Metformin . ?

[Simmo66]

Consultant has put me on metformin
I am still taking 6 ml of insulin
If/ when they take me off the insulin
Will I be able to get my hgv back early or will I still have to do the 3 months ( accu chek) readings . Does metformin come in on the dvla’s hit list of drugs they need to know about
The insulin is temporary measure to give my pancreas a rest
But because it’s hgv related . The word temporary. Doesn’t count .just the word hgv
Regards simmo

 

[Ljc]

Hello @Simmo66 . Metformin isn’t in the DVLA hit list , it’s often on the loo hit list though (digestive upset) it helps with insulin resistance and with the liver producing too much glucose.

Due to your high BG ,high ketones and weight loss some of us in other threads of yours on here have expressed a concern that you may not have T2 . Often T2 is diagnosed by age and weight alone.
I know you have said that the hospital has done blood tests but I suggest you check that they have done the C-peptide and or the GAD antibody tests as they might have only just done the ordinary Hb1ac which shows how much unused insulin has attached to the red cells over the past 12 or so weeks .

We are all very worried about you , if you should start feeling ill or start vomiting you need to A&E fast not a Gp.



.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Consultant has put me on metformin
I am still taking 6 ml of insulin
If/ when they take me off the insulin
Will I be able to get my hgv back early or will I still have to do the 3 months ( accu chek) readings . Does metformin come in on the dvla’s hit list of drugs they need to know about
The insulin is temporary measure to give my pancreas a rest
But because it’s hgv related . The word temporary. Doesn’t count .just the word hgv
Regards simmo

just for clarity, it won’t be 6ml of insulin. It’s more likely to be 6 units.

insulin is generally dispensed at 100u per ml, so 6u is 0.06ml.

6ml would most likely sledgehammer an elephant 🙂

 

[Ljc]

just for clarity, it won’t be 6ml of insulin. It’s more likely to be 6 units.

insulin is generally dispensed at 100u per ml, so 6u is 0.06ml.

6ml would most likely sledgehammer an elephant 🙂

Well spotted. I never even noticed 😱

 

[Ralph-YK]

My understanding is that it's hypos in particular that is the issue. Insulin and gliclazide are the drugs that can make you more likely to hypo. Not metformin.
I don't know if you still have to mention it.
I don't have experience dealing with DVLA though.

 

[Drummer]

If you are not taking insulin or another glucose reducing drug then you are not going to get any means of testing your blood glucose anyway - at least in most surgeries - not thought necessary - presumably as soon as you are no longer on insulin you should be regarded as safe to drive.
I have been reprimanded for writing that Metformin doesn't reduce glucose levels (not on this forum) - but it doesn't - you might see lower glucose levels due to it not being high in the first place, so there should be no restriction on driving - but that is not to say that someone at the DVLA won't agree with that. Just keep pushing and try to find someone sensible if problems occur.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

I have been reprimanded for writing that Metformin doesn't reduce glucose levels (not on this forum) - but it doesn't - you might see lower glucose levels due to it not being high in the first place, so there should be no restriction on driving - but that is not to say that someone at the DVLA won't agree with that. Just keep pushing and try to find someone sensible if problems occur.

This page is useful regarding the action of Metformin. https://www.nhs.uk/medicines/metformin/

Over the years we have had a handful of members reporting hypoglycaemia on metformin alone (so while rare it does happen). I can understand why you say 'it doesn't reduce glucose levels', but I'm not sure it's a wholly accurate way of describing what metformin does.

It's not classed as a hypoglycemic medication, so I believe the DVLA to not consider it necessary to change your license to a 3-year one if on metformin alone, but importantly metformin works by reducing glucose output from the liver so the net result *is* a reduction in available glucose all other things being constant.

 

[Drummer]

Exactly - the Metformin interferes with what could be termed the natural systems of increasing blood glucose, so in a situation where it would be a good thing for glucose levels to go up, the Metformin is holding it back.
I suspect that many more people have been caught out by the expectation of lower levels in circumstances where it would not be happening than those who end up actually and unexpectedly low.