Do Type 1's Have To Go On Metformin As Well?

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chezpez

chezpez

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Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
i've been having an on and off debate with my g.p about metformin, a yr ago he said all type 1's and 2's should be on metformin.. i disagreed in my case i'm not over weight and can adjust my insulin needs.. what do other think about metformin and insulin for type 1's? i dont understand why it would be necessary?? anyone out there to explain why?:confused:
 
chezpez said:
i've been having an on and off debate with my g.p about metformin, a yr ago he said all type 1's and 2's should be on metformin.. i disagreed in my case i'm not over weight and can adjust my insulin needs.. what do other think about metformin and insulin for type 1's? i dont understand why it would be necessary?? anyone out there to explain why?:confused:
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Hi - I was asking a similar question recently. I was told that it could have something to do with the idea that Metformin is thought to be protective against heart problems.
 
Some type 1's have insulin resistence so have met to help out.
But no all type 1's do not go on or need to go on to metformin.
 
I thought it was all dependant on the individual how they responded to insulin?.. not everyone needs met as you said!
 
Metformin - I hate it! Impossible to swallow such huge tablets. Why can't they make them a sensible size. Don't mean to appear flippant but I would honestly rather have an injection than make myself sick trying to swallow the damm things. My OH is the opposite - he shakes at the thought of a needle but can swallow any size tablets!! Its an unfair world!!
 
ivygirl said:
Metformin - I hate it! Impossible to swallow such huge tablets. Why can't they make them a sensible size. Don't mean to appear flippant but I would honestly rather have an injection than make myself sick trying to swallow the damm things. My OH is the opposite - he shakes at the thought of a needle but can swallow any size tablets!! Its an unfair world!!
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There is a liquid Metformin ask for that if you are having problems swallowing. 🙂
 
chezpez said:
I thought it was all dependant on the individual how they responded to insulin?.. not everyone needs met as you said!
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I know people with type 1 use it if they have PCOS.
But I have never heard of it being prescribed just because you are a type 1.
 
Metformin biguanide (Glucophage)..This drug seems to have many different effects, but it's main action seems to be to keep the liver from producing too much glucose when you don't need it. There is some evidence, that it also improves endothelial (blood vessel lining) function.
 
Metformin

I am type 1 and take three metformin a day. My specialsit nurse swers by it. I am senstitive to insulin, not sure what the link is.

Hope you got the liquid metfromin and it doesn't taste too horrid! I used to have trouble taking pills, but found a good technique is to push the tip of your tongue against the roof of your mouth just behind your top front teeth, then swallow. 🙂
 
runner said:
I am type 1 and take three metformin a day. My specialsit nurse swers by it. I am senstitive to insulin, not sure what the link is.

Hope you got the liquid metfromin and it doesn't taste too horrid! I used to have trouble taking pills, but found a good technique is to push the tip of your tongue against the roof of your mouth just behind your top front teeth, then swallow. 🙂
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Thats interesting runner, so dont you take insulin injections?? just metformin?
 
Hi Chezpez, Yes, I take a lnog-acting insulin in the morning and 3 - 5 doses of fast-acting insulin through the day, depending on glocose readings before and after meals.
 
runner said:
I am type 1 and take three metformin a day. My specialsit nurse swers by it. I am senstitive to insulin, not sure what the link is.
Click to expand...

I'm curious to know why she swears by it?
Perhaps you are part of a study without your knowledge/consent 😱
If you are sensitive to insulin metformin would be the last thing on earth you would need to take :confused:

I have found this but it aplies to adolecents and poorly controlled at that.

http://www.nelm.nhs.uk/en/NeLM-Area...-for-type-1-diabetes-mellitus-in-adolescents/
 
hello there,
metformin makes insulin work harder , making the cells take up glucose more readily.
That's one of the chief effects T2s take it for but obviously it could have the same effect in t1s ( making their insulin work harder) and is such is said to be "insulin sparing " in t1s ( i.e. they can inject less insulin when on it). That's why it can be recommended for T1s as well occasionally. In addition some T1s have Insulin resistnace and so have Double Diabetes and met helps with the IR
HTH
 
pioglitazone

A type two since 1990 starting on two metformins per day, and know on five mets plus one pioglitazone, anyone out there on this combination.
 
Re: metformin and insulin

Hi Sue,

Type1_Sue said:
I'm curious to know why she swears by it?
Perhaps you are part of a study without your knowledge/consent 😱
If you are sensitive to insulin metformin would be the last thing on earth you would need to take :confused:

I have found this but it aplies to adolecents and poorly controlled at that.

http://www.nelm.nhs.uk/en/NeLM-Area...-for-type-1-diabetes-mellitus-in-adolescents/
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link. Can;t remember now why he swears by it, but I did question it at the time and he said he was happy to explain his thinking before I made a decision. As I did carry on taking them (I was initially diagnosed as a type 2, and was taking them before srating on insulin), I must have been satisfied with his reasoning at the time... I trust this particular practitioner who took a lot of time, provided me with information before I decided which insulin regime to go on, and responded to emails to get the dosing right and to answer other queries I had.

I am aware others have not been so fortunate :(
 
runner said:
Hi Sue,



Thanks for the link. Can;t remember now why he swears by it, but I did question it at the time and he said he was happy to explain his thinking before I made a decision. As I did carry on taking them (I was initially diagnosed as a type 2, and was taking them before srating on insulin), I must have been satisfied with his reasoning at the time... I trust this particular practitioner who took a lot of time, provided me with information before I decided which insulin regime to go on, and responded to emails to get the dosing right and to answer other queries I had.

I am aware others have not been so fortunate :(
Click to expand...
Hi again.. so can you begin being type 2 and then change to type 1.. is that coz the insulin injections stop working, i'm confused?
 
Hi,

chezpez said:
Hi again.. so can you begin being type 2 and then change to type 1.. is that coz the insulin injections stop working, i'm confused?
Click to expand...

Initially I was thought to be type 2 , I guess because of my age - then 52. I went onto Metformin, then gliclazide and Metformin, lost weight, excercised, ate healthily etc. with only slight improvement. My specialist nurse concluded "my opinion is that you are a Type 1. Your general presentation and failure to respond adequately to Gliclazide, as well as the general symptoms including modest weight loss etc would be more indicative of a true Type 1. Your pancreatic beta cells failed over relatively short period and you carry no significant body fat. Perhaps the most telling, in your case, is your sensitivity to insulin.

Your diabetic type is now often referred to as ?Type 1?? simply because you?re not the classical presentation for either group. Diagnostically, we only have Type 1 and 2, hence the label." So I guess I was type 1 to begin with, but not a typical presentation. I am aware that some people with type 2 also use insulin, hense it can all be a bit confusing. :confused:
 
i have never been told to expect to go on metformin and i dont expect to have to either.
 
Well I'm Not Going Onto Metformin As I've Been Type For 3 Yrs I'm 35yrs Old Slim And Fit.. I Argue The Point With My G.p All The Time - I Take Novorapid And Lantus And My Hba1c Is 7.5% Though I Think Its Improved As Levels Have Not Been Over 8 For The Past Few Wks. X
 
I am a type 1 and on insulin and metformin. I am insulin resistant.

I think a lot of the time doctors are under pressure to prescribe these things. I have read that they want everyone on statins - well not me! I am generally against medicating people who are not ill.
 
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