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Berberine - has anyone used this instead of Metformin in Type 2 diabetes?

R

Ruthjo

Member
Hi, I am fairly new to Metformin, and have suffered many side effects . Has anyone used Berberine as an alternative?
 
I too suffered badly with Metformin, thankfully was only on it a short while.
I did then try some Berberine from British Supplements, all was well for 24 hours then all hell broke loose!
Metformin was tame in comparison, no idea if it will help you. The only way I guess is to try.
Maybe a small packet to start.

Now I’m diet controlled, no meds and very thankful.
 
Welcome @Ruthjo
All types of medication come with their own side effects and it seems to be a bit of a lottery if you are affected or not.
Many of us have managed to reduce or even avoid medication altogether by not eating the the things that cause our high blood sugar.
Have a look at the link for the nutritional thingy at the end of this post. It could help you to avoid the dreaded Metformin.
 
Funny, I still have that on my kitchen cupboard door and still to this day take reference from it, only yesterday in fact
 
I tried Berberine a couple of months ago and had to stop taking it as had really bad tummy ache. I am on SR Metformin and don’t have any side effects although I had a week of tummy ache at first but then it all settled down.
 
Evening @Ruthjo and welcome to the forum.

I'm a metformin user. What dose was prescribed and how long have you taken it?

Please bear in mind that as a food supplement, berberine has not undergone the same scientific scrutiny as medication like metformin. Just saying.
 
Thank you, Living Lightly, I really appreciate your reply. I have been taking Metformin for 34 days, and I have promised to take 500mg x2 daily. I have had extreme side effects, particularly diarrhoea, muscle pain, and fatigue. I thought they were beginning to settle, but unfortunately that was a brief respite to the storm that followed - I will leave that to your imagination . It is hindering my social life. My husband and I don’t go out a lot - we are in our 70’s - but I have to know there is a toilet wherever I go, and on occasions I don’t get there on time. Luckily, no-one is aware yet!

My husband was a pharmacist, and I retired at 65 as a nursing home inspector, (nursing background) so we have a little knowledge on the subject, and are fully aware of the fact that, as you rightly say, it lacks the vigorous scrutiny of medical drug testing. I just wondered if anyone had tried it successfully or unsuccessfully. I know it is less absorbed than Metformin, but some of the studies have shown very favourable results.
 
Thank you so much for your reply, by ‘all hell’, I am assuming diarrhoea? That is my main problem with Metformin!
 
MissMuffett said:
I tried Berberine a couple of months ago and had to stop taking it as had really bad tummy ache. I am on SR Metformin and don’t have any side effects although I had a week of tummy ache at first but then it all settled down.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your reply, how long did you take the Berberine, and have you had any side effects such as extreme diarrhoea with the SR Metformin?
 
Ruthjo said:
Thank you so much for your reply, by ‘all hell’, I am assuming diarrhoea? That is my main problem with Metformin!
Click to expand...

Yes, preceded by chronic stomach pain.
Much like Metformin I’d be loathe to leave the safety of the house.

It’s been 9 months since I stopped the Metformin, I was worried initially that I’d struggle without it, so hence the purchase of Berberine.
There was a slight rise in my morning readings, but that soon settled down.
I found that what I eat has a far greater effect on my control than meds/ supplemements.
Hope that helps.
 
Thank you, it does help. I am not keen on taking medication, especially when it affects me in this way!
 
I was thinking of taking Berberine herbal tea, so this would be interesting to know the results you have. I am a herbal tea junky and have a mountain of herbs in my cupboard that generally fall out and I pick that one for the day! I am currently trying out Feverfew for my headaches and Eyebright for my eyes/sinuses.
 
I tolerated Metformin quite well @4×500mg per day.
I did try Berberine for a while, only 2 capsules a day with no detrimental effects, and it may marginally have lowered my GL, but it was marginal and as metformin is free on NHS I didn't think it was worth taking, especially as it could contain anything being unregulated.
The very best way I've found for lowering GL is a CGM, it allows you to see exactly what foods are sending your GL to the moon.
It's very motivational, and it almost turns you GL into an addictive game.
It also stops you overdosing with insulin.
I now consider diabetes as more of an addiction to sugars and carbs, than a irreversible and progressive chronic medical condition.
In four weeks I've gone from 70 long term and 15 short term per meal, plus 4×500 mg metformin, and an A1C of around 80, to no long term insulin, occasional 4 short term if GL is approaching9.5, 2x500mg of Metformin, and heading towards remission level AIC.
It took 2 weeks to stabilise the wild fluctuations in GL and now for 4 days I have stayed in the green mostly without insulin and have lost 6KG.
This is progress, as less insulin means less weight.
I was told by a diabetic specialist two and a half years ago, that a serious infection resulting in a week in ITUand a month in hospital had "destroyed my pancreas and it wasn't producing any insulin any more. So she upped my insulin.
 
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