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Last time we discussed in general what diabetes is and some of the differences between Type 1 and 2. Today, we will start to delve into medications that are used when treating Type 2 diabetics that don't need insulin but are in need of doing more than just changing their diet.
Today, let's talk about Metformin.
METFORMIN (Glucophage):This is typically the first medication I prescribe when treating Type 2 Diabetics. It is in the drug class Biguanide.
Metformin decreases the amount of sugar released from your liver. As the amount of sugar produced by the liver decreases, your overall blood sugar levels decrease. Metformin is usually the first medication used when treating Type 2 Diabetes. I love this medicine!
Benefits:
- No weight gain and maybe even some weight loss.
- Very low cost. It is on the $4 list at Walmart and has very low generic costs at all pharmacies.
- Lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol and Triglycerides (Bad)
- It is generally very safe with few significant side effects.
- It prevents Hypoglycemia, which is when your blood sugar is too low. If it is combined with other meds there is a risk of low blood sugar but you should manage this risk with your physician. Other conditions people have used Metformin for:
- Polycystic Ovraian Syndrome
- Non Alcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH): Elevated liver function tests from a fatty liver
- Insulin Resistance
- Infertility
Side Effects:
- Diarrhea, which typically resolves over time.
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Abdominal discomfort.
- Lactic Acidosis, which occurs about 1 out of every 10,000 people using metformin. This is limited, however, by not prescribing it to people with kidney, lung or liver disease.
Overall, Metformin has been a great partner with me in fighting diabetes. It is affordable and very effective. If you have Type 2 Diabetes or Pre Diabetes you should talk to your doctor about it.
Most of my patients tolerate it well. For those with initial side effects, most of them go away over time. For those that don't, changing the generic Metformin to a sustained release formulation often manages the side effects well.
My next post will spot light the different forms of insulin. After that, I will go into a relatively new class of oral medications for diabetes pills. After that, I will take a break to give us a diabetes breather and we will resume our discussions in a few months.
Keep coming back as I will likely have a diabetes discussion every couple months!
Thanks!
