Metformin for type 2 diabetes patients or not? Researchers now have the answer

[Northerner]

Metformin is the first-line drug that can lower blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes patients. One third of patients do not respond to metformin treatment and 5 per cent experience serious side effects, which is the reason many choose to stop medicating. Researchers at Lund University in Sweden have now identified biomarkers that can show in advance how the patient will respond to metformin treatment via a simple blood test.

"Our study constitutes an important step towards the goal of personalised care for diabetes patients because it can contribute to ensuring that the right person receives the right care as soon as there is a diagnosis," says Charlotte Ling, professor of epigenetics at Lund University, who led the study.

Metformin for type 2 diabetes patients or not? Researchers now have the answer

Metformin is the first-line drug that can lower blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes patients. One third of patients do not respond to metformin treatment and 5 per cent experience serious side effects, which is the reason many choose to stop medicating. Researchers have now identified...

www.sciencedaily.com

 

[grovesy]

Interesting. Though I am surprised by the low side effect figure.

 

[Drummer]

My reaction to Metformin and Atorvastatin was pretty catastrophic but the side effects were not registered as I was taking two things and so blame could not be put on just one of them - and I suspect that is the case for many people.

 

[rebrascora]

Interesting. Though I am surprised by the low side effect figure.

I think the key to the low figure is the wording "serious side effects". I think there is probably a higher than 50% incidence of digestive upset in patients taking it but would be interested to know what constitutes "serious" and how many people put up with the side effects and just don't report them because they have already been warned to expect them.