Metformin to treat LADA?

[Daibell]

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@Daibell , my brother is LADA/T1 and takes Metformin to increase insulin sensitivity.

I didn't mention in my earlier post that I am on Metformin with my insulin as my previous DN suggested I should take it anyway because of it's other protective properties. I did stop it for while to check the effect and the lack of it increased my typical BS reading by 1 mmol - not earth-shattering. I still claim that Metformin typically won't have that much effect on BS for anyone with diabetes but is a low-cost drug and does have various 'protective properties including lowering insulin resistance a bit.

 

[Teuchterabroad]

I was originally diagnosed T2 and on metformin (Stagid) with low-carb diet. After 2years of that, I was diagnosed LADA and now registered as T1. I've maintained max dose of Stagid (2000mg/day) ever since and it's going fine as combined with between 8-10Units of Tresiba (changed from Basaglar as is was too reactive) once I went back onto insulin. Since the T1 diagnosis my diet is much more normal.. I can eat pizza and pasta occassionally without too much trouble, and A1C1 is 6.6% (49mmol/mol)... basically works for me, although I suspect I'll eventually be increasing insulin and phasing down a bit on the metformin... by the way, I rarely take 'fast' insulin.

 

[NoopNoop]

I was originally diagnosed T2 and on metformin (Stagid) with low-carb diet. After 2years of that, I was diagnosed LADA and now registered as T1. I've maintained max dose of Stagid (2000mg/day) ever since and it's going fine as combined with between 8-10Units of Tresiba (changed from Basaglar as is was too reactive) once I went back onto insulin. Since the T1 diagnosis my diet is much more normal.. I can eat pizza and pasta occassionally without too much trouble, and A1C1 is 6.6% (49mmol/mol)... basically works for me, although I suspect I'll eventually be increasing insulin and phasing down a bit on the metformin... by the way, I rarely take 'fast' insulin.

That's really interesting! So you take only basal. Does that mean you have to eat a similar amount of carbs per day to match the insulin you use? What's your BG variability like on days you eat high carb Vs low carb?

 

[Teuchterabroad]

To be honest I don't really carb-count daily. I just eat what I feel like but within limits, and try to eat some carbs to prevent lows but I'm still trying to work out what makes sense (and it doesn't always). True that if I don't eat enough carbs I'll need a snack or two. I was travelling a few weeks ago and I find that is usually harder to control the spikes as meal choices/times/qualityty/temptations are different and I was spiking above 250, sometimes even 300, with only about 75% in range and having to take bolus. Now that I'm home and back 'in control' my 7day average is 117mg/dl, 95% in range (70-180) and 5% 180-240, 0% above 240. During this time I also had a full pizza (with a pint of shandy which is a very rare as in maybe 3 a year treat) which just gave a quick spike to 200 and sharply fell back in range... a few weeks ago that would have been a long slow upper range curve. I don't really understand whats going on there - when beta cells are renewed does this happen all at one, or is a continuous process?.. perhaps one for my DN.

 

[Blanchoid]

If you are LADA insulin should remain available as you will need it at some point so keep an eye on things

I don’t take metformin as I can’t tolerate it, but I do know t1 and lada that do and it helps with their general control..

But in lada you insulin production is failing albeit slowly, so metformin may help short term but longer term insulin will be required

A few month of higher bg will be ok not going to do massive harm, but you’ll have to go that way to get insulin reissued unless you team listen to common sense

I totally agree!! I am T1 and LADA, I could not get on with Metformin and told the doctor flatly that I was not going to take it anymore because of the side effects! Gas and stomach cramps etc. It was horrible and the gas and cramps all but disappeared!

My local surgery has too much power, they remove things from my prescription that I haven't requested after three months, there are some things like the refillable pens that last two years! So they should stay on the prescription!

I am now arguing about Ketone strips for Blood Glucose meter!! Not sure whether they will supply them, but they will get a rude shock when I contact my DNS and they give them a kick!!

You can ask for help outside you DSN or doctor

Hope you get some success!!