How does Metformin work?

[wallycorker]

Can anyone tell me how metformin works?

My rising blood glucose this morning was higher than usual at 6.9 - for some time now it's always been very consistently between 4.5 and 6.0.

I was pondering as to what might have caused this reading. I did happen to have a later than usual evening meal of mince and pasta. That meal wasn't unusual and was quite small and I couldn't really imagine that had been the cause.

However, when I opened my pill box I saw that I had forgotten to take my second dose of metformin yesterday (and my simvastatin). This is a very rare event because I have adopted a system for taking my medications. Generally, because of the excellent level of control that I've been achieving, I've been assuming that the metformin wasn't even necessary. Perhaps that isn't the case.

Could missing out the metformin have been the reason?

 

[cugila]

Hi John.

The Metformin will typically lower your Bg levels by around 1-2 mmol/l dependent on the dosage and timing. So if you missed your usual dose, yes, it could well have been the cause. It will have been in your system and has a life there which if it is missed affects that.
However, there are also just normal daily fluctuations you would need to take into account. Nothing is ever permanent and things like Bg readings will never stay the same each day.

For more information about Metformin there are many many previous posts on here about it's wonders and pitfalls. All have Metformin somewhere in the title. A search on here usually shows there are too many hits to even show anything. If you start looking in Ask the Experts you should find quite a few hits !!

 

[catherinecherub]

Hi wally,

When I took metformin I asked how it worked and this is what I was told by my G.P. whom I trust,

It decreases the amount of glucose made by the liver.
It makes insulin receptors more sensitive and therefore the body responds better to it's own insulin.
Take it with food at the same time every day so that levels remain constant. The side effects are lessened if you take it half way through a meal.
If you take it occasionaly it will not work. It has to be taken regularly.

Hope this helps,

Catherine.

 

[smillingjimmyc]

hi,
I get confused with these meds too! Having been on insulin for the last ten year a new nurse suggested metformin. I started last week on 500mg twice a day along with a reduction in insulin(8 units less) however my numbers have increased in the last few days from 7ish to 10+.
The obvious thing I know is to increase insulin but whats the point of metformin twice daily if no real positive change in numbers or am i missing something?
Incidently the two metformin a day take my daily pill consumption to nine :shock:

 

[cugila]

Jimmy.

What you are missing is that Metformin typically only lowers your Bg levels by around 1-2 mmol/l. So if you were thinking that it would have a drastic effect, think again !
You are on a low dose of Met anyway so you would probably only lower the level by around half to 1 mmol/l. Have you changed your diet as well ?? This with a reduction in the Insulin could have a better effect on your Bg levels.

 

[smillingjimmyc]

thanks cugila,
The reduction in insulin(from 20 units x2 to 16x2) was the nurses opinion however i did(and do) intend to give it a week or two then adjust insulin as necessary.
The nurse did say after six months the idea was to increase the metformin and gradually decrease insulin,I am sure to wean me off insulin all together which is interesting as I was first introduced to insulin because after heart attack i was told it was "best medical practice" for type 2 to be insulin controlled !!
An indication of difference of diabetes related opinions by the professionals.What chance have we got