RE: Overnight Sugar control

[Guest guest]

Becky,

I've found that if I DON'T take a Metformin before bedtime my fasting sugar

will be over 100 in the morning, hence that's why my doc and I mutually

decided on Metformin at bedtime. What I might ask him if perhaps it would be

prudent to cut the dosage for the bedtime dose and see if that holds up OK.

Bill Powers

[Guest guest]

Becky,

I've found that if I DON'T take a Metformin before bedtime my fasting sugar

will be over 100 in the morning, hence that's why my doc and I mutually

decided on Metformin at bedtime. What I might ask him if perhaps it would be

prudent to cut the dosage for the bedtime dose and see if that holds up OK.

Bill Powers

[Guest guest]

Just to clarify, I do take glyburide at dinnertime but not at bedtime. I

could well imagine taking that before bed would lower my b.s. too much, but

all I take at bedtime is metformin. It might be though that maybe the

metformin dose is too much for the night time dose and needs to be halved.

Bill Powers

[Guest guest]

Just to clarify, I do take glyburide at dinnertime but not at bedtime. I

could well imagine taking that before bed would lower my b.s. too much, but

all I take at bedtime is metformin. It might be though that maybe the

metformin dose is too much for the night time dose and needs to be halved.

Bill Powers

[Guest guest]

Maybe the glyburide could be taken earlier in the day altogether - maybe in the

morning, when you would be still awake to deal with any lows. I still suggest

that metformin does not cause lows, but it *is* a common side effect for

glyburide, so I'd be focusing on that before metformin. It could even be

something else that we haven't considered here, and should be discussed with the

doctor, sooner rather than later based on those lows you've been having.

[Guest guest]

Maybe the glyburide could be taken earlier in the day altogether - maybe in the

morning, when you would be still awake to deal with any lows. I still suggest

that metformin does not cause lows, but it *is* a common side effect for

glyburide, so I'd be focusing on that before metformin. It could even be

something else that we haven't considered here, and should be discussed with the

doctor, sooner rather than later based on those lows you've been having.

[Guest guest]

Well, I'm not dead, at least the last time I checked!

We're all different. And, being type 1, and having been one for so long, I can

tolerate a much lower low than someone else who hasn't been diabetic as long I

guess. I usually " feel " a low around the 50 mark, but I can function pretty

well as low as the 30s, but in the 20s, I am pretty symptomatic. I actually

don't have the extreme readings I always used to have anymore. This is a marked

improvement in my treatment.

Dave

Victim of a crime? Know someone who was?

http://victimsheart.blogspot.com

RE: Overnight Sugar control

Dave,

I didn't think you could actually get a glucose reading in the 20s let alone

down to 14. I would have thought you'd be dead if your reading was down to

30. I can remember one time a few years ago when my mom told me she went

down to 39 the night before, and I told her that was very unsafe and to

notify her doctor immediately that she had such a low. That was scary. Of

course she did nothing, she didn't want to be bothered. At that point I

could only sit back and when she complains about her sugar ups and downs, I

just have to tell her politely I don't want to hear about it, because

nothing will change anyway. Still, a low of 39 is very scary and if it

happened to me, I'd be on the phone ysterday.

Bill Powers

[Guest guest]

Well, I'm not dead, at least the last time I checked!

We're all different. And, being type 1, and having been one for so long, I can

tolerate a much lower low than someone else who hasn't been diabetic as long I

guess. I usually " feel " a low around the 50 mark, but I can function pretty

well as low as the 30s, but in the 20s, I am pretty symptomatic. I actually

don't have the extreme readings I always used to have anymore. This is a marked

improvement in my treatment.

Dave

Victim of a crime? Know someone who was?

http://victimsheart.blogspot.com

RE: Overnight Sugar control

Dave,

I didn't think you could actually get a glucose reading in the 20s let alone

down to 14. I would have thought you'd be dead if your reading was down to

30. I can remember one time a few years ago when my mom told me she went

down to 39 the night before, and I told her that was very unsafe and to

notify her doctor immediately that she had such a low. That was scary. Of

course she did nothing, she didn't want to be bothered. At that point I

could only sit back and when she complains about her sugar ups and downs, I

just have to tell her politely I don't want to hear about it, because

nothing will change anyway. Still, a low of 39 is very scary and if it

happened to me, I'd be on the phone ysterday.

Bill Powers

[Guest guest]

Hi Bill. I thought I'd jump into the mix here just to clarify things as I

understand them.

