Been low carbing for two months now. I have stopped my gliclizide(insulin tabs) and I have managed to keep my blood glucose pretty stable just on diet.
Being cautious I have maintained my metformin. Does any body have any thoughts on stopping the metformin.
My GP is a waste of time when I informed him I was doing this diet, so no I am not acting under hid guidance.

Others should see your question who have considered or done this.
One thread on meds: http://forum.lowcarber.org/showthread.php?t=452693
An article on the pros and cons of metformin, http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14045911.php
Can you control your blood glucose completely and consistently through diet?

It is tough to say without knowing your BGs are like.

I stopped my metformin, but the metformin never helped me as my A1C kept on climbing on it.

I would think from my limited knowledge on insulin tabs. That the insulin tabs would have been the bigger deal to stop. becuase it was basically increasing your body's insulin productions.

Great job at getting off them BTW!

Know metformin doesn't control insulin. It simply tells your liver to not make so much sugar.

So if you stop taking it, depending on how well it works for you. your BG could spike.

But to me your risk is way less then stopping your medicine that stimulates your pancrease to create insulin.

Again without knowing your BGs it is hard to say. But if my BGs were 90-110 post 1.5-2 hour test. I would test it.

I would slowly go down.

I would take the 500 first in the morning and not the 2nd round. See what you are post BGs are after 1.5-2 hours if they are down in the 90-100s then slowly weed off the whole thing.

Just my thoughts

Hi thanks for your responses.
I have managed to go off gliclizide, just by controlling my diet.
Had a bit of an oops yesterday and ate to many cherries and I got a spike of 153 (8.5 mmols), I had a good freak out about that!
Generally my bg is between 90 (5 mmols) and 126 (7mmols).
I am not to stresses about those numbers as they have been taken at various times of the day.
I still wish I could sort out my dawn phenomenon FBG, it drives me nuts to think I have starved the whole night and I have a raised bg!
I am sticking with the meformin at the moment as I don't think I need extra glucose in my system

Just read Gary Taubes "Good calories, bad calories". What An intense book! I have to say many of my questions were answered, but the one I wanted answered about hyperinsulinemia was not. How do you get your insulin down if it is raised?
Any ideas?

Everything i have read has said you can't get your insulin down... The only way to control it is by not raising it. Meaning monitor your carb/protein intake and to allow space between meals so it can settle back down...

I do not eat any fruit (recommended by Dr R Bernstein the plan I follow) for two reason the fear of spiking my insulin levels. Which will intern spike cravings for more carbs. the second anytime I eat fruit I feel bad ghost like, not in the present moment. Like a shell of a person. Honestly, I gave up fruit long ago before I found Dr B's plan. It just made me feel awful. I haven't eaten fruit in over a decade.

Good morning!
I need to have an Hb A1c and a fasting insulin, but I think it is too early yet.
I got a nice surprise this morning when doing my fbg, it was 99 (5.5 mmol) it is usually about 126 (7mmol).
So now I am doing my happy dance

Sounds like you're doing very well! I've cut my metformin in half so far, but I'm not in too much of a hurry to cut it further. I'm not getting the nasty side affects any more, and that's enough for me at the moment. Somewhere on-line I read that metformin is the "gold standard" of diabetic medication.

I never got any side effects from metformin.
I am just reluctant to reduce it at the moment, as I have to be quite strict already with my diet. I am not keen on having bg glucose spikes :O
I have made a few mistakes with my eating, so I test quite regularly to make sure I am in a good range.
There is nothing like eating too many cherries (20), because they are just so yummy and finding your bg way up in the sky!

barby,

Whoo Hooo!!!!

<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<joining Babry in the happy dance >>>>>>>>>>>>>

Hahahahahaaaa.........
I might have just found the cure to dawn phenomenon!
Two pieces of Lindt 70% cocoa choc at twelve oclock at night
I'll have to try that again and see if it works!