how much does metformin actually help ?

[Bluetit1802]

I realise we all react differently to medications but I definitely noticed an reduction in appetite after going onto metformin. (I have never been overweight but now I struggle to maintain my normal weight).
In February my HbA1c was 38 mmol/mol. I then reduced metformin from 2x500 to 1x500 daily. HbA1c in August was 41 mmol/mol (no change in diet/exercise). This equates to an increase of 0.3% in old money.
So for me it would seem that the 2x500 metformin reduced my BG levels by 0.6% or slightly less than 7 mmol/mol.
It does make a measurable difference in your BG levels so keep taking the tablets!
By the way, since dropping to 1 metformin a day I have noticed a (slight) increase in appetite.

I don't understand the logic in your calculations. Your HbA1c increased by 3mmol/mol which equates to an average increase of just 0.4mmol/l as per the units on our meters according to the converter.

 

[Freema]

I don't understand the logic in your calculations. Your HbA1c increased by 3mmol/mol which equates to an average increase of just 0.4mmol/l as per the units on our meters according to the converter.

maybe because we are talking of what reduction in percentage metformin causes in different persons and in different doses... but couldn´t find any graph any where on the web that showed that... there must be some material showing it somewhere... how otherwise could they argue to give it to everyone almost type 2 if not there is available statistic material of the rate of reduction of HbA1c

 

[Jay-Marc]

The clinical trials of any anti-ageing properties of Metformin, in possibly delaying such things as cancers, dementia, Parkinson’s, and cardiac dysfunction has moved on from mice to humans this year. Only a pilot study though and it will be a while before any real conclusions can be taken.

 

[Bangkokian]

A lot have mentioned that metformin acts as an appetite suppressant. It does not appear to do that for me. I am constantly hungry with it 1000mg in the morning and again in the evening. Does anyone else feel hungry with it?

 

[bruciebonus]

I had metformin for about 4 or 5 months at the beginning but went on a diet lost 20kilos doc said glucose very low stop taking it. That was over 3 years ago. I have taken nothing since. The French medical investigators are looking into a link between metformin and aortic stenosis,

 

[steviedib]

a lot of people in here are not using metformin and control their blood glucose by diet and excercise alone... wow

I was put on metformin right from the start but didn´t actually know anything about anything about diabetes type 2 except from that it had something to do with sugar which diabetics could not eat ....

now I think I have managed to get my number in control into the non-diabetic area... but now wonder is metformin doing its job , and how much does metformin in fact help lowering peoples blood glucose...

do any of you know more of how much in general metformin does help lowering blood glucose ?
I just read this study : https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9428832
http://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/35/2/446

but as I read it it seems metformin only lowers blood glucose like something in between 0.6% and 2.0% and in my eyes that is yes ridiculously little... like if one had a raise of blood glucose of 100mmol it would only lower the number by 2.0% and that would leave the person with a number of at least 98mmol then...

did I totally misunderstand the results here ... hope so but I am not that clever in reading Scientific texts...
what do you know of this ?

Ive been trialling one of the slow release tablets ( 500mg)at a rate of two per day for the past 7 weeks and so far its made not a jot of difference to my readings, in fact flatulence seems to be the only thing its done to me.

 

[Freema]

Ive been trialling one of the slow release tablets ( 500mg)at a rate of two per day for the past 7 weeks and so far its made not a jot of difference to my readings, in fact flatulence seems to be the only thing its done to me.

okay as I have read it takes some weeks untill we can get the full advantages from metformin

 

[Freema]

I had metformin for about 4 or 5 months at the beginning but went on a diet lost 20kilos doc said glucose very low stop taking it. That was over 3 years ago. I have taken nothing since. The French medical investigators are looking into a link between metformin and aortic stenosis,

well that is a serious sideeffect... that one could die from..

 

[JohnEGreen]

It suppresses the appetite in some people not in all

But if it does so only for some it still does suppress appetite so one thing it does is suppress appetite even if not for all.

 

[gordonowen]

I was diagnosed Type 2 belatedly despite the signs and took a year with me finally insisting that I have a blood test – needless to say I have changed GP. By Blood glucose level was found to be high (33.4). My blood pin test now shows between 6.5 – 9.3. I have been on Metformin - 500mg x 2 twice daily. And Gliclazide BOMG - 80mg 1 x Breakfast daily.