Though I am not a fan of Metformin, I must admit that it does not cause low

blood sugar readings. It has many side effects, but low blood sugar readings are

not among them.

Conversely, other type 2 oral meds can and do cause lows. Effects can take a

while to manifest themselves.

Bill, even if you are not convinced that Metformin does not cause lows, the

important thing here is that the lows you are experiencing are serious business.

My best advice is that you discuss them with your doctor. Dave shared what

happened to him on one occasion when he experienced a severe low and we would

hate to see anything similar happen to you. So, how about checking it out with

the doc and taking it from there. ?

[Guest guest]

Hi Bill. I thought I'd jump into the mix here just to clarify things as I

understand them.

Though I am not a fan of Metformin, I must admit that it does not cause low

blood sugar readings. It has many side effects, but low blood sugar readings are

not among them.

Conversely, other type 2 oral meds can and do cause lows. Effects can take a

while to manifest themselves.

Bill, even if you are not convinced that Metformin does not cause lows, the

important thing here is that the lows you are experiencing are serious business.

My best advice is that you discuss them with your doctor. Dave shared what

happened to him on one occasion when he experienced a severe low and we would

hate to see anything similar happen to you. So, how about checking it out with

the doc and taking it from there. ?

[Guest guest]

Hi Bill. I thought I'd jump into the mix here just to clarify things as I

understand them.

Though I am not a fan of Metformin, I must admit that it does not cause low

blood sugar readings. It has many side effects, but low blood sugar readings are

not among them.

Conversely, other type 2 oral meds can and do cause lows. Effects can take a

while to manifest themselves.

Bill, even if you are not convinced that Metformin does not cause lows, the

important thing here is that the lows you are experiencing are serious business.

My best advice is that you discuss them with your doctor. Dave shared what

happened to him on one occasion when he experienced a severe low and we would

hate to see anything similar happen to you. So, how about checking it out with

the doc and taking it from there. ?

[Guest guest]

I agree Dave. I too have had lows as low as 14 or 17I usuallyfeel pretty

crummy for a while after alow like that, but I have survived a number of

these With the pump though I have considerabley fewer of these than I used

to have. I have not had a trip to the ER in several yars with a low, thank

goodness.

Re: Overnight Sugar control

Well, I'm not dead, at least the last time I checked!

We're all different. And, being type 1, and having been one for so long, I

can tolerate a much lower low than someone else who hasn't been diabetic as

long I guess. I usually " feel " a low around the 50 mark, but I can function

pretty well as low as the 30s, but in the 20s, I am pretty symptomatic. I

actually don't have the extreme readings I always used to have anymore. This

is a marked improvement in my treatment.

Dave

Victim of a crime? Know someone who was?

http://victimsheart <http://victimsheart.blogspot.com> .blogspot.com

RE: Overnight Sugar control

Dave,

I didn't think you could actually get a glucose reading in the 20s let alone

down to 14. I would have thought you'd be dead if your reading was down to

30. I can remember one time a few years ago when my mom told me she went

down to 39 the night before, and I told her that was very unsafe and to

notify her doctor immediately that she had such a low. That was scary. Of

course she did nothing, she didn't want to be bothered. At that point I

could only sit back and when she complains about her sugar ups and downs, I

just have to tell her politely I don't want to hear about it, because

nothing will change anyway. Still, a low of 39 is very scary and if it

happened to me, I'd be on the phone ysterday.

Bill Powers

[Guest guest]

I agree Dave. I too have had lows as low as 14 or 17I usuallyfeel pretty

crummy for a while after alow like that, but I have survived a number of

these With the pump though I have considerabley fewer of these than I used

to have. I have not had a trip to the ER in several yars with a low, thank

goodness.

Re: Overnight Sugar control

Well, I'm not dead, at least the last time I checked!

We're all different. And, being type 1, and having been one for so long, I

can tolerate a much lower low than someone else who hasn't been diabetic as

long I guess. I usually " feel " a low around the 50 mark, but I can function

pretty well as low as the 30s, but in the 20s, I am pretty symptomatic. I

actually don't have the extreme readings I always used to have anymore. This

is a marked improvement in my treatment.

Dave

Victim of a crime? Know someone who was?

http://victimsheart <http://victimsheart.blogspot.com> .blogspot.com

RE: Overnight Sugar control

Dave,

I didn't think you could actually get a glucose reading in the 20s let alone

down to 14. I would have thought you'd be dead if your reading was down to

30. I can remember one time a few years ago when my mom told me she went

down to 39 the night before, and I told her that was very unsafe and to

notify her doctor immediately that she had such a low. That was scary. Of

course she did nothing, she didn't want to be bothered. At that point I

could only sit back and when she complains about her sugar ups and downs, I

just have to tell her politely I don't want to hear about it, because

nothing will change anyway. Still, a low of 39 is very scary and if it

happened to me, I'd be on the phone ysterday.

