Benefits of using metaformin Type 1?

Dr Bernstein recommends metformin for Type 1 and uses it himself. The reason being to reduce insulin usage as much as possible . I requested it but it was declined. Strength exercise has the same effect on insulin sensitivity. (Bernstein does both). Sorry I don't know how quickly the effects come on and off.

My understanding is that metformin is meant to be taken continuously - takes about 3 weeks to build up to maximum effect and then following doses will maintain the level.

I did not push the issue all the way to the top. The refusal came from a hospital locum registrar on the diabetes team. His view was that T1 use of metformin was not standard. A pretty weak argument but I didn't want to push it. The same guy told me that pramlintide was only approved by NICE for T2 (true, but irritating and nonsensical), and that naltrexone use for diabetics was an off-label use, also true. At this point I kind of gave up trying to get the team to support the solutions I had identified myself, and decided to accept their solution, which was a pump. I'm embracing the pump and I will return to seeking metformin, pramlintide and low dose naltrexone if and when the pump has done the best it can do. In the mean time, I really need to start doing strength exercise to improve my insulin sensitivity. I don't need an off-label prescription for that!

I know how that feels.

I see from people's sigs on here that a lot of T1s are getting Metformin, so maybe I just need to ask again.

Or I can ask my GP. With luck they are so clueless they will just go "Diabetic? Metformin? Fine" and prescribe away...

[obviously this is satire, don't try this at home kids, say no to drugs, video piracy is run by the IRA, etc]

I am T1 and take metformin. Helps with insulin sensitivity.


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@mo1905 I'm T1 and would like to take metformin. Did you have any trouble getting it prescribed?

Spiker said:

@mo1905 I'm T1 and would like to take metformin. Did you have any trouble getting it prescribed?

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No problem, it was actually advised by consultant. On DAFNE another guy was advised too as he was on huge doses of insulin and the metformin would help.


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I to am T1 and have taken Metformin for about 5years and it certainly improved my insulin sensitivity.


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I take metformin too recommended my consultant, but its difficult to come off/go on/increase dose. It generally makes you feel queasy when you first start taking it, and increase the dose, so some people find it better on the slow release one, but for this reason probably not one to go off and go on again.

It influences the same mechanism of encouraging insulin receptors to a cell's surface as exercise. I've read somewhere that it's known as "the exercise pill". It will certainly help control, in my opinion, as it reduces your insulin dose.

Like I said on the Type 1 low carb thread, smaller doses of insulin mean smaller dosing mistakes.