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Metformin

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A quick question . Have any type 1 diabetics been prescribed metformin ?
 
I was initially assumed to be Type 2 at diagnosis earlier this year due to age and started on Metformin. I was started on insulin in April and tested and confirmed Type 1 last month but the nurse wanted me to continue on Metformin as there are apparently benefits to the heart as well as appetite suppression which can help to keep weight off. I am however currently trialling a period without it at the suggestion of the consultant. Apart from appetite suppression, I am not sure I have seen any benefit from it whilst I have been taking it and have had some of the digestive side effects to contend with, so feel a bit ambivalent to it. I am sure it has it's place with Type 2s. Do you feel that you gain some benefit from it @Bruce Stephens ?
 
rebrascora said:
I was initially assumed to be Type 2 at diagnosis earlier this year due to age and started on Metformin. I was started on insulin in April and tested and confirmed Type 1 last month but the nurse wanted me to continue on Metformin as there are apparently benefits to the heart as well as appetite suppression which can help to keep weight off. I am however currently trialling a period without it at the suggestion of the consultant. Apart from appetite suppression, I am not sure I have seen any benefit from it whilst I have been taking it and have had some of the digestive side effects to contend with, so feel a bit ambivalent to it. I am sure it has it's place with Type 2s. Do you feel that you gain some benefit from it @Bruce Stephens ?
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I have been prescribed it by a consultant that said I hadn’t had a dka when I had a hospital discharge form saying I had . She said it would make my insulin more effective. I don’t need it to help me loose weight as I have already lost six stone and I am still loosing weight. This was before she had my blood test results that confirmed I had two of the three antibodies recognised in a type 1 diagnosis . I have never taken it .
 
Sorry feeling a bit frustrated at the moment. I now have the support of an amazing specialist diabetic nurse who is an absolute credit to the nhs
 
I also lost a bit of weight pre-diagnosis and now that I am a healthy BMI I don't really need to lose anymore but people can put weight back on once they start using insulin and I don't want to do that. I follow a very low carb diet and I feel the Metformin helps me stick to it..... I've been craving quite a bit since I stopped taking it but not sure this is enough of a reason to take it again.
I feel a bit frustrated with my consultant. I don't feel like he really understands the issues I am having and it is a long time between early July and the end of October to seeing him again to change things. My practice nurse is lovely but she admits that she doesn't know much about Type 1 and I left a message for the DSNs at the clinic and got a message back a few days later from a lady whose first language was clearly not English and felt like I was not going to be able to understand or make myself understood via the telephone with her, so resorted to this forum where help is much more practical and based on experience of other people who have been in similar circumstances.
 
I am pleased you now have a DSN who is both supportive and knowledgeable.
Feel free to vent here when you are frustrated. We all understand that need to let off steam occasionally and have a rant.
 
Freddie1966 said:
She said it would make my insulin more effective.
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You can find NICE's mention in 1.7.14 of https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng17/chapter/1-Recommendations

Which suggests they're only thinking of T1 who are overweight (which just about applies to me, or did, anyway; my BMI is possible marginally under 25 now). Metformin is intended to increase insulin sensitivity: see https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/biguanides-diabetes-metformin

(It's been touted as something that might increase lifespan in healthy people, presumably because it would reduce insulin levels. I'm not sure how much anyone believes that at present.)
 
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