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Please Remember: Members are only permitted to share their own experiences. Members are not qualified to give medical advice. Additionally, everyone manages their health differently. Please be respectful of other people's opinions about their own diabetes management.
Metformin
- Thread starter Russell64
- Start date
Welcome. Metformin and other medications are essential when newly diagnosed T2Ds cannot meet their targets by diet and exercise alone.
A positive version of your message is that the majority can - when given the opportunity and encouragement to do so. Those are not always forthcoming.
Some of us have had to work things out for ourselves from published advice from pioneers like Dr Michael Mosley, Prof Roy Taylor, Dr David Unwin and others.
A positive version of your message is that the majority can - when given the opportunity and encouragement to do so. Those are not always forthcoming.
Some of us have had to work things out for ourselves from published advice from pioneers like Dr Michael Mosley, Prof Roy Taylor, Dr David Unwin and others.
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Alan44
Moderator
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Hi @Russell64 and welcome to the forum
Metformin is one of the drugs that is given to reduce HBA1c for T2 and has been proven to work in most cases.
It is true to say like most drugs, it can come with side effects for a few people, but not all.
I assume you are referring to the side effects
Alan 😉
saffron15
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It can cause upset tummy. Usually start on 1 increasing each week til 4. Slow release is kinder. If you don't have these side effects it helps many people with diet and exercise get their BG down. I worked up til 4 then was reduced two and am now on 1. It was first prescribed last August. I have read it may have side effects very long term and will look further into it if my dose has to increase. Most drugs have side effects which are balanced against benefits. I have read long term it can affect B12 but that can be checked on a blood test and sorted.
And apart from the positive effect on blood glucose and insulin sensitivity, lots of other ways that Metformin supports health
Is metformin a wonder drug? - Harvard Health
Metformin, a medicine prescribed to treat type 2 diabetes, also has cardiovascular benefits and is used off-label to treat other conditions. Interest is growing in its potential to help lowe...
www.health.harvard.edu
Lucyr
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 1
Where have you seen that? It’s the most common diabetes medication and very safe.
- Relationship to Diabetes
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Sorry to hear you’ve been worried by some of the stuff you’ve found lurking on the Internet @Russell64
Metformin has been a first-line medication for T2 diabetes for many many years. It is very well studied, and while it can cause some stomach upset in some people, only very few people get severe side effects.
It works fairly gently in the background to reduce glucose output from the liver, and increase insulin sensitivity, so it doesn’t carry the risks of hypoglycaemia that some other glucose-lowering meds can.
As with all medications there is a possibility of side effects, but try not to worry about any extreme scare-stories you may have read. Some corners of the Internet seem to thrive on that sort of thing, but it’s not an accurate reflection of reality for the vast majority of people who are offered Metformin, and who can take it without any problems at all 🙂
Metformin has been a first-line medication for T2 diabetes for many many years. It is very well studied, and while it can cause some stomach upset in some people, only very few people get severe side effects.
It works fairly gently in the background to reduce glucose output from the liver, and increase insulin sensitivity, so it doesn’t carry the risks of hypoglycaemia that some other glucose-lowering meds can.
As with all medications there is a possibility of side effects, but try not to worry about any extreme scare-stories you may have read. Some corners of the Internet seem to thrive on that sort of thing, but it’s not an accurate reflection of reality for the vast majority of people who are offered Metformin, and who can take it without any problems at all 🙂
@Russell64, I took 1 500mg table of metformin for three months not long after I was first diagnosed, had no issues with it and my diabetes nurse was adamant that it had helped bring my HbA1c down to 47. It has side effects but I don't believe I have ever taken any medication that didn't have side effects and at 64 I am still alive, healthy (bar diabetes) and enjoying life.
Drummer
Well-Known Member
- Relationship to Diabetes
- Type 2
I was prescribed Metformin and Atorvastatin right from diagnosis and - Oh boy!!!
Violent painful faecal incontinence, gas, aches in muscles and joints, problems with memory and concentration - none of which is recorded in my files so - of course - it is offered to me regularly and I explain, again, what happened and I am assured it is safe and effective. I get a bit pointed about the lack of reporting or recording of adverse effects.
I think the worst bit about the whole debacle is that I didn't need medication in the first place. I should just be glad that I decided to stop taking it when I did being suicidal at Christmas is no condition to be in, but I do wish that the possible issues were properly documented.
Violent painful faecal incontinence, gas, aches in muscles and joints, problems with memory and concentration - none of which is recorded in my files so - of course - it is offered to me regularly and I explain, again, what happened and I am assured it is safe and effective. I get a bit pointed about the lack of reporting or recording of adverse effects.
I think the worst bit about the whole debacle is that I didn't need medication in the first place. I should just be glad that I decided to stop taking it when I did being suicidal at Christmas is no condition to be in, but I do wish that the possible issues were properly documented.
That may be so but diet is far more important than Metformin.
On the Diabetes page about Metformin, Zaheer says:
I was told that food basically was the key to managing my diabetes. I wish someone had told me about this 10 years ago. I have a scientist’s mind, and once I’d made that connection I changed my diet overnight. I went on a low-carb diet and lost weight. Within 3-4 months, I got my HbA1c below 30 which means my blood sugars are now in the normal range and I came off metformin.
Diet alone can't always bring down HbA1c enough. By all means start with diet-only but if you need help, for most people, Metformin is the first drug to try.
I have, as someone put it, a very generous liver. Without Metformin, I suspect my BG levels would never drop below 10. No proof, as obviously it's not an experiment I'm willing to try.
Metformin was an experiment I wanted to avoid. Fortunately a very low calorie diet brought my FBG down from double digits to 5.8 mmol/l in seven days.
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Sadly I don't get that low even with Metformin. I didn't want to take it either, but I wanted my eyesight back as
I love to read. I don't deliberately do VLC but most days I eat less than 1000 kcals also under 100g carbs.
Leadinglights
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It just shows how everybody's system copes with carbs with or without medication. Hence why it is difficult to have a standard treatment that would suit everybody.