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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Suffering From Diabetes. Have Dizziness, Nausea, Diarrhea And Headaches. Taking Metformin, Levemir And Januvia

I am a 42 year old woman, 216 lbs and have type 2 diabetes . I take Levemir , 140 units/day, Metphorman, 1000 mg/2 times per day, and Januvia, not sure of the amounts right now. I am sick often, dizzy, nauseous, diarrhea , headaches. My fasting blood sugars are averaging 115 so things are looking good there. I just want to know if my diabetes is causing the illnesses or the medications or what? I m also a full time college student. my email address is YYYY@YYYY
Thu, 6 Dec 2012
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Diabetologist,  's  Response
Hi.

The nausea and diarrhea can be due to Metformin which you take 1000 mg twice a day. Januvia and Levemir are less likely to cause these symptoms. Did your doctor start the tab Metformin at this dose all of a sudden? If yes, then you can cut it down to 250 mg twice a day for three days, then increase it to 500 mg twice a day for next two days, then 500 mg THRICE a day for next 1 week and then come to the current dose of 1000mg twice a day. Also you should use a 'sustained release' form of Metformin. Request for its prescription with your doctor.
This should take care of your all symptoms. If you keep feeling the same in-spite of this regime, then make sure you are not running with low sugars for the rest of the day and also get your liver function tests done.
I hope you got your answer. Please get back for any further query. Take care.
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Suffering From Diabetes. Have Dizziness, Nausea, Diarrhea And Headaches. Taking Metformin, Levemir And Januvia

Hi. The nausea and diarrhea can be due to Metformin which you take 1000 mg twice a day. Januvia and Levemir are less likely to cause these symptoms. Did your doctor start the tab Metformin at this dose all of a sudden? If yes, then you can cut it down to 250 mg twice a day for three days, then increase it to 500 mg twice a day for next two days, then 500 mg THRICE a day for next 1 week and then come to the current dose of 1000mg twice a day. Also you should use a sustained release form of Metformin. Request for its prescription with your doctor. This should take care of your all symptoms. If you keep feeling the same in-spite of this regime, then make sure you are not running with low sugars for the rest of the day and also get your liver function tests done. I hope you got your answer. Please get back for any further query. Take care.