Bill Powers

[Guest guest]

Hi Becky. That's a logical deduction, but in this case we're dealing with a drug

that doesn't bring on lows. Metformin side effects can include diarrhea, severe

gas, vomitting etc, But no lows. I want off of it because I'd like to have my

life back as I knew it before starting on Metformin. My argument for my

endochronologist will be that I can never reliably leave the house with my dog

and count on feeling ok until I get back home. I do work at home, but I do like

to leave the house now and again. Any drug that limits my mobility is

unacceptable, as I'm sure everyone here would agree. Insulin will not burden me

with such issues, so I'd like to order up some to go. That will be my case to

the endo, presented respectfully but firmly.

Larry

[Guest guest]

Hi Becky. That's a logical deduction, but in this case we're dealing with a drug

that doesn't bring on lows. Metformin side effects can include diarrhea, severe

gas, vomitting etc, But no lows. I want off of it because I'd like to have my

life back as I knew it before starting on Metformin. My argument for my

endochronologist will be that I can never reliably leave the house with my dog

and count on feeling ok until I get back home. I do work at home, but I do like

to leave the house now and again. Any drug that limits my mobility is

unacceptable, as I'm sure everyone here would agree. Insulin will not burden me

with such issues, so I'd like to order up some to go. That will be my case to

the endo, presented respectfully but firmly.

Larry

[Guest guest]

Hi Becky. That's a logical deduction, but in this case we're dealing with a drug

that doesn't bring on lows. Metformin side effects can include diarrhea, severe

gas, vomitting etc, But no lows. I want off of it because I'd like to have my

life back as I knew it before starting on Metformin. My argument for my

endochronologist will be that I can never reliably leave the house with my dog

and count on feeling ok until I get back home. I do work at home, but I do like

to leave the house now and again. Any drug that limits my mobility is

unacceptable, as I'm sure everyone here would agree. Insulin will not burden me

with such issues, so I'd like to order up some to go. That will be my case to

the endo, presented respectfully but firmly.

Larry

[Guest guest]

Bill,

Look up gliberide on Google and see what the side effects are-and how long

the gliberade acts. It might very well being peaking about 8 or 9 hours

after taking it.

RE: Overnight Sugar control

Just to clarify, I do take glyburide at dinnertime but not at bedtime. I

could well imagine taking that before bed would lower my b.s. too much, but

all I take at bedtime is metformin. It might be though that maybe the

metformin dose is too much for the night time dose and needs to be halved.

Bill Powers

[Guest guest]

Bill,

Look up gliberide on Google and see what the side effects are-and how long

the gliberade acts. It might very well being peaking about 8 or 9 hours

after taking it.

RE: Overnight Sugar control

Just to clarify, I do take glyburide at dinnertime but not at bedtime. I

could well imagine taking that before bed would lower my b.s. too much, but

all I take at bedtime is metformin. It might be though that maybe the

metformin dose is too much for the night time dose and needs to be halved.

Bill Powers

[Guest guest]

Bill,

Look up gliberide on Google and see what the side effects are-and how long

the gliberade acts. It might very well being peaking about 8 or 9 hours

after taking it.

RE: Overnight Sugar control

Just to clarify, I do take glyburide at dinnertime but not at bedtime. I

could well imagine taking that before bed would lower my b.s. too much, but

all I take at bedtime is metformin. It might be though that maybe the

metformin dose is too much for the night time dose and needs to be halved.

Bill Powers

[Guest guest]

Hi, I want to jump in also. I had low sugar levels and have called my

doctor. I always have glucose pills and can easily get orange juice.

I am so glad not to be on Insulin and I am working on my diet and exercise

control. My father told me about one of his patients who could be diet and

weight controlled and did not have to take pills any more. Her symptoms of

Diabetes disappeared. I never said working on myself is easy. I love

candy, cakes and cookies. I have found some sugar less cookies, but they

still have carbs. So, I have to limit myself.

I do exercise, but not enough. I have to learn to get healthy snacks for

just before bed time. I could try nuts. I love an apple though, but I only

have two servings of fruit per day.

