What does Metformin actually do??

Floppyknickers said:

Hello all

I was diagnosed in June (type 2)
Straight away I was put on to 1000mg Metformin which was them increased to 2000mg in August.

After Chatting with my GP I'm confused.
First off he said just eat a normal diet, secondly said there was no reason for me to be testing my levels and thirdly that the Metformin wouldn't actually lower my levels but was more a protection for my kidneys etc.
Is this right??
my bloods are all over the place as I do test.
They never seem to go below 7.6 and are often around 13-15.
Just feeling fed up and confuddled

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In this place people will tell you your doctor is wrong.
They will try and convince you that everything you thought you knew about a healthy diet is also wrong.
NICE are wrong.
The NHS is wrong and they know best.
Listen to them.

Yes I've read an article to say metformin can protect healthy kidneys. It also helps reduce insulin resistance and can lower BG's very slightly. It can act as an appetite suppressant too.

I disagree with your doctor about diet and testing. You do need to change your diet and you do need to test so that you know you are cutting out the things which affect you personally.

I have been told that Metformin reduces insulin resistance, suppresses appetite, and reduces the amount of glucose produced by the liver, but all these only to a limited extent. It doesn't, in itself, reduce blood sugar levels. Only diet and exercise can do that. (plus of course some other meds, but not Metformin)

I also disagree with your doctor about diet and testing. You do need to change your diet - that is what gave you diabetes in the first place. You also need to test in order to learn which foods your body can or cannot cope with.

Studies show metformin will lower your A1c by about 1-1.5% in old numbers.. an A1c of 7% will come down to 6%
http://clinical.diabetesjournals.org/content/25/4/131.full
The degree of clinical effect varies in individual patients, but most patients experience a reduction in A1C of ∼ 1.5 percentage points

"They never seem to go below 7.6 and are often around 13-15"
it's good that you have a meter. as you know it's still too high. I would reduce my carb intake or take a combination metformin
http://www.phlaunt.com/diabetes/14045524.php

these sites helped me too
http://lowcarbdiets.about.com/od/lowcarbliving/a/Food-Cravings.htm
http://www.dietdoctor.com/lchf
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/

I was told that at the recommended therapeutic dose ( which I think is 4 x 500mg) that its benefits were more to do with the protection of various organs than BS control. It helps with insulin resistance and depresses appetite so you lose the wight that is making you more inducing resistant. Also I think it can lower LDL cholesterol slightly. I certainly haven't found a massive effect on my levels as I've upped my dose. At 2 I was averaging 5.9 on my meter, and am averaging 5.2 now on three. Reading the article Jack linked to, it's main effect is to reduce fasting levels which has a knock on effect of lowering the HbA1c. At diagnosis I was averaging around 11 according to my HbA1c test - dropping the carbs is what shifted me overnight to readings under 6.4 at two hours. I can't honestly say it has lowered my fasting levels much, maybe by .5 at best, but different folk will react differently and the figures quoted are just an average. The Metformin has slashed my appetite and I'm grateful for that so if it's being offered, I'd try it - I'd be buying a meter though as testing and diet are likely to have a far more orotund effect on your levels.

I have a full fat plain Greek yogurt (100g) and throw in some strawberries chopped up. I sometimes use raspberries, or a few pieces of sliced apple and occasionally blueberries but these are higher carb so not very many. It sees me through to lunch time without the need for snacks.

Full fat lots of bugs plain yoghurt with crushed cashew nuts thrown in a spoonfull of jam a little honey some berries.
Maybe not all at once and the jam and honey I can tolerate in very small doses.
Three mornings a week I have a bullet proof coffee and nothing else.
The mental energy boost from bullet proof coffee is amazing and it suppresses my appetite for hours.
Also if I have the time and inclination cheese and onion omelettes sausages fried bread.
I had some Alpen the other day .... only a small serving on a large serving of yoghurt and my sugars took off like they'd had rocket fuel!
I'm the same with Ryvita ... can't handle them.
Look for carb content when shopping.
Sugar content is misleading so I find total carb content clearer. All breakfast cereals are out for me.
Nuts berries full fat yoghurts are my regular healthy safe bets along with the buttered coffee.

I have a cooked breakfast, but if you can't stomach bacon, can you manage scrambled eggs and a grilled tomato? Otherwise a thick full fat Greek yogurt and some berry fruit or stewed rhubarb mixed with a tbsp of ground flaxseed and/or nuts is nice. I also like a continental style breakfast with hard boiled egg, cooked hams and cheese with a low carb cracker or half slice pumpernickel bread if you can eat it.

An interesting explanation and new evidence.

http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/contact-us/6740-new-information-on-how-metformin-works

for a change...cook up a vegetable frittata on sunday night and have slices for breakfast during the week

Sid Bonkers said:

An interesting explanation and new evidence.

http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/contact-us/6740-new-information-on-how-metformin-works

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Interesting article Sid, but not so new?. The article appears to be dated 26th May 2009. Of course, that doesn't make it any less interesting.

AndBreathe said:

Interesting article Sid, but not so new?. The article appears to be dated 26th May 2009. Of course, that doesn't make it any less interesting.

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My mistake, I failed to look at the date

Sid Bonkers said:

My mistake, I failed to look at the date

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Sorry Sid. It's the pedant in me.

Metformin has been referred to as an exercise pill. When you exercise more glucose receptors come to the cell's surface so that your cells can access glucose at a faster rate. Because insulin allows glucose to enter cells, exercise increases your insulin efficiency and hence improves insulin resistance. Metformin enables exactly the same process in your cells; it brings glucose receptors to the surface and thus improves your insulin resistance.