Should I just stop taking Metformin?

[BlueArmy]

I've just realised that all day yesterday, in the fog of returning to the office from home working, I forgot to take my Metformin, all day.

When I look back over my glucose readings from the libra2 I am wearing, my blood glucose levels didn't rise above 8.5 or fall below 4 in that 24 hour period.

At the moment, I am exercising a fair amount doing the million step challenge (today I did 7.5km in an hour, and ran about 20% of it) and I am watching every carb I eat, and what every meal does to my BG.

Is it safe to just stop taking Metformin? Does it have any long term impact if I keep taking it? I know it provides, or is considered to provide other protective benefits to the micro vascular system/kidney etc, but if my BG is under control, or if I am watching it like a hawk and exercising like a man possessed, do I really need it?

I wonder what the cost differential is between metformin each month and the sensor - perhaps using a sensor is economically beneficial to the NHS, if so, why is the first port of call Pharma solutions?

When I last went to see my DN 2 months ago, she said if I kept it up, they would reduce my metformin but keep me on it, even at a low dose for a while - what's the point of that?

 

[Bruce Stephens]

Does it have any long term impact if I keep taking it?

I'm not sure. I don't think so, though some of the life extension people think that lowering insulin is good and take metformin because it can do that.

I'd have thought if you wanted to drop the metformin (because you're doing so much more exercise) that that would be a reasonable choice.

I wonder what the cost differential is between metformin each month and the sensor - perhaps using a sensor is economically beneficial to the NHS, if so, why is the first port of call Pharma solutions?

I'd guess that metformin is much cheaper but I'm not sure how much it costs to the NHS.

 

[adrian1der]

Personally I wouldn't, and indeed didn't, stop any prescription medication without talking to my GP.

 

[Eddy Edson]

Talk to your GP, but FWIW I don't think Met generally does very much once you've gotten your waking BG levels down to normal.

Generally the main effect of Met is to reduce glucose production by the liver ("gluconeogenesis"). With T2D a basic dysfunction is for fat around the liver => reduced liver insulin sensitivity => liver thinks more glucose needed & ramps up gluconeogensis, chugging out glucose overnight. Met improves the liver's insulin sensitivity, reducing the chugging.

If you've lost enough weight to clear the fat from yr liver, so waking BG levels come down to "normal", there may not be much more for the Met to do.

Anyway, there shouldn't be any harm in seeing what happens when you stop the Met. You can always restart.

BTW: There are all sorts of claims for other health benefits of Met - live forever etc etc etc - but the evidence seems pretty weak for most of these, IMO.

 

[Totalwar]

Hey don’t stop taking it does make a differenc.

 

[Pumper_Sue]

As it takes between 4 and 6 weeks before metformin shows any effect, then I doubt your one day of reasonable numbers would be any indication to stopping your meds.
As others have said you need to talk to your GP or nurse regarding any changes or stopping of meds 🙂

 

[BlueArmy]

Talk to your GP, but FWIW I don't think Met generally does very much once you've gotten your waking BG levels down

What is a good waking level, I know there is a whole thread on it?

Mine over the past 3 days is looking like its in the 5mmol level then rises up to about 6 or 6.5 with the dawn effect then drops again until i have breakfast

 

[BlueArmy]

As it takes between 4 and 6 weeks before metformin shows any effect, then I doubt your one day of reasonable numbers would be any indication to stopping your meds.
As others have said you need to talk to your GP or nurse regarding any changes or stopping of meds 🙂

the logic being it takes 4-6 weeks to leave your system? I have been on it for 18 months. I am not going to stop. I just want to have a better conversation with my diabetic nurse. Ultimately I don’t want to be taking medicine for the sake of it but wouldn’t be rash about it

Although, if she doesn’t want to listen and I can’t get an appointment with the GP and I have educated myself sufficiently then I will do what I think is best. I think the only way to beat it is to own it yourself

 

[adrian1der]

Here's my weekly average since diagnosis. BG on vertical axis and weeks post diagnosis along the horizontal - note that it took me six weeks to drop below six

 

[Eddy Edson]

What is a good waking level, I know there is a whole thread on it?

Mine over the past 3 days is looking like its in the 5mmol level then rises up to about 6 or 6.5 with the dawn effect then drops again until i have breakfast

"Normal" fasting level is less than 5.6.

 

[BlueArmy]

thats helpful, thanks adrian1der

 

[BlueArmy]

"Normal" fasting level is less than 5.6.

thanks, will monitor it against baseline of 5.6

 

[BlueArmy]

I'm not sure. I don't think so, though some of the life extension people think that lowering insulin is good and take metformin because it can do that.

I'd have thought if you wanted to drop the metformin (because you're doing so much more exercise) that that would be a reasonable choice.

I'd guess that metformin is much cheaper but I'm not sure how much it costs to the NHS.

Thanks Bruce.....

And Happy Birthday!

 

[Drummer]

I stopped taking Metformin and Atorvastatin after about 5 weeks most of them being totally miserable.
The combination of the side effects took years to subside, and I had been thinking that I ought to be looking for a care home.
I can't tell you if I got any benefits from the medication, I was in such a fog, but as I was no longer diabetic after 80 days of low carb, I wasn't in the least worried.
As you are obviously not experiencing the same side effects I got, your need to stop is less urgent, but as time goes on the way Metformin inhibits glucose release from the liver might hinder your ability to sustain exercise. I have read of someone - who might be more sensitive than others, of course - who found that he could not do a full days work when taking Metformin, as he ran out of energy during the afternoons. He was taking several tablets each day, but going to see family in an emergency he forgot to pack the tablets, and after a few days his need for an after lunch nap just vanished. He said that even if not taking the Metformin shortened his life, at least he would have been able to live during the years he did have.

 

[BlueArmy]

Have managed to secure a A1C test in 2 weeks snd appointment with DN 1 week after. Fingers crossed for first sub 50!