Metformin

[erasmusbee]

I've been type 1 for 51 years, on various long and short-acting insulins. My hba1c has been creeping up and currently stands at 8.7. My endo has suggested adding Metformin to my regime to address possible insulin resistance. Has anyone tried this? What are the pros and cons? Thanks

 

[Antje77]

I've been type 1 for 51 years, on various long and short-acting insulins. My hba1c has been creeping up and currently stands at 8.7. My endo has suggested adding Metformin to my regime to address possible insulin resistance. Has anyone tried this? What are the pros and cons? Thanks

Hi @erasmusbee I've had T1 for close to ten years now, and my insulin sensitivity has varied: Acouple of years ago I used around 150 units of insulin on an average day, at the moment it's down to 50 or 60.

I have tried metformin in addition to my insulin to see what would happen. It reduced my insulin need a very little bit, not enough to make it worth it for me so I stopped again after about 6 months.
I have read from others that is was a big help, so I guess the onlly way to find out is to give it a try.

Are you adjusting your doses (both basal and bolus) according to trends you see in your numbers? With an hba1c of 8.7 your average bg is likely over 11. Do you use a sensor to help adjusting your doses?
My numbers have stayed about the same no matter if I need 150 units ot 50, I simply needed more insulin when I was more insulin resistant.

 

[IanA123]

T1 for 32yrs, been on omnipod for 9months now. In that time hba1c has gone from 61 to 45 apparently a huge win. But they did state that I have a huge amount of insulin resistance and a high cortisol level after a supression test. Been referred to endo for cortisol issues strange as the diabetes clinic is endo? Anyway they have asked me to try metformin, due to emptying an omnipod every 24hrs 200u for 90g carbs daily. I can make it last 2 days by adding basal insulin injections, but they are not too keen on me doing that.
So I will be starting with 500 metformin for 2wks, then 1000 for 2wks then move upto 2000 and see how I get on.
To be honest, when I was injecting Insulatard and Actrapid 7yrs ago I barely managed to use 80u combined a day. Then moved to Tresiba and Apidra, insulin requirements shot up to 200u Tresiba and 300u of Apidra, bg never got below 15 for a month. Was then moved to Humilin S and Humilin I, this was better but still needed many mdi's a day.
Pump had been hit and miss, data they can see and they agree i need further investigation.

 

[Resurgam]

@IanA123 Do try to start Metformin when you can be at home for a couple of days, just in case you are one of those unlucky enough to react badly to it.
Some people can take it and be absolutely trouble free - for others, moving more than ten paces from the bathroom is inadvisable.

 

[helenb1979]

@IanA123 Do try to start Metformin when you can be at home for a couple of days, just in case you are one of those unlucky enough to react badly to it.
Some people can take it and be absolutely trouble free - for others, moving more than ten paces from the bathroom is inadvisable.

Yes I enjoyed that side effect.
Even though I am on only 2 day with other meds it does give me bad wind