What is metformin and its uses?
Metformin is a medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes. It’s also used to help prevent type 2 diabetes if you’re at high risk of developing it. Type 2 diabetes is a condition where the body does not make enough insulin, or the insulin that it makes does not work properly. Metformin is an oral prescription medicine that will usually start lowering your blood sugar (glucose) levels in the first week of treatment, but it may take 2 to 3 months to see its full effect on measures like long term blood sugar control (A1c levels) and LDL (bad) cholesterol.Some people can stop taking diabetes medication like metformin by putting their type 2 diabetes into remission. This means that blood sugar levels are in the non-diabetes range without needing any diabetes medication for at least three months.Most people who are prescribed metformin take it for multiple years. It’s known to be safe when taken long term and has many benefits beyond helping to manage type 2 diabetes. But there are a few reasons why your provider may have you stop taking metformin: you aren’t able to tolerate the side effects.Add another drug Metformin (Glucophage) is often the first drug you’ll take to control type 2 diabetes. If it stops working, the next step is to add a second oral drug. You have a few oral diabetes medicines to choose from, and they work in different ways.
What are the positive effects of metformin?
Moreover, metformin was shown to have beneficial effects on liver diseases, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, age-related diseases, and renal diseases, thus finally decreasing death risk. Avoid high-sugar foods like soda and candy to help metformin work better. Limit processed foods and refined carbs, like white bread and sugary cereals, to maintain blood sugar control. Consuming alcohol with metformin can lead to low blood sugar and serious health issues.Metformin is a first-choice medication for managing Type 2 diabetes. But it can sometimes lower your vitamin B12 levels. You can increase the amount of vitamin B12 in your diet to help keep your levels up while taking metformin. But it’s best to avoid taking a B12 supplement unless your prescriber recommends it.Metformin lowers your blood sugar levels by improving the way your body handles insulin. It’s usually prescribed for diabetes when diet and exercise alone have not been enough to control your blood sugar levels.The intestine is considered to be a target organ of metformin, and it has long been known that metformin suppresses glucose absorption in the small intestine.
Why do doctors no longer use metformin?
Metformin, however, can cause lactic acidosis in conditions where lactic acid production is high and the disposal of lactic acid is reduced. In conditions such as circulatory failure, sepsis, and anoxia or hypoxia, metformin use may result in lactic acidosis and should be avoided. However, gastrointestinal side effects are common, occurring in up to 75% of those who take metformin (2). These side effects may include diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort, and/or flatulence, with severity ranging from mild to severe.Under certain conditions, too much metformin can cause lactic acidosis. The symptoms of lactic acidosis are severe and quick to appear, and usually occur when other health problems not related to the medicine are present and are very severe, such as a heart attack or kidney failure.Lactic acidosis Metformin has a boxed warning — also called a black box warning — about this risk. A boxed warning is the most severe warning the FDA issues. Lactic acidosis is a rare but serious problem resulting from a buildup of metformin in your body, which causes a pH imbalance.Long-term side effects Taking metformin can cause vitamin B12 deficiency if you take it for a long time. This can make you feel very tired, breathless and faint, so your doctor may check the vitamin B12 level in your blood. If your vitamin B12 levels become too low, vitamin B12 supplements will help.
What organ is affected by metformin?
As the antihyperglycemic effect of metformin is mainly due to the inhibition of hepatic glucose output and the concentration of metformin in the hepatocytes is much higher than in the blood, the liver is therefore presumed to be the primary site of metformin function. Foods to Avoid While Taking Metformin Metformin is a medication used to treat Type 2 diabetes. It helps the body use insulin better and decreases the amount of sugar the liver makes. Some foods with high fat and sugar content can interfere with how well metformin works to lower your blood sugar.Metformin improves the neural glucose resorption and it can affect the nervous system health, and therefore affecting sleep quality.It could be that you are not following dietary guidelines, have stopped exercising, or have gained excessive weight. Or, it could be that you’re not taking the drug as prescribed. Whatever the reason, the very first indication that metformin is not working is when your blood glucose levels are high.The main sign that metformin is working is that your blood sugar levels will be lower. You can determine this by frequently checking your levels using a home test kit. You’ll also find that your A1C levels become stable. A1C refers to the amount of hemoglobin that has glucose attached to it.While uncommon, metformin can also cause blood glucose to drop too low and lactic acidosis. In severe cases, these side effects are medical emergencies. Long-term metformin use isn’t known to cause dementia or kidney damage, or to worsen polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
What is the second name for metformin?
Metformin Brand names: Axpinet, Diagemet, Glucient, Glucophage, Metabet. Find out how metformin treats type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes and polycystic ovary syndrome, and how to take it. Common alternatives to metformin include glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, sodium-glucose transport 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. Less often, thiazolidinediones or sulfonylureas are used as an alternative to metformin.Metformin lowers blood glucose levels by inhibiting gluconeogenesis and increasing insulin sensitivity. Metformin also acts on the intestine, and reduces blood glucose levels and body weight by various mechanisms.Common alternatives to metformin include glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists, sodium-glucose transport 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. Less often, thiazolidinediones or sulfonylureas are used as an alternative to metformin.The most potent options include Berberine (which activates the same AMPK pathway as Metformin), Gymnema Sylvestre (often called the sugar destroyer), Myo-Inositol (highly effective for PCOS), and Ceylon Cinnamon (a glucose disposal agent).Metformin is widely described as poorly tolerated due to gastrointestinal side effects, and providers are advised to use low starting doses and consider extended-release formulations to curb these side effects.
What is the mechanism of action of metformin?
Metformin decreases hepatic glucose production, decreases intestinal absorption of glucose, and improves insulin sensitivity by increasing peripheral glucose uptake and utilization. Two signs that metformin is working are that you’ve seen a reduction in your blood glucose and hemoglobin A1C (your average glucose over the past 2 to 3 months). Nausea and diarrhea are common side effects of metformin, but they usually improve within a few weeks of starting the medication.