Next Month I am going to see my doctor and I want to push my a1c level down

to under six. I hope I can do that.

nne

_____

From: blind-diabetics

[mailto:blind-diabetics ] On Behalf Of Larry Naessens

Sent: Monday, July 14, 2008 8:10 PM

To: blind-diabetics

Subject: Re: Overnight Sugar control

Hi Becky. That's a logical deduction, but in this case we're dealing with a

drug that doesn't bring on lows. Metformin side effects can include

diarrhea, severe gas, vomitting etc, But no lows. I want off of it because

I'd like to have my life back as I knew it before starting on Metformin. My

argument for my endochronologist will be that I can never reliably leave the

house with my dog and count on feeling ok until I get back home. I do work

at home, but I do like to leave the house now and again. Any drug that

limits my mobility is unacceptable, as I'm sure everyone here would agree.

Insulin will not burden me with such issues, so I'd like to order up some to

go. That will be my case to the endo, presented respectfully but firmly.

Larry

[Guest guest]

Hi, I want to jump in also. I had low sugar levels and have called my

doctor. I always have glucose pills and can easily get orange juice.

I am so glad not to be on Insulin and I am working on my diet and exercise

control. My father told me about one of his patients who could be diet and

weight controlled and did not have to take pills any more. Her symptoms of

Diabetes disappeared. I never said working on myself is easy. I love

candy, cakes and cookies. I have found some sugar less cookies, but they

still have carbs. So, I have to limit myself.

I do exercise, but not enough. I have to learn to get healthy snacks for

just before bed time. I could try nuts. I love an apple though, but I only

have two servings of fruit per day.

Next Month I am going to see my doctor and I want to push my a1c level down

to under six. I hope I can do that.

nne

_____

From: blind-diabetics

[mailto:blind-diabetics ] On Behalf Of Larry Naessens

Sent: Monday, July 14, 2008 8:10 PM

To: blind-diabetics

Subject: Re: Overnight Sugar control

Hi Becky. That's a logical deduction, but in this case we're dealing with a

drug that doesn't bring on lows. Metformin side effects can include

diarrhea, severe gas, vomitting etc, But no lows. I want off of it because

I'd like to have my life back as I knew it before starting on Metformin. My

argument for my endochronologist will be that I can never reliably leave the

house with my dog and count on feeling ok until I get back home. I do work

at home, but I do like to leave the house now and again. Any drug that

limits my mobility is unacceptable, as I'm sure everyone here would agree.

Insulin will not burden me with such issues, so I'd like to order up some to

go. That will be my case to the endo, presented respectfully but firmly.

Larry

[Guest guest]

Hi, I want to jump in also. I had low sugar levels and have called my

doctor. I always have glucose pills and can easily get orange juice.

I am so glad not to be on Insulin and I am working on my diet and exercise

control. My father told me about one of his patients who could be diet and

weight controlled and did not have to take pills any more. Her symptoms of

Diabetes disappeared. I never said working on myself is easy. I love

candy, cakes and cookies. I have found some sugar less cookies, but they

still have carbs. So, I have to limit myself.

I do exercise, but not enough. I have to learn to get healthy snacks for

just before bed time. I could try nuts. I love an apple though, but I only

have two servings of fruit per day.

Next Month I am going to see my doctor and I want to push my a1c level down

to under six. I hope I can do that.

nne

_____

From: blind-diabetics

[mailto:blind-diabetics ] On Behalf Of Larry Naessens

Sent: Monday, July 14, 2008 8:10 PM

To: blind-diabetics

Subject: Re: Overnight Sugar control

Hi Becky. That's a logical deduction, but in this case we're dealing with a

drug that doesn't bring on lows. Metformin side effects can include

diarrhea, severe gas, vomitting etc, But no lows. I want off of it because

I'd like to have my life back as I knew it before starting on Metformin. My

argument for my endochronologist will be that I can never reliably leave the

house with my dog and count on feeling ok until I get back home. I do work

at home, but I do like to leave the house now and again. Any drug that

limits my mobility is unacceptable, as I'm sure everyone here would agree.

Insulin will not burden me with such issues, so I'd like to order up some to

go. That will be my case to the endo, presented respectfully but firmly.

Larry

[Guest guest]

OK to set the record straight, here's how I do my meds.

Morning doses: Metformin, Glyburide, Plendil and Triamterene.

Noon dose: Metformin.

Dinnertime dose: Metformin, Glyburide, Lisinopril.

Bedtime dose: Metformin.

The doc wanted Glyburide to be taken in the morning and at dinnertime to

even out its effect over a 24-hour period. At least that's the idea he gave

me.

