mpprh said:
My regular Dr told me that continuing to take a minimal level of Metformin would increase my life expectancy, so I was sceptical.
I have had this said about statins and ace inhibitors as well. Just how have these stats been compiled?
Diet and exercise have been shown to be more effective that Metformin so how can the GP's statements be true?
1. Possibly the stats are skewed because they contain data from people who are dieting and exercising and taking metformin, although they don't need to. So the conclusion, Metformin is the cause, is not clear.
2. Stats may be skewed because people not taking metformin claim they are dieting and exercising but they stopped doing it altogether or at a lower rate of intensity than before. What amount of weight have they lost and have they put some back on over many years? Do they continue to exercise and how much? Do they still count carbs, what type of carbs and how many?
For the GP's statement to be true, there would need to be a long term study on those taking metformin only and those controlling their diabetes by diet and exercise alone. I don't think such 20, 30 and 40 year studies exist and I don't even think there are clear mortality rates published. It's one of those things easily claimed but harder to support with data.