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Metformin dosage

D

Dick Joel

Newbie
Messages
1
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Last January when i saw my diabetic nurse, my levels were HBA1c 5.5 and MMOLS 37. I asked her if the dosage of 3 x 850 mg Metformin was correct. She said i can reduce them to 2 x 850mg. I had to start this conversation or nothing would have happened. I wanted to check that nothing harmful was happening so i requested a 6 month blood test. Results came back HBA1C 5.3 and MMOLS 34. My question is how do you know what levels of Metformin you should be on in relation to you levels? As you have to take control of your Diabetes I would like to have the knowledge for when i see my doctor later next week.

Any assistance would be helpful. Regards
 
Hi and welcome to the forum. I don't think its a one size fits all thing. The question I would ask myself is if the metformin has helped to get my levels down to normal what will happen if I reduce or stop it. Might want to discuss that with your doctor.
 
Hi

I took myself off Metformin last year about 4 months after diagnosis. My GP hadn't seemed interested in discussing it at my 3 month check up, so I made the decision myself. The DSN suggested we look at reducing the dose at my annual check up on April and was surprised when I told her I hadn't taken any for 8 months.

However, I would get proper advice from a professional and not follow the advice of this fool.
 
From what I've read in these forums it is only a small improvement to bgs. @Brunneria did have the precise figures. Metformin is used for other medical conditions too so if only to reduce your bgs then see how you fair on a reduced dose and see if that hba1c still suits you.
Advice is to keep your bgs below 7.8mmol/l to reduce the risk of diabetic complications.
Metformin helps with weight control too and women who are pcos sufferers.
I once joked that baldness was the man's equivalent to pcos.
If you find your hair is shedding get back on it? Ha ha
Seriously metformin is supposingly beneficial to cancerous growths and alzheimer's.
I can vouch for it's brilliant performance.
However if it's over prescribed then it is also beneficial to reduce it. I haven't heard if metformin can become resilient to it's benefits working due to long term use. I guess thou if it can then overdosing for your needs wont help.
More importantly too much metformin puts more pressure on the liver and the risk to b12 deficiency.
Also more cost on the nhs.
Ultimately your diabetic mental health may fair better on reduced or less/no meds.
Everyone's needs are different.
Let us know how you get on on reduced dose.
You can always increase it again if you keep your reserves and per gp instructions. :)
 
Hi. Those HBa1C levels are superb and effectively non-diabetic. I suspect you may well not need any metformin if you are following a low-carb diet. They will only be having a small effect on your blood sugar. You may want to suggest to the DN that you reduce the dose further or stop them. To answer your question, GPs and DNs just guess the number of Metformin tablets and increase them if the blood sugar goes up even though it's a law of diminishing returns. There is little scientific about the dosage which isn't true of some of the other diabetes tablets.
 
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