pee next your urine will smell and is often a bright yellow colour which is your body rejecting what it cant use.

With weights keep the weight low reps to 8-10 / 4 sets each body part with free weights not machines. stick to basic exercises and train each body part twice a week. This is a very basic way to train and a good starting point, the more you train or advanced you get, the more you need to alter and adjust your routine to keep the progress coming.

Very best of luck.
Lee

 

[biblo]

Guys,
Your assistance is highly appreciated. I'll try to first get the test as mentioned by J.Wags and consult with my doctor for starting basal insulin such as Lantus or Levimer.

The second task on my agenda would be to gain muscule and do some weight training as advised by lee and beefy.

The problem is that a little knowledge, without understanding, is a dangerous thing but I want to die with my feet on.

Thanks guys once again.

 

[andrews]

Beefy is bang on the money... Do not use a weight gaining product as they will have simple and complex carbs in. Even a high quality whey protein will have hidden sugars in, always Read the labels carefully. I wish i could recommend one, when i was bodybuilding i used a product called Met-rex (something like that) but that was before i found out i was T2 diabetic. Don't get to involved with reading advanced diets as branch chain amino acids, creatine and a billion others. Please, please remember professional bodybuilders as sponsed and give it free and get paid. Other big names pay millions of pounds in marketing and advertising to sell and mislead you. save your money and eat a balance diet.

 

[jwags]

I think it is important to get the proper tests. If you are low in insulin that could be why you have difficulty building muscle. Even type 2's sometimes burn out their beta cells and need to go on insulin. Once you are on insulin then the glucose from your foods will get into the cells to be used as energy and you should be able to regain that weight.

 

[biblo]

RE: Weight loss

Guys,
I'm back again. During the absence period i check up with my doctor and he advice me of Novo Flex 30 insulin flex pen injection. I'm not sure if its Lantus or Levimer but its a pre diluted composition of 30/70 insulin.

As soon as i started i realise why the hell was i using the tablets in the first place. I'm currently on 15 units in the morning and 10 units in the evening. It works well and keeps my level to normal. It also give me opportunity to eat the right size and proportion of food.

I believe if i continue my Hba1c will improve and so will my weight. But then why do Doctors do not recommend insulin in the first place when there is no side effect to it (except Hypo).

I'll also update you once my weight improves by next week.

And thanks again for all your support.

 

[beefy]

Interestingly, many doctors don't prescribe insulin right away, and many diabetics don't want to be 'forced' to use it...

Yet when you consider that for many of us, our pancreas has a limited ability to produce it, and likely has a limited lifespan of doing so... prescribing insulin therapy when warranted can actually help keep the pancreas going longer by taking some of the workload off of it...

Dr. Bernstein had a great write-up on it in his book, which helped me to understand that if I *do* need insulin in the future, it's neither scary nor bad, and is a great thing for helping me be healthy for the long-term.

 

[biblo]

Beefy,
Thanks for supporting my move. Actually i need additional information from you. I may be landing next year in Calgary, Alberta. Could you kindly guide me as a permanent Resident if i land in Calgary, shall i be covered as soon as i fill the health insurance formality?

I don't mind to pay for insulin injection from my own pocket but are they available for purchase over the shelve or a prescription from Canadian doctor is necessary.

Your guidance shall be highly appreciated.

Thanks,

 

[beefy]

Beefy,
Thanks for supporting my move. Actually i need additional information from you. I may be landing next year in Calgary, Alberta. Could you kindly guide me as a permanent Resident if i land in Calgary, shall i be covered as soon as i fill the health insurance formality?

I don't mind to pay for insulin injection from my own pocket but are they available for purchase over the shelve or a prescription from Canadian doctor is necessary.

Your guidance shall be highly appreciated.

Thanks,

When moving to Alberta from outside of the country, if you have official resident status, your coverage beings the day you land.

You should likely register as soon as possible. Check the section under the heading "Moving to and from Canada" on the Alberta Health page. It has information and the application forms.

Hope that helps.

 

[biblo]

Thanks Beefy for your guidance.

 

[biblo]

This is to update 'To Whomever it May Concern' that my BG level start improving since i start using NovoMix 30 Flexpen.

My weight also start improving gradually with the right diet.

I trust my post will help someone at a later stage to get guidance, if S/he face similar scenario of weight loss due to high BG.

Thanks everyone for their sincere help and proper guidance.

Biblo

 

[smithbush]

weight loss

thanks for the information