Metformin – what is there to know?
The most striking is the smell of dead fish. How could anything that smells so bad be so good? Get past the smell, and the rest of the story about Metformin is pretty good.
Below, from Damndiabetes.ca, we discuss the pros and cons of Metformin, delivering on our principles of E-A-T: Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trust.
First Line of Defense
For Type 2 diabetes treatment or pre-diabetes, Metformin is usually the first line of defence. Safe and efficient, most clinical guidelines support the use of Metformin as it provides substantial benefits and lowers blood sugar.
Discuss with your Healthcare Provider
The only two people who can decide if Metformin suits you are yourself and your doctor. To take or not to take Metformin is one of the first decisions that will be on your plate.
Metformin has a long history of safe workings with diabetes, first introduced in the USA in 1995. Although considered safe, there are some potential health risks to be aware of and discussed with your healthcare provider.
The Risks?
The use of Metformin may be linked to Vitamin B12 deficiency. Vitamin B12 is essential for several reasons, and you may want to investigate with a blood test if your Vitamin B12 level is affected. This can potentially be offset with supplements or Vitamin B12 shots.
Metformin can cause a hormonal condition that affects women of childbearing age. Symptoms include irregular menstrual periods, an excess of androgen and cysts on the ovaries. The ovaries may also fail to release eggs, so becoming pregnant may be difficult, and other potential side effects such as obesity, excessive body hair growth, and insulin resistance can result.
If you are scheduled to have an MRI or other investigations using a contrast, discuss with your healthcare provider when you need to stop using Metformin.
The Potential Rewards?
The first and obvious is the positive impact on controlling glucose levels. Taken once or twice per day as prescribed by your doctor, Metformin provides a positive effect on lowering blood glucose levels.
Metformin may prevent certain types of cancers. However promising, clinical trials are not yet complete.
One of the significant complications of Type 2 diabetes is the onset of heart disease. Metformin has been shown to reduce the risk by 30% to 40% compared to other drugs.
Conclusion The risks and potential rewards from the use of Metformin is a critical discussion to have with your doctor. It is your decision to determine if the pros outweigh the cons. There was no question about using Metformin as part of my diabetes treatment, and I have not experienced any side effects. But just because it works for me does not necessarily mean it is right for you. That is your and your doctor’s decision.
If we can help you on your path to a better quality of life that may include Metformin or other diabetes treatments, call Wayne at Damndiabetes.ca today. We would love to help you where we strive to consistently deliver on our principles of E-A-T: Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trust.
Best wishes …
Wayne Drury was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes more than one year. He quickly discovered there was scant diabetes information providing a roadmap to a better quality of life living with diabetes.
With his passion for learning, helping, and providing Expertise, Authoritativeness and Trust (E-A-T) to the diabetes community, Damndiabetes began. A boutique firm in Vancouver, they live and breathe the consequences of treating diabetes daily. If you wish help with your diabetes management, are frustrated and have nowhere to turn, call on Damndiabetes and experience their EAT today. We are always happy to help.
Passion for diabetes knowledge is our centrepiece; EAT is what we deliver.
Disclaimer of Medical Advice: Statements and opinions expressed on this Website do not constitute medical advice or recommendations of any kind. You should not rely on any information contained in such posts or comments to replace consultations with your qualified healthcare professionals to
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