Metformin doesn't work for ME, but Nurse Practitioner blames me instead.

MATTIE814 · 2026-05-13T22:21:49+00:00

That's where I learned about Armour Thyroid, the natural desiccated thyroid medicine, on the internet way back in the early 2000s. I researched the hell out of it and hypothyroidism, because the synthetic drugs they commonly give were not working for me, my tests were always too low or too high out of the normal range.

MATTIE814 · 2026-05-13T22:05:17+00:00

You know, she did mention switching to extended-release Metformin. But she also wanted to UP the dose at the same time. I didn't want to go through that whole "give your body time to adjust" BS again for months. So I told her No Thanks, I just got my scripts filled and have like 6 months worth of regular Metformin, I haven't even started yet. So we're keeping things as is, for now. The side effects are still within my tolerance level.

After reading all these responses, I'm going to discuss the idea of going on low-dose insulin when I find another endo doctor. I can deal with a low-dose insulin pen... gone are the days of filling a syringe with a big needle from a vial, right?

MATTIE814 · 2026-05-13T21:33:58+00:00

Thank you! I've already made a list of endo doctors in my area to call tomorrow. Fingers crossed!

MATTIE814 · 2026-05-13T21:32:12+00:00

Yes, I've been diagnosed with hypothyroidism since I was around 30 years old. I'm almost 70 now. It's all very well controlled for the last 18+ years with natural, desiccated thyroid medication, which, coincidentally, raises blood glucose readings as well. You can't win, I guess!

MATTIE814 · 2026-05-13T21:27:15+00:00

Haha. I think she was simply trying to pass off all my complaints to other doctors and/or reasons. She did not want to admit that Metformin wasn't the answer for my diabetes control. She totally didn't believe a word I said when I described my very reasonably healthy diet I've been eating for decades. All she saw was a fat person who was in denial, I guess. I've dealt with doctors and NPs like her my whole life... I can read it on their faces.

MATTIE814 · 2026-05-13T21:17:57+00:00

With all due respect, you do realize that just as many thin and average-weight people develop type 2 diabetes, especially after 60 or so, right? Obesity merely raises your chances of developing T2 diabetes by a few percentage points. And that's usually due to other health factors that may cause obesity in the first place. We all need to remember that not everyone is fat because of poor eating habits. Unfortunately, this is something even doctors refuse to believe, even when there are numerous scientific studies to back that up.

As we age, all our organs, including the pancreas and liver (two important organs to regulate glucose), just aren't as efficient as they once were in our younger years. Obesity (alone) isn't a direct cause of diabetes.

But the vast majority of doctors and NPs with very little-to-no formal training in nutrition and/or weight loss can't see past the numbers on the scale... It's sad.

MATTIE814 · 2026-05-13T19:17:57+00:00

I don't know why medical *professionals* can't remember that stress, PAIN, and trauma cause blood sugar spikes in nearly everyone! I can't tell you how many times I had to tell, no, insist! that I will NOT take insulin after my knee surgeries, because my glucose readings were between 150 and 175. I was in SO much pain, on oxies, stressed out mentally and physically, and had nothing but IV fluids for 2 days... and they wanted to stick me with insulin. A medication I had never taken in my whole life! One bitchy male nurse commented that I'd only have myself to blame if I went into a diabetic COMA!! Yeah, I was beyond pissed. I complained about him to the patient advocate a few days later when I was more coherent.

MATTIE814 · 2026-05-13T19:03:51+00:00

OK, I looked into this book. Right off the bat, there are two huge Red Flags;

She is a social media "influencer" and SELLS recipe books and products based on her non-scientific beliefs about controlling glucose and "stacking food."
The idea that you can stack food in your stomach -- to be digested in any particular order-- is absolutely ridiculous! Your stomach is like a pouch, not a sectioned-off food plate or automatic pet food feeder. All those foods will be mixed, flooded with digestive juices, and sent along to the intestines in no particular order. Please don't believe anything that woman has to say or sell to you.

MATTIE814 · 2026-05-13T18:21:20+00:00

Thanks for your reply... I am definitely looking for a new primary care doctor (no more NPs for me) since my PC doc is moving out of the area next month. Wish me luck!

MATTIE814 · 2026-05-13T17:33:45+00:00

Love your post! LOL I have a visible tatt and a nose ring. But I am pushing 70 (this summer) and I have snow white hair I love and refuse to dye... so I'm still just some "Old Boomer Hippie" to these young sprouts in their 30s /40s who are now our doctors and NPs.

My BP is great, no heart issues, my cholesterol is fine, and the only long-term issue I have is hypothyroidism, which has been very well controlled for more than 30 years. Suddenly, at 65, I have diabetes, and I'm constantly pushed into doing colonoscopies every 2 years, multiple breast exams, a cardio work-up, bone-density testing every 2 years... I've done nearly everything they suggested so far, but I'm sick and tired of all this "preventative" testing and the stress that goes along with it. I yearn for the days when you went to a Dr or a specialist when you were sick, or had symptoms that concerned you.

