I’m not really sure where I’m going with this and it may just end up with me rambling for a bit, so please be patient while I figure this out (oh and forgive we if I travel into the real of TMI)…
When I was first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, one of the medications my doc prescribed was Metformin. It is the go-to drug of choice for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, in particular, in overweight and obese people. Metformin is known to cause few adverse effects, however the most common is gastrointestinal upset. Well in my case that would be an understatement.
It was prescribed for twice a day and I would take it with dinner and in the morning, before work. Well, it was leaving me nauseous most of the time. On top of that, to say that it lent a sense of urgency to my trips to the restroom would also be an understatement. Often I found myself with fewer than 20 seconds to drop everything and sprint. Needless to say, this made my commute, sometimes an hour long, a bit nerve racking. I commute from San Jose to Santa Cruz and heading over the hill to the coast, restroom stops are few and far between. I ended up just skipping the morning dose.
Needless to say, taking half a dose really wasn’t helping much. Add to that the fact that I never really changed my diet at all, well my blood sugar level would just bounce around like an air hockey puck. Among other things, this resulted in exhaustion, sometimes the shakes, and serious irritability.
When I finally went back to the doc he switched me over to a time-release version of it. This seems to have helped the digestive situation significantly. I’m not sure if it has helped the nausea though. There was another new medication that he put me on to help manage some of the pain I was experiencing. He said it would take a couple weeks for my body to adjust to it. The first 3 weeks after the med change I would wake up several times in the night with nausea and I threw up every morning. I haven’t thrown up in over a week and the nausea seems to be getting better. Though I still feel a bit drunk when I first get up. Being really light-headed, I stumble around and bounce off walls and furniture. It doesn’t last more than a couple minutes and thankfully, due to my past, I have a lot of experience navigating in such a state.
Right now the only other noticeable side effect that I am experiencing is a dry, hacking cough at night. Sometimes this makes it tough to get to sleep, but again it doesn’t seem to last too long. I’m pretty sure it is related to my blood pressure meds, as there is a warning on the bottle that mentions such a thing may happen.
Oh, one other thing… Something is leaving a really nasty taste in my mouth. I’m not sure if it is medication or diet. It could be the artificial sweeteners, though I don’t eat much that includes those. Regardless, it is really getting on my nerves and I am going to mention it to the doc next month when I have my checkup.
The good news is that my blood sugar level is getting more stable. In fact this morning it was in the normal range for the first time in the nearly two years that I have been monitoring it. In addition, my blood pressure was 135/83 and pulse was 69; a new low for both. I am also in a much better mood lately. I can’t attribute all of this to the meds though. Making a significant change in my diet (well that doesn’t help the mood) and hitting the gym 3-4 times a week have both helped significantly.
I’d like to get myself, and my diet, to the place were most, if not all, of the meds are no longer necessary. Right now I’m spending close to $1,000/mo on meds and, with a $6,000 deductible, the insurance doesn’t help a lot. Though, I should mention that the medication is highly discounted thanks to the insurance plan. I can’t imagine what the cost would be without the discount! Anyway, I don’t see getting off the meds happening anytime soon, but it could be out there in the future somewhere…
I'm on a lifelong quest to find the perfect balance between strawberry smoothies and pizza slices. A self-proclaimed gym enthusiast who believes rest days are just as crucial as leg days—especially if they involve NASCAR racing. I lift weights, but only so I can justify my love for chocolate cake. When I'm not at the gym, you’ll find me riding dirt bikes or capturing the thrill of motorsport through my camera lens. Join me as I navigate the highs and lows of fitness, where progress is measured in reps, and cheat meals are a form of self-care.
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