Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Joe_h on April 12, 2011 at 5:55am

how are you sugars/ A1C? I don't know why your doc would perscribe these meds when you are losing weight. these drugs are for managing sugars not as a diet. sorry I just don't udnerstand your docs thinking about this

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Permalink Reply by PatientX on April 12, 2011 at 6:00am

I am a type 2 but I am on metformin. Metformin does have an effect on your stomach and you may adjust. When I first started taking it I would have upset stomach all the time and felt like throwing up and threw up a few times. Also I read that it depletes vitavim b so I take vitamin b suplements. I could not tolorate the higher dosses.

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Permalink Reply by Kelly on April 18, 2011 at 1:11am

Yes, sounds like the type of effects that Symlin had ion me. The wght loss may be due to feeling so darn sick. That probably isn't a good wght loss method.

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Permalink Reply by LiL MaMa on April 12, 2011 at 6:17am

I could see using Metformin if you are having some insulin resistance issues because it would allow you to take less insulin therefore lose more weight. I am LADA but when I was pregnant 5 years ago I was put on Metformin for "gestational diabetes" and I had NO appetite so thats a plus :) Not sure if you are on an exercise regimen but I workout an hour a day and therefore am able to take less insulin at meals and basal.
Also curious to know if you have tried low carb for weight loss.

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Permalink Reply by Nicolette on April 18, 2011 at 12:12am

Thanks for replying! I haven't tried a low carb diet yet, but I think I may give that a shot--it can't hurt! Hopefully commuting with my bike this summer will also aid in some weight loss.

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Permalink Reply by Donna Heun on April 12, 2011 at 7:02am

Symlin is a medication for people with type 1 diabetes. The beta cells make at least two hormones that we know of: insulin and amylin that help with glucose control. It took me a year to convince my endo to order Symlin for me. I wanted it as a "hormone replacement" but the reason he hesitated was because he was concerned that I would loose too much weight which is a side effect. Symlin decreases gastric emtying time, helps with satiety, and stops the liver from over secreting glucose when there is food in the stomack. Symlin helps decrease post meal BG spikes and people use much less bolus insulin for meals. Weight loss is a side effect of this medication. It does mean an injection before each meal but for me it has definitely been worth it. There is a forum about Symlin. Maybe that would be helpful to you also. Hope this helps.

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Permalink Reply by Nicolette on April 18, 2011 at 12:18am

That's so interesting that it's one of the hormones that beta cells make! It makes me think that there is a connection between my difficulty losing weight and my barely-there, limping-along pancreas. I have always had very dramatic post-meal BG spikes no matter the carbohydrate; this could be great for me. Have you noticed negative side effects? Thanks for pointing me toward the Smylin forum and thanks for your response.

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Permalink Reply by tonilynn20 on April 12, 2011 at 8:42am

I've been on symlin since September and was hoping to loose about 10lbs. but no such luck. For a little while my i:c ratio got better but now it's right back where it used to be so I'm a little frustrated. However, my post parandials have been better and I don't feel hungry all the time like I used to. I never even realized I was hungry all the time until I started symlin and realized what it's like to feel full. I didn't experience any side effects and will keep taking it, although I'm interested in the metformin option. I would love to decrease my insulin levels.

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Permalink Reply by Fabiana Couto on April 12, 2011 at 12:34pm

Hi, i am curious... how much insulin do you take (on average) per day? I have been on metformin for a while, its true i haven't been consistent, taking it every single day, but i haven't had any weight decrease...

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Permalink Reply by Nicolette on April 18, 2011 at 12:24am

Hi there!
My basal daily dose averages around 9u/day with i:c ratio of 1/15gc for around 8 hours and then 1/10gc for the remainder of the day. How long have you been on metformin? How often are you supposed to take it?

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Permalink Reply by annarebekah on April 18, 2011 at 12:12pm

Holy cow! Only 9u/day? I basal 30u/day. Of course, I would love to have that number come down! I feel the same as you. For 3 months I have been eating around1400 calories of a balance diet (carbs from fruit and whole grain, vegetables, and protein) and working out like a mad dog (hour-hour 1.2 of cardio every day and and hour of weight training every other day) and I have only lost 8 lbs and have hit a wall. I am also curius if I should do Metformin or Symlin but for some reason it makes me really nervous. I would like to think I can do this on my own because an average person doing what I'm doing what lose weight just fine but with the amount of insulin I'm pumping I feel it is near impossible for me. I have been able to come down on my daily totals only because I'm eating better and not bolusing as much. With all this exercise and eating better I've only had to lower my morning basal just a little. I guess I'm much more insulin resistant that I though and should talk to my endo!

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Permalink Reply by MaryMary on April 18, 2011 at 12:47pm

My daughter was up over 40 units a day combined basal and bolus doses before Metformin. She went back down to around 30 with Metformin. It is a very inexpensive and widely used med, and if you get the ER you shouldn't have a problem with tummy upset. Lows are the biggest problem, but if you monitor carefully with each dose change and cut down on your insulin, you should be fine. We started at 500 mg and went up to 2000mg. She is still resistant in the mornings, but the rest of the day her ratios are normal.

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