Diabetics--help! Need suggestions on meds. - 3 Fat Chicks on a Diet Weight Loss Community

MugCanDoIt · 02-17-2009, 04:17 PM

Does anybody know a type 2 diabetes medication with the least side effects?

I am not on medicine yet but I fear it is going toward that cause my numbers have been too high.

So when I go to the doctor I want to have in mind a few medications before she suggests any.

Ive read about Byetta----no good cause its in shot form and is made from lizard spit. Ive also read about Metformin, and I noticed that people have diahrea and tiredness, and nausea.

HELP!! What are your suggestions for the least side effects?

kaplods · 02-17-2009, 04:42 PM

My husband and I are both on metformin. I'm on 500mg ER (extended release) and hubby is on 500mg (regular) twice daily. He is actually diabetic, whereas I'm insulin resistant with prediabetic blood sugar levels.

I've had no side effects at all, and hubby had a slightly upset stomach the first few days (less than a week). He learned that as long as he takes it less than a half an our before he eats something, he's fine. It's only on an empty stomach that it can disagree with him a bit (but a LOT less than most foods that give him heartburn, so all in all I consider it a very small side effect).

A pharmacist is probably the best person to talk to in regards to how many people experience side effects, and which side effects are possible and which are likely to be the most severe because people who are taking the drugs only have themselves to go by. I've had medications in the past that I had severe side effects with, that the pharmacist told me were extremely rare. In essence it doesn't matter whether anyone else has had side effects, it matters which side effects you have, and you may not find that out until you take a medication.

MugCanDoIt · 02-17-2009, 05:03 PM

Thanks kaplods...

meowee · 02-17-2009, 05:08 PM

I think that Metformin will probably be the one your doctor will suggest. Most people are over the 'tummy' upset after a few days. Metformin is one of the very few meds that do not make weight loss more difficult.

dgramie · 02-17-2009, 06:59 PM

my hubby takes glynase and metphormin. He has done great with them.

kodama · 02-17-2009, 07:10 PM

I take insulin. I did take metformin but had to stop because of some liver problems I was having. My doctor felt that insulin was the best option with the least side effects. I like it much better than the metformin. I did have churny guts from it.

As for shots, the needles for insulin and diabetic meds are so tiny it's very rare you feel them. You'd be amazed.