He wanted the Lisinopril dose at dnnertime since that works on kidney

function, not at bedtime as it had been originally prescribed by my previous

doc.

His idea was to do the most dosing in the morning to get me through the day,

minimal amount of medication at night since I'd be resting then.

I do know that when I tried the glyburide at bedtime it took my sugars way

too low overnight so that had to be changed.

What I would be most curious to see if he would do is to drop my night time

Metformin dosage to half to see what effect that would have on my overall

control during the night.

Of course any of this could be moot if we decide to go with insulin

injections.

ly, for the most part I would stay with the pills if I can fine tune

things to work around the clock for me, but my impression is that this will

always be an uphill battle and that eventually the pills may not work well,

if at all. That is why I want to work toward my preemptive goal now while my

body has some ability to produce its own insulin. Now the idea of " curing "

my diabetes and doing away with meds or insulin is not very realistic, even

though some people claim they are told they could be cured if they lose

enough weight and get enough good sugar control. That's not realistic. The

only realistic approach I would see is adapting to insulin while I have a

chance, perhaps in small dosages since my pancreas must still be somewhat

functional.

I'm not sure if I'm making sense so will stop for now and get some sleep and

deal more with the subject tomorrow. Good night all!

Bill Powers

[Guest guest]

OK to set the record straight, here's how I do my meds.

Morning doses: Metformin, Glyburide, Plendil and Triamterene.

Noon dose: Metformin.

Dinnertime dose: Metformin, Glyburide, Lisinopril.

Bedtime dose: Metformin.

The doc wanted Glyburide to be taken in the morning and at dinnertime to

even out its effect over a 24-hour period. At least that's the idea he gave

me.

He wanted the Lisinopril dose at dnnertime since that works on kidney

function, not at bedtime as it had been originally prescribed by my previous

doc.

His idea was to do the most dosing in the morning to get me through the day,

minimal amount of medication at night since I'd be resting then.

I do know that when I tried the glyburide at bedtime it took my sugars way

too low overnight so that had to be changed.

What I would be most curious to see if he would do is to drop my night time

Metformin dosage to half to see what effect that would have on my overall

control during the night.

Of course any of this could be moot if we decide to go with insulin

injections.

ly, for the most part I would stay with the pills if I can fine tune

things to work around the clock for me, but my impression is that this will

always be an uphill battle and that eventually the pills may not work well,

if at all. That is why I want to work toward my preemptive goal now while my

body has some ability to produce its own insulin. Now the idea of " curing "

my diabetes and doing away with meds or insulin is not very realistic, even

though some people claim they are told they could be cured if they lose

enough weight and get enough good sugar control. That's not realistic. The

only realistic approach I would see is adapting to insulin while I have a

chance, perhaps in small dosages since my pancreas must still be somewhat

functional.

I'm not sure if I'm making sense so will stop for now and get some sleep and

deal more with the subject tomorrow. Good night all!

Bill Powers

[Guest guest]

OK to set the record straight, here's how I do my meds.

Morning doses: Metformin, Glyburide, Plendil and Triamterene.

Noon dose: Metformin.

Dinnertime dose: Metformin, Glyburide, Lisinopril.

Bedtime dose: Metformin.

The doc wanted Glyburide to be taken in the morning and at dinnertime to

even out its effect over a 24-hour period. At least that's the idea he gave

me.

He wanted the Lisinopril dose at dnnertime since that works on kidney

function, not at bedtime as it had been originally prescribed by my previous

doc.

His idea was to do the most dosing in the morning to get me through the day,

minimal amount of medication at night since I'd be resting then.

I do know that when I tried the glyburide at bedtime it took my sugars way

too low overnight so that had to be changed.

What I would be most curious to see if he would do is to drop my night time

Metformin dosage to half to see what effect that would have on my overall

control during the night.

Of course any of this could be moot if we decide to go with insulin

injections.

ly, for the most part I would stay with the pills if I can fine tune

things to work around the clock for me, but my impression is that this will

always be an uphill battle and that eventually the pills may not work well,

if at all. That is why I want to work toward my preemptive goal now while my

body has some ability to produce its own insulin. Now the idea of " curing "

my diabetes and doing away with meds or insulin is not very realistic, even

though some people claim they are told they could be cured if they lose

enough weight and get enough good sugar control. That's not realistic. The

only realistic approach I would see is adapting to insulin while I have a

chance, perhaps in small dosages since my pancreas must still be somewhat

functional.

I'm not sure if I'm making sense so will stop for now and get some sleep and

deal more with the subject tomorrow. Good night all!

Bill Powers