| Butterfingers
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I have PCOS and take Glucophage 500mg. three times a day.
I just started Phase 2 Sunday, 3/4 cup Kashi Go-Lean at breakfast with some Splenda, and a serving of fruit at dinner. Today I had two eggs with my cereal, and one cup of skim milk. About two hours after my breakfast I am feeling those "low blood sugar" feelings of weakness in my limbs and some shakiness and hunger. I'm not sure what to think or what to do or change. I also actually felt some low-blood sugar feelings when I was on phase 1, believe it or not, a few different times. I don't know if it means I'm not eating enough, or eating the wrong things, or what. In the past I know if I haven't eaten enough while taking Glucophage, it will make my blood-sugar go too low.
Anyone with a similar experience or suggestions?
Thanks. |
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Tue Sep 18, 2007 5:11 pm |
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| hnandez
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| Hi! I also have PCOS and take metformin (generic glucophage). If I start to feel low blood sugar coming on, I usually eat a handful of almonds or some celery with peanut butter. I'm on phase 1, so I can't have fruit yet, but after phase 1 I would eat a piece of fruit. That low blood sugar feeling is awful for South Beach. Once that feeling comes on for me, I automatically want to turn to sugar or bread! Good luck:) |
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Tue Sep 18, 2007 6:30 pm |
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| Kimboroni
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Does that medication lower your blood sugar? If so, you might talk to your doctor about lowering your dosage. Lots of people find that the change in eating means they can keep their blood sugar controlled by diet alone and they end up being able to phase off the meds. With the meds and diet together, it makes it go too low.
If it isn't that kind of medication, perhaps it was time to eat again. Or your breakfast choice made you spike and crash. Try half of the cereal portion, or oatmeal instead. If that doesn't help, maybe your body isn't ready for grains, or not ready for grains at breakfast. Maybe try berries instead (but not at breakfast yet). This is the experiment stage. |
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Tue Sep 18, 2007 9:42 pm |
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| Butterfingers
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Actually, this medication is given to diabetics to lower their blood sugar, and given to PCOS patients to help them use their insulin more efficiently, I was told. But it can lower our blood sugar levels as well.
I'm the same as you, hnandez. When I feel low blood sugar I also want to turn to bread or sugar. Reactive hypoglycemia (low blood sugar a few hours after eating) is actually one of the main reasons I went on the glucophage. It took me about seven or eight months of taking glucophage before that problem mostly went away. But now that I've been changing my diet the problem is resurfacing, which is disconcerting because I thought I was going to be getting healthier! I'm sure it has to stabilize sometime, though, right? I wonder if I SHOULD lower my dosage?
Tomorrow I'm going to try some steel cut oats instead of Kashi Go-Lean and see what happens. I'll let you know. |
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Wed Sep 19, 2007 4:35 am |
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| hnandez
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From what my doctor told me, as long as you are on an insulin-sensitizing medicine like glucophage, low blood sugar can happen whenever you go too long without eating. I've been on the metformin since may 2006, and I still get the feeling whenever I go more than 3 hours without food. Even a handful of nuts helps though. I would check with the doctor though if you eat and still feel shaky/headachey/etc. Good luck!
Also, adding some protein to your carbs might help them digest slower, keeping your blood sugar stablized longer. |
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Thu Sep 20, 2007 11:10 pm |
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| teeteehawk
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| I was told to increase my protein when my blood sugar went too low. It actually has helped a ton. I don't know why but on metformin when my blood sugar goes low, having sugar or something to raise it makes me really sick. Taking the pill with a lot of protein (20g) I find it helps a lot. |
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Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:43 pm |
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| JMCP
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| Hmm, before SBD I'd always get those low-blood sugar shakes. I had no idea they could be the result of Metformin! That explains a lot. |
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Sun Sep 23, 2007 9:55 pm |
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