128 hba1c result with hyperglycaemic symptoms and high cholesterol. Metformin prescribed. What now?

[FattyMcFattyArse]

I'm new to this. Just been diagnosed with type 2.

Going to start metformin tomorrow. Any tips or advice about what to expect, what I should do next?

Feel a bit left at sea until I can get an apptointment with the diabetic nurse.

I don't even know what I should be eating.

Sorry to sound glib, but watch out for the metformin farts! You get them really bad when you first start on it.
As recommened in another thread diabetes uk learning zone is a good place to start.
Sorry you've been diagnosed, but best wishes to you in your journey.

Dh was in this spot 2 months ago.
First thing he did was get a Libra 3 sensor at the pharmacy and pair it to his iPhone. Next he began entering all his food into his Nutracheck nutrition app.
Along with starting on Metformin (which takes time to fully kick in).
He basically follows a keto diet, high protein, healthy fats and loads of non starchy veggies.
Measures and enters all his foods before he eats, keeping his carbs to 20gms per meal.
Personally we found the sensor to be a godsend with instant feedback on food choices and exercise (in dh case too much exercise makes his bs rise).
His blood sugars are now well within the normal range.

Gosh, managing it sounds like a full time job in itself!

I'm feeling rather overwhelmed at this complete change of life and food management.

Well for us it worked, the one poke (libra 3 sensor) made everything else much easier with real time display of the blood sugar. A few shopping swaps and we did well.
lots of reading labels.
we’ve found low carb bread
breakfast: one toast, poached egg (one or two) cucumber and cherry tomato.
lunch; a low carb yogurt with hazelnuts and a few blueberries
supper: steak, roasted cauliflower and green salad.
cheese for snack, again lots of labels to read but some simple seaps like switching to whole wheat pasta.

My DP is T2 and on Metformin. He hasn't chosen to go down the sensor route.
Try to eat regularly, high protein and relatively low carb (with plenty of wholegrains). If you're offered any courses on nutrition for T2 do go on them - they're really helpful.
DP has recently started on Mounjaro (privately, but he did discuss with GP first) and it seems to be helping him make better food choices so far.
You may feel pretty rough initially on Metformin - make sure you are eating before/with the tablets - it really helps. As PP has said, eggs are great nutritionally.

Is it slow release Metformin? That can reduce the gastric side effects. 128 is very high. Are you overweight, if you are and have several comorbidities you jay be eligible for weight loss medication which can help with diabetes although that is not usually prescribed until lifestyle adjustments have been tried. Good luck.

I was diagnosed in Aug 2024, HbA1C was 11.7% converts to 104 mmol/mol. I was put straight onto insulin and metformin and referred to diabetes team.

first 4-6 weeks was basically lots of readings and tracking my food, appts for eye scans and feet check, I was given a freestyle Libre CGM and it was great. I was highly sensitive to all carbs, everything raised my sugars high and I couldn’t get them low, my numbers remained high even when I cut carbs to the lowest possible and was taking the meds. After about 6 weeks I was given Mounjaro which was AMAZING!

within 6 weeks on MJ I was off the insulin and down to just 1 slow release metformin in the morning, that went to a few months later.

Now I’m 10 stone lighter, still eat low carb but not quite keto, HbA1C is 5.2% which is remission range. I’ll be on MJ long term as it manages my sugars and my weight so NHS is happy for me to use it indefinitely at the moment. My BP is normal, no cholesterol has reduced…. Basically everything is better.

I have yearly blood tests, feet checks and eye scans to look for diabetes related damage.

128 is an extremely high reading, a non diabetic level is below 42.

Metformin can make you feel sick, if it does ask for slow release tablets instead.

I have no idea if they will start you on insulin or more tablets than metformin with such a high Hba1c.

Is it the diabetic nurse at your surgery you will see or the hospital team?

yes it's slow release. So far so good for first 2 days.

it's good to hear other people's experiences. I'm so new to this.

glp1 on nhs would be amazing. I was on them for a year a while ago but put the weight back on when stopped. It got too expensive.

ngl I'm terrified of going blind and other issues. Would like to go into remission but don't even know yet how to manage the condition day to day. Have appointment with diabetic nurse in a months time. First chance to get advice. GP was only a quick phone call so far.

Also, i now have an explanation of why I've been feeling so tired the past few months. How was I walking around with hyperglycaemia for so long and still able to function??

@FattyMcFattyArsestart tracking your food and sugar levels now if you aren’t already. Everything you eat and drink written down as the day goes on so you can see what you had before each sugar level. It was such useful information.

my biggest spikes and longest lasting high results came from a jacket potato and a muller light yoghurt. Both of which I would have assumed would have been alright as far as healthy foods go.

I was diagnosed a couple of years ago.

I also got a Libra sensor, at the time you could get a free sample.

I started eating low carb but not no carb.

I didn't get metformin farts but I did start to notice my toilet habits are more regular and larger than before.

If you get a Libra you can see which foods have what effect on your body. For me a banana spiked my sugar!

I had a readong of 113 back in may when I was diagnosed with type 2. Am on gliclizade and metfoormon, woth the intention of moving to just metformin. By blood sugars now average out at around 9.5ish whereas before I was getting readings of 20.8.
So am on the way. I'm trying to be crlateful and make switches. Checking out labels and trying for green on the sugar part. One step at a time I guess.

Have you been referred to a hospital/community team. I would expect you would be on insulin with that hba1c rather than just metformin? A month seems a long time to see someone

Mine was 102 last year and 4 months later had dropped to 43. It’s now 42.
I lost 15kg which is the recommended amount for remission. I ate whole foods and low ish carbs but high protein. I also walked every day aiming for 5,000 steps. I have maintained now for 11 months and now I walk 8,500 steps a day but can eat more carbs. I did find it useful to use a CGM (which I had to pay for) and I used this after the first 4 months for about 6 months.
YouTube has lots of great info about how to get your diabetes into remission. I didn’t think I could do this on my own but I did. I look and feel so much healthier now. You can do this too OP.