Re: Newbie here, plus a Glucophage question

[Guest guest]

wow lee!

im lizz, and unfortuantly have the same fasting problem, so i cant be of much

help. just wanted to say hi.

let us know if you find an answer.

lizz

[Guest guest]

Have you thought of asking the doc for Glucophage XR, which you only take once a

day? It is time released. It is new on the market and your pcp might not know

about it. See if your pcp will refer you to an Endocrinologist.

You can get a coupon for a FREE months supply of Glucophage XR (if you are in

the US or Canada) by going to

http://www.glucophagexr.com/march_free.html

It will require a new prescription from a doctor.

[Guest guest]

I forgot to mention that I switched to Glucophage XR and my readings have

improved.

Re: Newbie here, plus a Glucophage question

Have you thought of asking the doc for Glucophage XR, which you only take once

a day? It is time released. It is new on the market and your pcp might not

know about it. See if your pcp will refer you to an Endocrinologist.

You can get a coupon for a FREE months supply of Glucophage XR (if you are in

the US or Canada) by going to

http://www.glucophagexr.com/march_free.html

It will require a new prescription from a doctor.

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/16/01 9:16:04 AM Pacific Daylight Time, j459g@...

writes:

> My doctor won't take me off it completely, even though I have had

> HbA1c of around 4.5 for 6 months now. He wants to keep me on a

> background dose of 250mg a day. The problem is that you can start

> treatment with Glucophage just once, I understand - a second try with

> Glucophage later if it should become necessary again after you

> stop it once is said over here to be a definite no-no.

,

I've never heard anything about problems restarting glucophage. Why would it

be a no-no?? Inquiring minds want to know <g>.

Carol T

[Guest guest]

Lee,

Welcome! I know it's all VERY confusing. Sounds like your new doc

and nutritionist are much better than the first.

Please be aware...while diabetes is VERY serious, your numbers are

not that high and you can do very, very well. I started at fasting

258, HBA1C 10.7 and I'm now consistently under 100 for fasting with

HBA1C 5.2. I've lost about 55 pounds.

You're on the right track...taking off even a small amount of weight

(5-10%) is very helpful, as is exercise. See what the best level of

carb intake is for you...and learn about the glycemic index (you can

find lots of references to it by using internet search lists like

Google...it'll send you right to Rick Mendosa's glycemic index site).

I don't know about Glucophage, because I'm on Actos...just wanted to

let you know that there's a lot of hope...you should do very well.

T

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 08/16/2001 11:16:28 AM Central Daylight Time,

j459g@... writes:

> I understand - a second try with

> Glucophage later if it should become necessary again after you

> stop it once is said over here to be a definite no-no.

>

>

why????

[Guest guest]

> He also advised me to start the Glucophage

> with hopes to get off of it in the future.

My doctor won't take me off it completely, even though I have had

HbA1c of around 4.5 for 6 months now. He wants to keep me on a

background dose of 250mg a day. The problem is that you can start

treatment with Glucophage just once, I understand - a second try with

Glucophage later if it should become necessary again after you

stop it once is said over here to be a definite no-no.

> (Opthamologist says I'm a-ok, thank GOD,

> and I don't seem to have any complications

> so far.)

It can take about 5-6 years to show, Lee, I understand. When I asked

my opthalmologist last year if I was clear for good, he said to ask

him again in 5 year's time!

> I'm pretty optimistic about this

> whole thing. My levels aren't so bad

> that I'm scared, but I think I can get

> pretty decent control by losing the

> weight and getting a grip on this

> medication.

That's a good way to look at it - there isn't anything to be scared

about anyway, it is far, far less dangerous than road traffic, for

example!

> I was told by my pharmacist to take

> the Glucophage with meals, but about

> 12 hrs. apart -- that would be tough

> for me (I work nights). My doctor said

> with breakfast and with dinner, but for

> me that's 11am and 8pm. ...

> My question is this: Is there a better

> way/time I should be taking the Glucophage

> so that my morning reading isn't so high?

No, it doesn't matter what time you take Glucophage, it takes around

a week to build up the right level and it takes about the same time

to change it when you reduce the dose so the time of day you take it

is not all that critical.

Some people experience discomfort in their stomach with Glucophage

but not everybody, that is the only reason they suggest taking it

with a meal but if it doesn't upset your stomach you can take it

any time of the day.

I suppose the reason for taking it in two shots separated by 12

hours is just to reduce any stomach discomfort you might possibly

have. If you don't have any discomfort anyway then you can take it

any time, even on an empty stomach. I take it any time and it never

upset me, ever.

> ... I've been compiling data so far, but

> I can't see a difference from the mornings

> after I've had the late carbs vs. the mornings

> after I had the late nothing (jello). Any

> suggestions/experience like this?

I have never had any carry-over effect from one day to the next but

some people do, I understand. You just might be one of the lucky ones.

> I've subscribed to a few lists, and I've

> been reading the ADA site, the Joslin site,

> and their message boards. I'll get a grip

> on all of this, I'm sure, but it's a little

> tedious as I'm sure you all can relate to.

> ...I'd like to get some info now to prepare

> for the future.

You don't want to let it take over your whole life, Lee. Once you get

a handle on it (good control) you can relax and concentrate on losing

weight and living your life.

> Isn't it terrible that we hear something as

> life-changing as a diabetes diagnosis and

> then have to wait sometimes WEEKS for more

> information?

No, it's not that terrible, that is just the nature of incurable

chronic diseases.

You just wait until you try getting at the full information

about obesity - that is even worse to get at than diabetes

information.

At a diabetes exhibition after I was first diagnosed I was handed a

pamphlet entitled: " Some more information about diabetes " .

Protesting, I said I didn't want " some MORE information " , I wanted

ALL the information! The answer I got was: " If we had it all here,

you would need two trucks to carry it away, 50% of it you wouldn't

understand, another 10% would be out-of-date, another 10% is

completely wrong, and before you get it out of the door there would

be another sackful just published " .

Take it easy, Lee, it takes time for it all to sink in and you will

benefit from some background in physiology, pharmaceutics, nutrition,

organic chemistry, internal medicine, clinical research methods,

statistical analysis, hematology, metabolism, etc., if you are going

to master the subject - and then you will be way ahead of most

primary care physicians, I suppose!

Just remember, Lee, the most serious diabetes complication is

thinking that diabetes is the worst thing that can happen to you, so

don't neglect the other aspects of your health. I didn't really pay

very much attention to my health until I was diagnosed with diabetes

and now I feel fitter then ever before in my life so there is

definitely an up side to a diabetes diagnosis, even if you might not

appreciate that at this moment.

Thornton

Pforzheim, Germany

[Guest guest]

> > I understand - a second try with

> > Glucophage later if it should become necessary again after you

> > stop it once is said over here to be a definite no-no.

> >

> >

>

> why????

Please see my answer to Carol, message #33996!

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 8/16/01 9:16:33 AM Pacific Daylight Time, j459g@...

writes:

> The problem is that you can start

> treatment with Glucophage just once, I understand - a second try with

> Glucophage later if it should become necessary again after you

> stop it once is said over here to be a definite no-no.

>

>

Was any reason given for this?

in Seattle...T2

Lowcarb WOE/WOL

Glucophage 1000 Twice Daily

[Guest guest]

> Was any reason given for this?

Please see my answer to Carol, message #33996!