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Questions about taking diabetic medications.



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I would like to hear from bandsters that were on diabetic medications prior to getting banded. I was finally in the diabetic range at this years annual physical and my doctor prescribed metformin, which is a HUGE pill, glyberide... and also cholestoral meds and hbp meds. Thankfully I was already on the road to getting my band approval because when I first started taking all these pills I would look at all the bottles lining my counter and think, "I can't believe I am 34 years old and on all this medication." Anyway, I am concerned about how I am going to get the giant metformin pill down. I have a pill cutter... do I just start chopping? Also, my blood sugars have pretty successfully come down on this combination of diabetic medications and I am concerned that while I am on a liquid diet pre and post op that it will cause my blood sugar to go too low if I continue with the amount of meds that I am currently prescribed. Can anybody tell me about their experiences with that?

Thanks for the info!

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I am diabetic.

I was on 12 pills and 2 shots a day.

I too was on metformin. I was always careful to take my meds with my meals. I knew I needed something with my pills in my little stomach.

I am proud to say I am only on 1 pill (Effexor) now. I was able to stop my diabetes meds 3 months after banding.

edie

PM me if you want to chat about the lows you are worried about.

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I was only recently put on diabetic tablets... I had to take 2 which looked like horse tablets. I was taken off them at the hospital on the day of surgery. After the op I tried taking them but threw them up (that was during my 2 days in hospital). I never went back on them since my levels were pretty good. I spoke to my doctor and she is fine for me not to take them any more. I have lost 25 lbs and the more I lose the better I will be. I will continue to test myself in case something goes wrong.

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I am still on metformin, but I take 2 500 mg pills and cut them in half. They seem to be fine that way. My DH takes the 1000mg tablets and they are huge. When the dr put me on it I requested the smaller 500 mg tablets and just have to take 2 instead and cut them in half. Not sure what size you're on but that's an option.

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I was taking 4 500 Mg metformin a day when I started the pre op liquid diet. Within a week of starting the pre-op ( I did that for 3 weeks), I had to stop my metformin because my glucose was going to low. I havent taken once since...glucose is less than 90

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010308 I was taking Metformin also and haven't taken any since my surgery. I take the Extended Release and they could not be cushed or cut so I just stopped. I have been checking my sugars regularly and they have been good. I ask my doctors ofc to call in a regular prescription but they never did. I go to the diabetes clinic tomorrow so I will know more then. I do cut my other medications in half.

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    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. LeighaTR

        I hope your surgery on Wednesday goes well. You will be able to do all sorts of new things as you find your new normal after surgery. I don't know this from experience yet, but I am seeing a lot of positive things from people who have had it done. Best of luck!

    • Alisa_S

      On day 4 of the 2 week liquid pre-op diet. Surgery scheduled for June 11th.
      Soooo I am coming to a realization
      of something and I'm not sure what to do about it. For years the only thing I've enjoyed is eating. We rarely do anything or go anywhere and if we do it always includes food. Family comes over? Big family dinner! Go camping? Food! Take a short ride or trip? Food! Holiday? Food! Go out of town for a Dr appointment? Food! When we go to a new town we don't look for any attractions, we look for restaurants we haven't been to. Heck, I look forward to getting off work because that means it's almost supper time. Now that I'm drinking these pre-op shakes for breakfast, lunch, and supper I have nothing to look forward to.  And once I have surgery on June 11th it'll be more of the same shakes. Even after pureed stage, soft food stage, and finally regular food stage, it's going to be a drastic change for the rest of my life. I'm giving up the one thing that really brings me joy. Eating. How do you cope with that? What do you do to fill that void? Wow. Now I'm sad.
      · 1 reply
      1. summerseeker

        Life as a big person had limited my life to what I knew I could manage to do each day. That was eat. I hadn't anything else to look forward to. So my eating choices were the best I could dream up. I planned the cooking in managable lots in my head and filled my day with and around it.

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        I still cook for family feasts, I love cooking. I still do holidays but I have changed from the All inclusive drinking and eating everything everyday kind to Self catering accommodation. This gives me the choice of cooking or eating out as I choose. I rarely drink anymore as I usually travel alone now and I feel I need to keep aware of my surroundings.

        I don't know at what point my life expanded, was it when I lost 100 pounds? Was it when I left my walking stick at home ? Was it when I said yes to an outing instead of finding an excuse to stay home ? i look back at my last five years and wonder how loosing weight has made such a difference. Be ready to amaze yourself.

        BTW, the liquid diet sucks, one more day and you are over the worst. You can do it.

    • CaseyP1011

      Officially here for a long time, not just a good time💪
      · 0 replies
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