My husband is on metaformin and wondering what would be the criteria for coming off medication. He has significantly changed his lifestyle and wanting to get to remission.
Remission
- Thread starter Anits
- Start Date
- Messages
- 3,746
- Type of diabetes
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Metformin's effect is to lower blood glucose by a few points - it does this by interfereing with the liver adding its own created glucose to the blood. I've never used it so have no personal experience, but those on these forums who have seem to get slightly different reductions. This is most noticeable when someone stops metformin: BG will typically rise a little. Your husband, if he's thinking about stopping metformin, should discuss that with his GP or diabetic nurse.
There are a number of different views around on remission - I stick to one that says it's normal BG levels, no medication, no symptoms, for a reasonably long period of time - eg a year. There are other views that say it's two HbA1c results under 48 three months apart, without glucose lowering medication. Obviously one is easier to achieve than the other.
There are a number of different views around on remission - I stick to one that says it's normal BG levels, no medication, no symptoms, for a reasonably long period of time - eg a year. There are other views that say it's two HbA1c results under 48 three months apart, without glucose lowering medication. Obviously one is easier to achieve than the other.
October 1st A1C 72 Started metformin 8th October. AC1 22nd October 48! Seems to be a massive drop. Not due another A1C until January 8th
- Messages
- 2,365
- Treatment type
- Diet only
Hello and welcome @Anits
Just a question- is there a particular reason he is anxious to get off metformin? I completely understand the desire to be drug free but just wondering whether he has any reactions to it or other factors to want to be off it as soon as possible. I was fortunate and was provided the long release metformin and had no issues beside the desire to be drug free.
My personal view is that I wanted to be in the 'normal' range for a while before getting rid of metformin and I then tested rigorously for a long while.
I pretty much agree with @KennyA 's definition of remission and my doctor also agrees that I'm in remission. My warning though is that you need to be vigilant even after remission.
Best of luck to you both
Just a question- is there a particular reason he is anxious to get off metformin? I completely understand the desire to be drug free but just wondering whether he has any reactions to it or other factors to want to be off it as soon as possible. I was fortunate and was provided the long release metformin and had no issues beside the desire to be drug free.
My personal view is that I wanted to be in the 'normal' range for a while before getting rid of metformin and I then tested rigorously for a long while.
I pretty much agree with @KennyA 's definition of remission and my doctor also agrees that I'm in remission. My warning though is that you need to be vigilant even after remission.
Best of luck to you both
