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Re: Glucophage Side EffectsFrom: Sue (anonymous@obgyn.net)Wed, 3 Jan 2001 11:32:59 -0600 (CST)
>I have read about Glucophage/Metformin (I'm assuming both names are slightly different from each other--as in one is brand name, the other generic?)< You are close to be right; it is the same compound; metformin HCl is the chemical name (to the best of my knowledge, there is no generic form of it), glucophage is the name under which the compound is marketed.
>Nothing I try seems to work, and I'm wondering exactly WHAT else is wrong with me....I get times of serious nausea and weakness--almost to the point of passing out. I actually feel BETTER when I drink something that has a decent amount of sugar.< You've described classic symptoms of hypoglycemia due to overproduction of insuluin! There's nothing weird about you; most of us have dealt with this from time to time before going on an insulin sensitizer. That weakness and nausea comes about because your blood sugar has "crashed" and your body is telling to give it some fuel. In the analogy of a fuel gauge, your "needle" is way down below empty--you'd be out of gas if you were driving a car. When you eat normally (normal amounts of food, etc.), your "needle" goes up to anywhere from 80-120 d/L (if you're not diabetic). That's what controls your "full" feeling--your blood sugar level. When your "needle" goes below 80 d/L, you get hunger pangs--some people experience them as "heartburn" feelings, gnawing hunger, or lightheadedness. When you get to the nausea stage (I used to get this way; I knew for sure I'd ralph if I didn't eat *something*), your "needle" is way below 80 d/L. It's likely down in the 40 d/L or so range. Your blood sugar normally drops within 4-4.5 hours when your insulin levels are correct; if you're getting ravenous before that, your insulin is out of whack (by evidenced in your PCO dx). If you get on an insulin sensitizer, you should be able to go the 4-4.5 hours that "normal" people can do. That's the normal "full-hunger cycle."
>From reading up on PCOS I've learned to try and stay away from carbs< That isn't necessarily true for everyone. If you have any history of kidney stones, you need to stay away from high protein diets. HP diets also put a great strain on your kidneys and largely cannot be maintained for long periods of time (hence, the weight tends to come back). I have had pretty decent success (80# so far, and more is coming off) with a program called "Weigh Down." It's very balanced and many of us *on insulin sensitizers* have had success with it. It's revolutionized the way I look at food and the way our household runs. You can find the book in any mass merchandiser or on Amazon.com. I highly recommend it. But if you're not under the care of a RE, get there and see if you can take an insulin sensitizer of some sort. It will really help with your symptoms and allow you to feel more "in control" of your body and less like your body is betraying you. : ) Good luck!
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