My mother has type 2 diabetes ,and is suffering with server diarrhea she has no spare time if she needs to go to the bathroom. This is now making her stay in.
Thank you for any advise you may have.
Tracey Phillips
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Q: Can Metformin cause servere diarrhea. So you cant really go any where unless there is atoilet near
Answers (12)
2/11/09 3:28am
yes, yes, yes, It's a terrible way to live, always looking for a bathroom. My Doctor changed (I was on metformin for 2 years) my medication and nothing helped.
I went to the specialist who said "so live with it, or stay home" My regular Dr. put me on the insulin. It has helped, but once in awhile I have to make a run for a bathroom.
A nice tote bag with a few exta clothers to take with her and a pad to wear, might help her. Hope this helps
1/30/09 11:21pm
I'm using Metformin for about 5 years and never experiensed diarrhea. On the contrary I have been constipated many times but I think that was caused by the use of multiple medication.Perhaps it would be wise to consult a doctor as diarrhea will cause dehydration. Good luck
5/ 7/09 12:42pm
I believe it is time for a new doctor. I would suggest seeing a Gastroenterologist for the bowel problem. I had the same problem and also saw a urologist. Between the two of them I found relief. This is a serious problem and needs to be checked. "Learn to live with it" is not good advice and I suspect any doctor that takes that attitude with me. I also know where every bathroom is in our small town and yes, have had several "accidents" in the past. I point out that the word "past" is where my problems are.
Good Luck. To carry this one step further, I was taken off Metformin after I found out that it could cause kidney problems in some people. There are other meds for this situation.
5/21/09 2:12pm
My endocronologist suggested taking it at night after eating dinner. It helped a lot. Ask your doc about varying times of day and see if that helps you. Type II
6/ 7/09 8:09pm
I just started taking it about a month ago and it has taken a month to get on the full dose.
I started with half a pill in the morning for a week, then half a pill twice a day for a week, a full pill in the morning and half at night, etc. until i reach two pills a day.
Each time i upped my dose I would get really bad cramping and sometimes diarrhea for four or five days, but now that i have been on the full dose it rarely happens anymore.
9/ 3/09 7:45pm
I also have diarrhea on and off. My stomach rolls and girgles all the time, sometimes goes away (no diarrhea, that time) then it comes back full force. I have been on Metformin for about 3 years and the past 2 yrs seem to be worse. I will try to change when I take them, so thanks for idea there. It is an awful way to live your life.
2/ 6/10 1:44am
I started taking Metformin 2 months ago. 2 days ago I stopped it. I am done. The diarrhea and gas pains are unbearable. I feel for your mom. Sometimes it helped to use immodium(multi-symptom) tablets. Good luck.
8/16/10 4:35pm
I am battling this problem with Metformin and diarrhea. I was taking Immodium for a while but decied to address the problem directly.
The remedy that seems to help the best for me is eliminating milk, ice cream and yogurt from my diet. I can still eat cheese. I also have to be careful for other ingredients such as MSG. Richard Brown
8/16/10 4:44pm
I am battling this problem with Metformin and diarrhea. I was taking Immodium for a while but decied to address the problem directly.
The remedy that seems to help the best for me is eliminating milk, ice cream and yogurt from my diet. I can still eat cheese. I also have to be careful for other ingredients such as MSG. Richard Brown
10/19/10 11:01pm
I suffered horrible diarrhea for many years and no one could help me. Then 2 weeks ago, my doc said to stop taking it for 2 weeks and I have only had 1 bad diarrhea day since. I go see my Endo and will ask her about it. This is the longest I have gone without the gurgling and cramping and mad dashing for a bathroom in many years!
7/17/11 6:38pm
I am on metformin and had the runs for a week. there is a very simple solution to this, you need to reduce your carb intake. I went on the Atkins diet and not only did my blood sugar stabalize, my cholesteral went down and the runs stoped. and a major bonus I have lost over 80 lbs in 4 months.
2/ 2/12 12:09am
Along with taking metformin, which by the way did not control my diabetes. I went on the Atkins diet, My blood sugar was totaly stabalized my cholesteral went down and the pounds came off like melting butter, the runs have stoped I guess it is temporary, I was 320lbs and 5'3 now I am down to 140lbs. It is amazing the stuff you can eat on this diet, because it goes against everything ppl get taught about nutrition, other bounuses ...my skin cleared up I do not get migrains anymore, and my allergies have seemed to disapear.
2/ 1/12 10:24pm
that is wonderful, so why dont dr.'s recommend this to diabetics? mine just says
keep going to nutrionalist, classes and lose weight. I lost 30lbs and can't lose any
more. that was 4 mo. ago. I need to lose another 30 but only advise I was given is reduce calories and diet meals and possibly phentermine. I thot reports said Atkins diet is NOT good for people...esp those w/medical problems?? I would really
like to know more so I could get more weight off and feel better. I do agree with the diarrhea and eating carbs or fried foods/greasy pizza, etc. I try to avoid these
too, but sometimes it is impossible. my A1c was 5.9 and I am trying hard to rreach my goal weight w/o having to have bypass surgery. Any help would be greatly appreciated. thanks
10/19/11 5:51pm
I took it for the 1st time today in the morning with food ,found out yesterday i have diabetes .It took apprx 3 hours until i started getting stomach pains ,then had the runs for about a hour ,i was advised by my doc to expect this .She wants me to take one a day to start ,after a week then i take 2 and in a coupl e of weeks we'll see how things are .My self im 55 over weight
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Wow, I wish I could lose 80 pounds period!!! When I first found out I had diabetes my endo sent me to a medical nutrition series of meetings. They checked my food journals for 3 months and didn't suggest much for changes. At that time I was scared out of my wits when I was diagnosed. I lost 32 pounds in 6 months. After a year I learned to play what I thought was a game to outwit the glucose meter, never went back to the endo, and gained it all back. I went to WW but only lost a pound a week if lucky!!!!! or gained. Even with starvation!!! I am happy for you!!!!! How do you do it?