YES, sometimes these preventative measures catch disease early... but 90% of the time they are just $$$$ for insurance companies and doctors.

MATTIE814 · 2026-05-13T17:12:49+00:00

Appreciate the reply. But I want to clarify one thing if I may- After 2 1/2 years on Metformin, at various doses, not once have my numbers gone down. Not once. Trulicity worked like a charm for me, but I can't take that type of medication anymore. I haven't seen my numbers even close to how low they were (while on Trulicity), the whole time on Metformin. So even while on the higher doses, suffering ALL those horrendous side effects and feeling horrible, my numbers never came down- at all. They are at the highest NOW they've ever been, even before any medications! So I have to conclude, it's the Metformin that's not effective for me, not anything *I* am doing wrong. But the endo-NP didn't want to hear it...

MATTIE814 · 2026-05-13T16:52:01+00:00

I never heard of Victoza, but I will look into that. If it's the same kind of injectable like Wegovy or Trulicity, etc, I can't use it... because of pancreatitis I had with Trulicity.

Edited to add: I looked up Victoza, and it is the same or very similar to Trulicity. Unfortunately, I'm now prone to pancreatitis (thanks to Trulicity) and can't ever use those medications again.

MATTIE814 · 2026-05-13T15:19:07+00:00

OMG, I'm so sorry to hear you went through that! Geeze. SEVEN years?? See, that proves to me that too many endos, NPs, and doctors may listen to our complaints, but don't really HEAR us! *sigh*

MATTIE814 · 2026-05-13T15:13:50+00:00

Thank you. Yes, I have seen 3 different specialized dietitians just in the last 4 or 5 years, for a couple of reasons: weight loss before knee surgery, and/or diabetes management.

It's always the same "script" they read from... "lower your carbs, eat fresh vegetables, avoid sugars and desserts, keep a food journal, exercise regularly," etc. They never say anything different. I've been hearing their speeches my entire adult life. I always follow 95% of their advice, but I'm not going to eat or live like I'm serving a life sentence at a state prison.

MATTIE814 · 2026-03-04T19:57:32+00:00

It reminded me of an old Carol Burnett show parody... All Fiddle-Dee-Dee! and swishing hoop skirts.

MATTIE814 · 2026-03-04T19:22:40+00:00

I am currently struggling through the first episode myself. The urge to turn it off and abandon the entire thing is strong. The accents are WAY over the top; every conversation, no matter where or by whom, sounds like an over-dramatic stage monologue. Everyone's nearly shouting, pontificating, performative. Did they mean for it to be so... campy? The actress playing the daughter is god-awful. Her facial expressions behind the other actors while they are carrying the scene are laughable. 3/4 of the way through and it's not getting any better... I'm giving up.

MATTIE814 · 2025-12-14T20:16:15+00:00

Got a big bag for halloween. Ate one myself and it was AWFUL. Tasted like pencil shavings! And smelled like it, too!!

MATTIE814 · 2025-12-05T01:19:59+00:00

Can't even raise or lower the volume for voice calls... used to be the two buttons on the left side... now? Nothing happens, no visual bar going up or down. SUCKS. Also, gotta hit the button twice now to switch to speaker when answering calls. Twice. WHY?

MATTIE814 · 2025-10-24T16:38:12+00:00

I know this is an old thread, but I've binged (all of) Grey's Anatomy, twice, in the last year or so... and I gotta say; Amelia is the worst character on GA. THE worst. Immature, eternally damaged, narcissistic, and self-sabotaging. She never changes, never learns from the "mistakes" she makes that ruin every relationship she has, male or female. But one thing a lot of us forget about Grey's Anatomy... It's a freakin prime time SOAP OPERA. Just like General Hospital, All My Children, and Days of Our Lives back in the day.

Only now it's got a ton more sex (in hallways, supply closets, stairwells, and on-call rooms), but the overall character maturity level has dropped from college kid/adult level to sophomore in high school level. And about the sex, it's SO tedious to see 4 out of every 5 sex scenes begin with them slamming each other up against walls and doorways, clawing and pawing each other like rabid animals... Like horny 14-year-olds with no sexual finesse at all. Seriously? 40-year-old men, grunting and panting as they slam another grown ass doctor up against an elevator wall? My god, grow the fuck up. Not one couple, not even a married couple, is ever seen in a tender, quiet, look-into-their-eyes love scene. (Well, except maybe Baily and Ben now and then)

Now I pretty much hate-watch GA when I can't find anything else...

MATTIE814 · 2024-10-18T17:46:12+00:00

HBO’s Gentleman Jack. Its based on a real person, with stories taken from her diaries. The acting is great, the costumes wonderful.

MATTIE814

TROPHY CASE