Can Glucophage Cause Hypoglycemia?
Question: My husband is a diabetic who is decently controlled with oral medications and we are working together to try to prevent those situations where he feels like his blood sugar is dropping (it actually isn't low, but he feels like it is) by using appropriate snacks rather than grabbing chips or a candy bar. I have tried giving him a mix of nuts and dried fruit but sometimes he says it feels like it's taking too long to be effective. One time he tested after about 10 minutes and the glucose was still dropping some. What combinations of snacks should he be eating to eliminate this situation. I was trying to give a balanced mix of protein and carb so as to not shoot his blood sugar up too high. Any suggestions?
Brief Answer:
Modify the treatment.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I read carefully your concerns.
In these cases, it is recommended to modify the treatment and prevent these hypoglycemic events rather than to treat them.
Usually, Glucophage does not cause hypoglycemia.
He should be taking another antidiabetic medication in that scenario.
I would recommend to stop it or try to lower the dosage until he has no hypoglycemia any more.
Please mention the whole treatment (the Exact names, dosage, time duration, frequency) so that I can suggest you exactly what to do.
Wish you good health.
Kind Regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
Modify the treatment.
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I read carefully your concerns.
In these cases, it is recommended to modify the treatment and prevent these hypoglycemic events rather than to treat them.
Usually, Glucophage does not cause hypoglycemia.
He should be taking another antidiabetic medication in that scenario.
I would recommend to stop it or try to lower the dosage until he has no hypoglycemia any more.
Please mention the whole treatment (the Exact names, dosage, time duration, frequency) so that I can suggest you exactly what to do.
Wish you good health.
Kind Regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
I appreciate your answer, but I was hoping for nutritional guidance. The blood sugar isn't actually low at all. It is the feeling that it's low. His blood sugar is rarely under 100. It's usually between 100-145 mg/dl. I wanted to know what he should eat that won't cause his glucose to rise too rapidly.
Brief Answer:
Add proteins to the diet and avoid carbohydrates.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back!
I can understand better your concern now.
He should have been trained by a dietitian for the diet that suits best to him (having into consideration the age, weight, comorbidities ect).
Anyway i would advice to eat often and small meals.
Often means to eat 5-6 times per day.
He should avoid carbohydrates and add proteins to the largest meals and eat fruits during the small meals ( or snakcs).
Carbohydrates are absorbed quickly by the intestines and raise the blood sugar immediately that is why are prefered while having low blood sugar (<70mg/dl).
While proteins (meat, fish, eggs, dairy products ect) are the food of choice to avoid the fast raise in blood sugar.
Hope i have been helpful.
Kind regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
Add proteins to the diet and avoid carbohydrates.
Detailed Answer:
Welcome back!
I can understand better your concern now.
He should have been trained by a dietitian for the diet that suits best to him (having into consideration the age, weight, comorbidities ect).
Anyway i would advice to eat often and small meals.
Often means to eat 5-6 times per day.
He should avoid carbohydrates and add proteins to the largest meals and eat fruits during the small meals ( or snakcs).
Carbohydrates are absorbed quickly by the intestines and raise the blood sugar immediately that is why are prefered while having low blood sugar (<70mg/dl).
While proteins (meat, fish, eggs, dairy products ect) are the food of choice to avoid the fast raise in blood sugar.
Hope i have been helpful.
Kind regards,
Dr.Mirjeta
Note: For further follow-up, discuss your blood glucose reports with our diabetologist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng