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Can I slowly stop Metformin after improving my insulin resistance?

R

Roxane92

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Hello,
I am 33 years old, 163 cm tall, and my weight has decreased from 72 kg to 58 kg over the past 1.5 years, so my BMI is now normal.


About 1.5 years ago, I was diagnosed with insulin resistance. My OGTT results at that time were as follows:


OGTT (1.5 years ago):


  • Glucose 0 min: 5.3 mmol/L
  • Glucose 60 min: 11.7 mmol/L
  • Glucose 120 min: 7.8 mmol/L
  • Insulin 0 min: 14.2 uIU/mL
  • Insulin 60 min: 294.2 uIU/mL
  • Insulin 120 min: 249.3 uIU/mL

I was prescribed Glucophage 750 XR (Metformin) and I changed my diet and exercise routine significantly.


A few days ago, I repeated the OGTT test, and my current results are:


OGTT (recent):


  • Glucose 0 min: 4.7 mmol/L
  • Glucose 60 min: 7.7 mmol/L
  • Glucose 120 min: 4.1 mmol/L
  • Insulin 0 min: 9.1 uIU/mL
  • Insulin 60 min: 126 uIU/mL
  • Insulin 120 min: 58.8 uIU/mL

My question is:
Considering my weight loss, normal BMI, and improved blood results, is it reasonable to gradually reduce or eventually discontinue Metformin (with regular monitoring), or would it be better to continue on a lower maintenance dose (e.g., 500 mg XR) for additional prevention?


Thank you very much for your advice!
 
Roxane92 said:
My question is:
Considering my weight loss, normal BMI, and improved blood results, is it reasonable to gradually reduce or eventually discontinue Metformin (with regular monitoring), or would it be better to continue on a lower maintenance dose (e.g., 500 mg XR) for additional prevention?
Click to expand...
Hi @Roxane92 & welcome to the forum, :)

Unfortunately it’s against forum rules to give medical advice or advise you what to do regarding your medication, the best thing to do is to speak to your GP or HCP with your questions, they know your medical history etc and are the best to advise you
 
Roxane92 said:
Hello,
I am 33 years old, 163 cm tall, and my weight has decreased from 72 kg to 58 kg over the past 1.5 years, so my BMI is now normal.


About 1.5 years ago, I was diagnosed with insulin resistance. My OGTT results at that time were as follows:


OGTT (1.5 years ago):


  • Glucose 0 min: 5.3 mmol/L
  • Glucose 60 min: 11.7 mmol/L
  • Glucose 120 min: 7.8 mmol/L
  • Insulin 0 min: 14.2 uIU/mL
  • Insulin 60 min: 294.2 uIU/mL
  • Insulin 120 min: 249.3 uIU/mL

I was prescribed Glucophage 750 XR (Metformin) and I changed my diet and exercise routine significantly.


A few days ago, I repeated the OGTT test, and my current results are:


OGTT (recent):


  • Glucose 0 min: 4.7 mmol/L
  • Glucose 60 min: 7.7 mmol/L
  • Glucose 120 min: 4.1 mmol/L
  • Insulin 0 min: 9.1 uIU/mL
  • Insulin 60 min: 126 uIU/mL
  • Insulin 120 min: 58.8 uIU/mL

My question is:
Considering my weight loss, normal BMI, and improved blood results, is it reasonable to gradually reduce or eventually discontinue Metformin (with regular monitoring), or would it be better to continue on a lower maintenance dose (e.g., 500 mg XR) for additional prevention?


Thank you very much for your advice!
Click to expand...
Hi and welcome to the forums.

I have no personal experience of metformin myself. What metformin does is to affect the ability of your liver to create glucose - it has no impact on glucose in food or as digested from carbohydrate. Your liver making glucose is a perfectly natural thing, and not caused by diabetes or insulin resistance.

The question you would need to discuss with your medical advisor is whether, in your circumstances, the metformin is still necessary. Nobody on here can or should attempt to replace that discussion or advice, or tell you what you "should " do. There are plenty of people on the forum who have brought BG into normal levels and stopped metformin, but their personal circumstances are very unlikely to be a match for yours.

You don't appear to be testing your blood in any structured pattern with a glucometer - is that correct? Is the only information you have about your blood glucose levels derived from the OGTT - for example, do you have a recent HbA1c result? In the UK diabetes is usually diagnosed and evaluated via HbA1c, and OGTTs are relatively uncommon. I've never had one, and don't personally know anyone who has (there are of course people on the forum who have).

Neither of your OGTT results as reported are at the level where T2 diabetes would be diagnosed. Bilous and Donnelly (Handbook of Diabetes) state that a T2 diagnosis can be made if there's a plasma glucose level equal to or greater than 11.1mmol/l two hours/120 minutes after the 75g of glucose is taken in the OGTT.
 
I am trying not to advise but this is my experience with Metformin
I started just on Metformin this year in Feb after building up over a month to 2000mg. No problems then sudden sever explosive (need I go on) it occurred every week until I thought enough. I phoned the DN eventually getting a call back you not taking it for a day or to wont make any difference, eventually I went to see her saying I would rather go on insulin that take Metformin any more. Ok agreed to try 2 a day and the insulin (the insulin was going to happen any way) still problems, latest is 1 a day and 2 insulins
Ask your DN or Doctor only they can say for sure
 
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