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Suggest Remedy For Constipation And Insomnia After Discontinuing Metformin
Question: Two weeks ago I changed my diet (mostly vegan), stop drinking alcohol (alcoholic) and started exercising. I was diagnosed with a fatty liver after my lipid panel came back with very high trigs and chol. Being a type II diabetic, I have watched my blood sugar collapse during this short period of time. My fasting blood sugar has gone from 191 to 72 and postprandial meals (90 min.) never exceed 110. I had a high carb breakfast this morning and my pm blood sugar was 101. Since these changes, I also have constipation and insomnia. Any thoughts on these metabolic changes...hypoglycemia??? What can I do for the constipation? My diet is mostly fruit, veggies, legumes, nuts and seeds. Laxative did not help! Finally, I discontinued my metformin (500mg/twice daily) due to low blood sugar.
Brief Answer:
A few thoughts:
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Congratulations on making such a significant change in your diet and lifestyle!
One problem though is that with such an abrupt change in lifestyle, your body may take a while to adjust to it.
The insomnia may be because your body is used to having some alcohol, which is a central nervous system depressant. Also, if you are not taking in enough calories, or if there is a big reduction in caloric intake, your body may perceive this as a stress which can interfere with sleep architecture as well.
In terms of the constipation - which laxative did you try, and how many doses? Your body is probably used to having some oils and fats which helped with regular BMs. If you are wanting to try natural type laxatives, take psyllium, flax seed oil, and stew prunes in a small amount of water to make prune juice.
It doesn't sound like you have dipped into hypoglycemia.
You might want to add back a little bit of fat and some carbs and make the transition more slowly.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
A few thoughts:
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX
Congratulations on making such a significant change in your diet and lifestyle!
One problem though is that with such an abrupt change in lifestyle, your body may take a while to adjust to it.
The insomnia may be because your body is used to having some alcohol, which is a central nervous system depressant. Also, if you are not taking in enough calories, or if there is a big reduction in caloric intake, your body may perceive this as a stress which can interfere with sleep architecture as well.
In terms of the constipation - which laxative did you try, and how many doses? Your body is probably used to having some oils and fats which helped with regular BMs. If you are wanting to try natural type laxatives, take psyllium, flax seed oil, and stew prunes in a small amount of water to make prune juice.
It doesn't sound like you have dipped into hypoglycemia.
You might want to add back a little bit of fat and some carbs and make the transition more slowly.
I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information or clarification.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
How come my blood sugar is still low after a high carb meal?
Brief Answer:
How low does it get?
Detailed Answer:
How low has your blood sugar been - fasting and postprandial?
Are you feeling a bit jittery and difficulty thinking? And does eating if you feel this way make the symptoms better?
How low does it get?
Detailed Answer:
How low has your blood sugar been - fasting and postprandial?
Are you feeling a bit jittery and difficulty thinking? And does eating if you feel this way make the symptoms better?
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Fasting - 68
Postprandial - 91
I have not had any noticeable symptoms of hypoglycemia.
Are these numbers fathomable with type II diabetes? Less than a month ago I had a fasting blood sugar reading of 289.
Postprandial - 91
I have not had any noticeable symptoms of hypoglycemia.
Are these numbers fathomable with type II diabetes? Less than a month ago I had a fasting blood sugar reading of 289.
Brief Answer:
Yes that is borderline low.
Detailed Answer:
That fasting blood sugar reading of 68 is slightly below normal, and surprising if you have a diagnosis of DM II. The postprandial reading is lower than expected but consistent if the fasting levels are low. As long as the fasting sugar does not go below that, it is still safe.
One thought about the borderline fasting hypoglycemia is that perhaps your overall calorie restriction has been severe or, with exercise, lower than what you need to meet your caloric needs.
I don't know if this is the case. It is unusual and I don't know if I can sort it out here.
Here is a fairly comprehensive article about hypoglycemia in DM II that you might find useful, but does not have an answer specific to your situation: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/28/12/2948.full
On one hand, I can say excellent, you have achieved remarkable control of your sugars and are off of metformin, but I do want to make sure you do not start to dip lower than 68. So keep track of your sugars, and follow up with your doctor.
If you are still using HCM after you follow up with your doctor, and do not mind, I would welcome you to let me know how you are doing. You can direct a question to me by putting my name at the beginning of a question.
Yes that is borderline low.
Detailed Answer:
That fasting blood sugar reading of 68 is slightly below normal, and surprising if you have a diagnosis of DM II. The postprandial reading is lower than expected but consistent if the fasting levels are low. As long as the fasting sugar does not go below that, it is still safe.
One thought about the borderline fasting hypoglycemia is that perhaps your overall calorie restriction has been severe or, with exercise, lower than what you need to meet your caloric needs.
I don't know if this is the case. It is unusual and I don't know if I can sort it out here.
Here is a fairly comprehensive article about hypoglycemia in DM II that you might find useful, but does not have an answer specific to your situation: http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/28/12/2948.full
On one hand, I can say excellent, you have achieved remarkable control of your sugars and are off of metformin, but I do want to make sure you do not start to dip lower than 68. So keep track of your sugars, and follow up with your doctor.
If you are still using HCM after you follow up with your doctor, and do not mind, I would welcome you to let me know how you are doing. You can direct a question to me by putting my name at the beginning of a question.
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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