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At what BS reading one should take Metformin

N

nsh2111

Well-Known Member
Messages
321
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Hello,

My question may not have a straight answer but I thought I will ask anyway.

I have been diagnosed for last two years when my hbac was 51. I was never prescribed any medicine and was asked to control diet.

Question is does taking Metformin helps for long term benefits to stabling BS and one should take small dosage OR stick with diet only.

At what point does it tip the scales where medicine might be useful?

PS: reason for this question is because I read in other threads that people are given metformin at my levels .
 
My first time I was tested my hba1c was 11 I was put on turkey only diet for three months then put on Metformin..
 
My HbA1c on diagnosis was 53 and Metformin was never mentioned. I was given 3 months to lower it with diet and some weight loss. I think that is the usual way of handling matters on initial diagnosis. If on review the HbA1c has worsened, drugs are considered.

Metformin is a very mild drug that does not do a great deal to help lower blood sugars. It helps to a limited extent with morning fasting levels as it reduces the amount of glucose produced by the liver and dumped into the blood stream, and only then if the dose is large enough. It does not help with post meal levels. It is mainly an appetite suppressant.

It is entirely up to you whether you ask for a prescription or not. If you are controlling your blood sugars and improving your HbA1c, then there is no real need for it.
 
I was offered it straight away on diagnosis but my HbA1c was quite a bit higher than yours at 70. My HbA1cs have been in the 30s since Sept and my GP and I are going to look at reducing it in August. I’m quite happy to stay on a small dose as I get no side effects now and it has other health benefits as well as appetite suppression too, even if it only helps a small amount with my diabetes. Here an article on it’s benefits for you to consider:
http://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2001/9/report_metformin/Page-01
I don’t think there are set levels for prescribing it, I think it’s down to the dr and patient to decide.
 
You are right, there is no straight answer and it will vary hugely between different HCP's

I was prescribed Metformin on diagnosis with an HbA1c of 88, and it was never taken off prescription even after dropping my HbA1c to 32 in 3 months, and was only stopped when they noticed I hadn't asked for a repeat prescription for many months.

Weirdly my current GP has decided that I should be prescribed one 500mg a day as a possible preventative measure, even though my HbA1c is still below 30.
 
nsh2111 said:
Hello,

My question may not have a straight answer but I thought I will ask anyway.

I have been diagnosed for last two years when my hbac was 51. I was never prescribed any medicine and was asked to control diet.

Question is does taking Metformin helps for long term benefits to stabling BS and one should take small dosage OR stick with diet only.

At what point does it tip the scales where medicine might be useful?

PS: reason for this question is because I read in other threads that people are given metformin at my levels .
Click to expand...

Good Question, as there are so many different situations, between individuals, and also the medical world, so many different viewings of diagnosing prescribing worldwide, these variations as I view, not good or healthy situation to be in place, I think it all depends time of your diagnosing and ones Doctor as raises concern and doubt questions which are valid and not unwarranted as yours within.

The system should be clearer generally to save this.

My own experience, on a random finger test, which was to be below 200mg/dl which my result was, although it was on the high side, it was well below the 200mg/dl, my Doctor here in Spain, immediately prescsribed and put me on metformin, that did not seem good medical sense to prescribe a drug when a finger test was within and lower than the cut off range, which I declined to take due to this, at the same time,changed my doctor of 30 years accordingly, to a doctor whose approach is I wont medicate you unless that becomes a last resort, we continue with lifestyle change and diet, exercise, as results prove its working wonderfully well, how lucky to have found a doctor with such pragmatic sensible approach, many should take a leaf out of doctors approach as this, of course, it all depends on an individuals circumstances.

It seems different individuals either take or are prescribed depending on their situation or Doctor, you certainly had a good question overall.
 
pollensa said:
Good Question, as there are so many different situations, between individuals, and also the medical world, so many different viewings of diagnosing prescribing worldwide, these variations as I view, not good or healthy situation to be in place, I think it all depends time of your diagnosing and ones Doctor as raises concern and doubt questions which are valid and not unwarranted as yours within.