Metformin seems to have reduced problems of the signs and symptoms and made managing better but diet still not quite right and it would be good if there was low call diet groups around to meet and discuss what works, (or does not work).


It is challenging and even at events and meetings I attend, great breakfast and lunches, (even diners) at nice venues but even with deserts in particular there seems to be a lack of understand of the risks. Cakes and deserts look fantastic and so nice and tempting – even creative, but all high sugar level and few offer alternatives such a fruit.


My online shopping bill is now higher than in the past despite no longer buying sugary items, suspects such as sugar, chocolate biscuits, marmalade, etc but when I sue key words for low cal and low carb, items show but all more expensive. I still chose but overall there are no incentives by supermarkets etc to encourage customers to think low carb/non--sugar produce and this needs to change.

 

[bruciebonus]

well that is a serious sideeffect... that one could die from..

I was 49 when I started metformin, I eventually got to see a heart specialist after I had stopped taking it, he said I had the start of aortic stenosis (hence the recherche) he said it was very unusual to see this in someone of my age, about 15years early, but I would need a new valve in my sixties, but having seen him last month after 3 years without metformin he says it's no worse than it was, coincidence? Maybe who knows.

 

[bruciebonus]

I was 49 when I started metformin, I eventually got to see a heart specialist after I had stopped taking it, he said I had the start of aortic stenosis (hence the recherche) he said it was very unusual to see this in someone of my age, about 15years early, but I would need a new valve in my sixties, but having seen him last month after 3 years without metformin he says it's no worse than it was, coincidence? Maybe who knows.

Just google metformin "aortic stenosis"

 

[drsugah]

no connection between metformin and stenosis. It's a coincidence..MTF is prescribed in millions for more than 50yrs? If it had any significant association with aortic stenosis it wudve been apparent by now. Rest assured...

 

[gillianwrdl]

I will stick to Metformin for several reasons. Apparently it causes the cells to be more receptive to glucose, and turns it to energy rather than fats. Less sugar in the system is beneficial whichever way you look at it. Being an inflammatory agent it feeds cancers, damages arteries and other diseases caused by excessive sugar., and for that alone I will stick to it. As a cancer survivor of 10 years, I was delighted to learn that Metformin has a 50% chance of keeping recurring cancer at bay.
This is fantastic news, and my sister who had bowel cancer which was operated on, has not had chemo or radiation, but has been given Metformin and vitamin infusions by a very with-it doctor. The cancer has not returned, and it is some years now that she has been free of it. Thanks Metformin.

 

[CherryAA]

I was diagnosed Type 2 belatedly despite the signs and took a year with me finally insisting that I have a blood test – needless to say I have changed GP. By Blood glucose level was found to be high (33.4). My blood pin test now shows between 6.5 – 9.3. I have been on Metformin - 500mg x 2 twice daily. And Gliclazide BOMG - 80mg 1 x Breakfast daily.


Metformin seems to have reduced problems of the signs and symptoms and made managing better but diet still not quite right and it would be good if there was low call diet groups around to meet and discuss what works, (or does not work).


It is challenging and even at events and meetings I attend, great breakfast and lunches, (even diners) at nice venues but even with deserts in particular there seems to be a lack of understand of the risks. Cakes and deserts look fantastic and so nice and tempting – even creative, but all high sugar level and few offer alternatives such a fruit.


My online shopping bill is now higher than in the past despite no longer buying sugary items, suspects such as sugar, chocolate biscuits, marmalade, etc but when I sue key words for low cal and low carb, items show but all more expensive. I still chose but overall there are no incentives by supermarkets etc to encourage customers to think low carb/non--sugar produce and this needs to change.

If you want a healthy low carb diet which is also cheap - go for real foods only and buy the cheapest cuts of meat around, preferably complete with the fat and bones, and the offals. Make soups and stews with the bones.

I managed to feed 14 people for 2 weeks 2 meals a day with £ 500 recently using that method and I only ever buy the cheapest cuts of meat because they taste better anyway! I would not buy anything that was a factory produced item, god knows what rubbish manufacturers will find to put in low carb foods to replicate the sugars it wants us all addicted to.