Alternative to Metformin

[cate148]

I’m type 1 have been for 7 years. I have humalog but recently my doctors has prescribed me metformin to take along side my injections. I couldn’t get on with metformin so changed it to Tesavel which I’ve had an allergic reaction. Anyone recommend a decent tablet that i can take without weight gain

 

[Oldvatr]

I believe that the reason why doctors prescribe Metformin for T1D is not so much for the diabetes condition, but rather to reduce the side effects of being diabetic, i.e. reduces the risk of heart disaease, CVD and strokes. It is a protection mechanism that has been associated with a reduction in mortality rates compared to no metformin therapies.

In this respect there are other strategies that can be effective, but I am not a medic so cannot advise.

 

[EllieM]

I’m type 1 have been for 7 years. I have humalog but recently my doctors has prescribed me metformin to take along side my injections. I couldn’t get on with metformin so changed it to Tesavel which I’ve had an allergic reaction. Anyone recommend a decent tablet that i can take without weight gain

Did you try the slow release version of metformin? Doctors tend to prescribe conventional metformin first (it's cheaper) but many people who can't tolerate it can cope with the slow release version.

My understanding is that aside from possible cardiac benefits (I was a member of a double blind trial looking at this but still don't know whether I was taking a placebo) it can help with weight gain and insulin resistance (if you're a T1 prone to T2).

Can't help with your actual question unfortunately, but a diabetic specialist/clinic really ought to be able to help you. Good luck.

 

[cate148]

Did you try the slow release version of metformin? Doctors tend to prescribe conventional metformin first (it's cheaper) but many people who can't tolerate it can cope with the slow release version.

My understanding is that aside from possible cardiac benefits (I was a member of a double blind trial looking at this but still don't know whether I was taking a placebo) it can help with weight gain and insulin resistance (if you're a T1 prone to T2).

Can't help with your actual question unfortunately, but a diabetic specialist/clinic really ought to be able to help you. Good luck.

Thanks I’m out in Spain and they are very reluctant to send me to a specialist it’s crazy so might have to end up paying privately to see one.

 

[bulkbiker]

I’m type 1 have been for 7 years. I have humalog but recently my doctors has prescribed me metformin to take along side my injections. I couldn’t get on with metformin so changed it to Tesavel which I’ve had an allergic reaction. Anyone recommend a decent tablet that i can take without weight gain

Did the doctors tell you why they prescribed you metformin.. that piece of info could maybe be helpful?

 

[Daibell]

Many of us are on both Metformin and insulin as HCPs tend to prescribe it for it's other protective properties and some think, wrongly, that it has a great effect in reducing BS. If you put on weight when on insulin then you need to reduce the carbs as they are the main cause of weight gain. Metformin won't help with that other than by a miniscule amount.

 

[cate148]

Did the doctors tell you why they prescribed you metformin.. that piece of info could maybe be helpful?

She wants to get my overall readings down and I’ve put a stone on over a few months despite going to the gym 4 times a week

 

[EllieM]

She wants to get my overall readings down and I’ve put a stone on over a few months despite going to the gym 4 times a week

A lot of people reckon that the way to lose weight is to reduce insulin, and generally you can't do that without reducing carbs....
I'm guessing that you've had to increase the carbs to cope with hypos caused by the exercise? (Note I am NOT suggesting reducing the exercise, as that can only help, but you may need to carefully review your insulin doses and sensitivity, as exercise makes you more insulin sensitive.)
What's your basal insulin? Lantus?

 

[DavidGrahamJones]

I couldn’t get on with metformin so changed it to Tesavel which I’ve had an allergic reaction. Anyone recommend a decent tablet that i can take without weight gain

These two drugs act in different ways.

Metformin reduces the amount of sugar your liver releases into your blood. It also makes your body respond better to insulin.

The active substance in Tesavel, sitagliptin (Januvia), is a dipeptidyl-peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor. It blocks the breakdown of 'incretin' hormones in the body. Sitagliptin also reduces the amount of glucose made by the liver, by increasing insulin levels and decreasing the levels of the hormone glucagon.

So it's not just a case of swapping one pill for another.

 

[Oldvatr]

I was surprised to learn through my research that Gliclazide also provides some CVE friendly support similar to Metformin. This may be due to its benefits which are mainly for T2DM, and is not yet prescribable for T1D or other insulin dependants.

By the same token I am taking Gymnema Sylvestre which is a herbal supplement that also is claimed to have CVE protection. Again it is better suited for T2DM, and is also not recognised by the medical profession, but has an extensive track record on the Asian Continent. As with all herbal remedies, Caveat Emptor since quality control is not always to the fore, and some suppliers are better thn others. There are no scienctific studies covering its use so the evidence is anecdotal.

There are other supplemt type pills on the market that also make these claims, but with weaker anecdotal support for those claims. I do not use them so cannot comment further.

I think that the problem for T1D is that these 'alternatives' are basically T2D meds, and operate on the pancreas so like all claims for 'protection;' then there is no upfront proof that they work. It requires long term studies to be carried out and generally requires ambulance following to make the connections to CVE. It also requires larger scale data collection than most meds so is not often covered. It helps that in the UK now, new drugs entering the market only get their licences when they have provided evidence of safety for heart conditions, something that came into the selection process following the Avandia / Actos scandal.

 

[millenium]

Berberine extract and milk thistle extract also has research that shows they have similar effect to metformin. This is just for interest sake and not a medical advice.

 

[DCUKMod]

@cate148 - Have you had a decent broad spectru, blood panel done of late? As a T1, your thyroid should be being checked regularly, as ithyroid issues can be autoimmune. Weight gain is one of a huge number of symptoms of hypothyroidism, but it also related to a gazillion other issues.