How will metformin help me?

[daisyduck]

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes back in February. They also said I have something called Metabolic Syndrome.
At my last hospital appointment in April the specialist recommended to my doctor that I take metformin. At the time I asked to see what I could do with diet alone.
I've stuck faithfully to a low carb diet and have lost nearly 3 stones. This has also reduced my cholesterol from 8.2 to 5.8 and returned my liver enzyme levels to normal after being at least 3 times what they should be for years.
At the moment I use my husbands spare testing kit and am rarely over 7.5 . That is usually first thing in the morning or if I am too busy to eat or if I overexercise. 2 hours after eating readings are steady in the mid 5's
I'm due for another appointment in a couple of weeks and would like to understand how metformin works and how it will help me.
Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[Tim55]

Hi Daisy

IIRC there are 2 mechanisms for getting glucose into your bloodstream. The first is by metabolising your food, which you can control by diet.

The second is your liver can decide to dump glucose into your bloodstream if it "thinks" you need a shot, typically early in the morning to get you fired up for the day.

This so- called dawn phenomenon is probably why your morning readings are the highest of the day.

I believe Metformin inhibits this release, thereby allowing you to get the full benefit from your dietary management.

I've been on it since diagnosis last July 92014). Started on 1 per day and increased over a period of weeks to 4.

I graph my results and I felt I could see a step reduction each time the dosage was increased, so I believe it helped me.

Having said that, some 15 months later I feel I have good control and have recently reduced it back to 3, and if things continue to go well I will try for 2.

HTH

Tim

 

[daisyduck]

Thanks Tim55.

That makes sense with the overexercise and too busy to eat as well.

Is this "liver dump" a bad thing then ? It sounds like it's trying to be helpful when it thinks my body needs energy ??

I've read on here of people having some nasty problems with metformin so that is why I am rather wary .

I'll probably go along with it if the doctor says so and see how it works for me... as you say I can stop or reduce if needed .

Thanks

Sue