metfoemin ER and lactic acidosis

[franceslee]

I'm really needing some advice.  In January my doc put me on metformjn er , I took it for a month and did ok but quit taking the medicaation.  The end of march she did blood work (cmp).  I don't really know how to understand the blood work but I did read where my anion gap was 15 which is one the high end of normal.  I'm really nervous, does that mean I have lactic acidosis??!!  eventho, I haven't taken the medication since the end of January?  Or is it because my pre diabetes is out of control??!!  I'm not sure what to do.   Go back on the meds or what?   PLEASE IF ANYONE CAN HELP PLEASE LET ME KNOW!  I don't want to get full blown diabetes and I don't want to take medication that's gonna hurt me either!

[Super_sally888]

Hi

swinging blood sugars can make you feel bad.  do you have a blood sugar meter that you can test when you're feeling bad?

Also ideally you'd test fasting and then 2 hours after meals.  Not necessarily every meal, but so you can see what effect different foods have.  Avoiding sweets and limiting how much carbohydrates you eat should also help stabilise blood sugar.

Best wishes

[franceslee]

Thanks!!

[diabetes86]

it can take 6 to 8 weeks for met to get up to full strength.
what met does is reduce insulin resistance and slows your liver
dumping Glucose.

[franceslee]

Do u know if having sugars outta wacky can cause anxiety symptoms and make a person feel weird??  Also, how king does it take for metformin er to regulate blood sugar?  Thanks for any help.  
Last night was ny second dose of metformin er, I just dislike having the nauseated feeling with it but last time I was on it seemed liked that went away within a few days!!  

[Super_sally888]

Hi,

just to let you know that lactic adidosis is extremely rare and even less common in persons without other preexisting medical conditions / kidney problems.

It doesn't sound like you have it at all.

For most people metformin is safe and effective.

It is important to control your blood sugar.

hope that the councelling will help with your anxiety, which seems to be a bigger problem.

[franceslee]

That's ok I start counciling for it next week, hoping that helps.  I just want to get my sugar levels evened out and hopefully it will make me feel better.  I don't really understand the whole insulin resistant thing.  It's kinda ruff for me to understand!

[diabetes86]

sorry for your anxiety, i dont know how to help with that.

[franceslee]

I don't kno what my levels were before hand.  She also did a lipid panel and my cholesterol was a little elevated so I'm supose to go for a follow up appt on the 25 of may.   I am very paranoid when it comes to medicine!  I suffer from anxiety too but I can't bring myself to take meds for it!!  

[diabetes86]

Met has been used for over 30 years its a well known drug tha helps with BG and helps to protect the kidnies.

As for lactic acidosis  you are still in the "normal" range.

Do you what your anion gap was before started taking met?

I would not worry to much about it, ask the MD with your next appointment.

To help stop the progression to full diabetes
exercise.
Keep a good body weight
reduce your carbohydrate, since its carbs that make the pancreas work harder to produce extra insulin. by eating less refined carbs your pancreas wont have to work so hard.

[franceslee]

I quit taking it on my own.  I have an anxiety when it.comes to meds and I just decided to stop, yes I know that it wasn't the best thing to do!

[diabetes86]

If the Metforman was working why did you stop it?