I am in Metformin hell

For me, it got better. I was put on a similar protocol as you but the effects were never colonoscopy-prep-awful. Your body may need more time to get used to it.

I was put in it 20 years ago and actually was able to decrease my dose to 500 2x/day once I lost some weight about 10 years ago and my a1c has ranged from 5.3-5.8 during that time. It is about 5.5 atm and I’m sure it would be lower if I would cut sugar even a bit. I just turned 68 to give you context.

I don’t know if that helps at all. Good luck.

Yeah, 5.7 is not that bad. I tested at 7.8 my last physical. They wanted me to start taking it. I refused. Simply watch your carbs. Eat complex carbs instead of simple carbs. Like most things, moderation is key. You can eat carbs, just limit them. Start testing your blood glucose every day. Learn which foods affect you the most.

Sounds like you just started it. Stop taking it. It can seriously affect your kidneys. I'm surprised that your doctor prescribed it. A lot of doctors are now going other routes.

For some of us, no, it does not get better.

Are you on the regular Metformin? Have you tried Metformin extended-release (ER)?

I tried both and could not tolerate either of them. I had constant, almost 24 hr diarrhea. It was terrible. I was a prisoner in my home and could not leave the house.  Eventually, for insurance reasons, my doctor classified me as being “allergic” to it and put me on a different medication. Most insurance companies insist that you try metformin before they will approve coverage for any other drug.

Be careful. DH took it. He now has kidney failure. They say it doesn't cause kidney failure, but if kidneys start failing you are not allowed to take it.

I’m not a doctor, but play one on the internet.

I could never adjust to metformin. You are pre-diabetic, but just barely. I’m assuming that have tried diet and exercise with little results? It’s important to preserve as much pancreatic function as you can, as you have a limited number of beta cells and once they are gone, they’re gone.

You could try the transition more slowly, giving yourself another week or another month between upping the dosage. You could stay at the 500mg dose and try diet and exercise (if you haven’t already). Even losing 10 lbs can make a difference and a 30 minute walk can be (literally) life changing. Or you can forgo the metformin and try another medication. IMO, any of those are reasonable choices.

I hover between pre-diabetic and just over the line diabetic. I was on 500 mg Metformin 2x a day and was miserable. I was nauseous all the time and it never got better. My doctor put me on 500mg of Metformin ER and I take it at bedtime. I’ve had no issues at all with the ER.

I’m not a doctor but your eventual dosage of 1000mg 2x a day seems to be a high dosage for just barely being pre-diabetic.

Eating more protein, especially for breakfast seemed to help me. I am not much of a breakfast eater either.

Good luck and I hope you feel better soon.

I had that result once and then was told to watch my sugars and start exercising. It only went down to 5.6 but my dr never mentioned having to go in medicine unless it got higher but I don’t have a known family history. I’m afraid to get tested as I was really good but well. Christmas happened, then Easter then Mother’s Day and yeah I have been eating better and I was exercising then got sick and I am afraid. I need to do blood tests though.

I really do hope it gets better it’s just I hadn’t heard of being put in it with that low of a test but since you have family members on both sides it makes more sense. I hadn’t done much research on it but have a friend that was just diagnosed with diabetes and they haven’t put her on it yet. She wants to try diet and exercise. She was well past 7 and I’m surprised they aren’t acting more aggressively. Of course her dr didn’t say she needed to be retested and she was prediabetic in 2019 I think she said but they didn’t really tell her much other than to cut back on carbs and her dr didn’t notice the results of this test. She pointed it out. I think she needs a new dr.

I hope your body gets used to it and it works to lower your numbers without the tummy issues. It sounds miserable.

Try the extended release.

When I was diagnosed in March 2023, my A1C was 7.7. The dr prescribed Metformin and for the first 3 months I was miserable with loose stools. She changed the prescription to the extended release tablet and within days, I felt so much better. Everything went back to normal very quickly and I continue to take 500 mg twice a day. My A1C remains constant around 5.3.

It took me about a week and a half before I started to feel better. Hang in there…..

On a related note, check out glucose goddess on instagram.

I was in that hell and had to go off of it. I literally couldn’t leave the house. They put me on Moungaro and life has been great