The system should be clearer generally to save this.

My own experience, on a random finger test, which was to be below 200mg/dl which my result was, although it was on the high side, it was well below the 200mg/dl, my Doctor here in Spain, immediately prescsribed and put me on metformin, that did not seem good medical sense to prescribe a drug when a finger test was within and lower than the cut off range, which I declined to take due to this, at the same time,changed my doctor of 30 years accordingly, to a doctor whose approach is I wont medicate you unless that becomes a last resort, we continue with lifestyle change and diet, exercise, as results prove its working wonderfully well, how lucky to have found a doctor with such pragmatic sensible approach, many should take a leaf out of doctors approach as this, of course, it all depends on an individuals circumstances.

It seems different individuals either take or are prescribed depending on their situation or Doctor, you certainly had a good question overall.
Click to expand...
To be honest, My nurse this time asked if I would like to start a small dose. I refused as I was still below my diagnosis level and I sort of know what caused the high level. It was a month of daily indulgebinin rich sugary foods and alcohol on holiday in January and my hbac was in march. She said most of high reading is from Jan.

It seems that I should persist with diet only for now. Thanks all for comments.
 
I think my GP only prescribes once you've gone past the "prediabetic" levels and advises diet and exercise before that.

I'm kind of wondering what is going to happen at my next HBA1c, as I had been prediabetic for a while (under 48) but got type 2 levels (89 and 76) last year, and he was worried I was type 1 or something strange was going on (I could have told him: many, many packs of biscuits!), He did a GAD test and was trying to figure out the next move. By the time he'd gone through worrying, I'd gone LCHF and had gone down to 48. :)

We discussed LCHF and he vaguely thought I should try to add carbs to see which I should tolerate (the answer: not many!). I'm due my 3-month review soon. I suspect my HBA1c has gone up slightly as I did do his "experimenting" just to see. So am interested to see what his next plan is. Of course, if he adds metformin then I'm not sure I can take it as I'm also deaf and think I have MADD, which means metformin doesn't help. I brought up MADD last time too - and he'd never heard of it.

I really like my GP and he's always open to things. I just feel very slightly ahead of his plans each time I see him, thanks to this forum!
 
britishpub said:
You are right, there is no straight answer and it will vary hugely between different HCP's

I was prescribed Metformin on diagnosis with an HbA1c of 88, and it was never taken off prescription even after dropping my HbA1c to 32 in 3 months, and was only stopped when they noticed I hadn't asked for a repeat prescription for many months.

Weirdly my current GP has decided that I should be prescribed one 500mg a day as a possible preventative measure, even though my HbA1c is still below 30.
Click to expand...
Exactly as you state "weirdly," this is incredible, giving a drug for preventative, by that I mean, something that may or may not not happen? everything these days is suddenly take this just in case....i.e. pre diabetic, that something inbetween normal and diabetic? Pre cholesterol, pre dementia, pre, pre and pre.
well done on your A1C below 30.
 
nsh2111 said:
To be honest, My nurse this time asked if I would like to start a small dose. I refused as I was still below my diagnosis level and I sort of know what caused the high level. It was a month of daily indulgebinin rich sugary foods and alcohol on holiday in January and my hbac was in march. She said most of high reading is from Jan.

It seems that I should persist with diet only for now. Thanks all for comments.
Click to expand...

Look at the wonderful recipes keto low carb www.dietdoctor.com if you are continuing with the sensible diet only, some super meals and foods to try and explore. Totally agree re A1C taken when it is known during the three month period test views candy on the red cells, if one has been ill or on holiday off the normal routine, I once asked my doctor regards this, stating my concern, would the test show higher due to having had antibiotic during the three months, he said probably would, and it was suggested I wait further 2 months, in order, not to include this period of medications that could effect the reading, why have a disappointment, unnecessarily, had I not approached the situation with question and request to hold back the A1C I no doubt would have had a higher reading, simply due to antibiotics for an ear infection that would have caused that result. I waited, and result was excellent the lowest ever 5.5% so there you go.
 
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