1. Metformin Medicine: A Free Doctor Explains This Common Diabetes Drug

Introduction

Being a practicing endocrinologist today for over two decades, I am sure I must have prescribed metformin to hundreds of patients suffering from type 2 diabetes. This very potent medication has become a mainstay of diabetes management, and for good reason. From my experience, this is not only a very good pharmaceutical for keeping blood sugar levels under control but also has other health benefits that really make a difference in the quality of life for patients.

Whether you face a new diagnosis or are simply seeking to understand your existing treatment a bit better, I hope this article brings some clarity to one of the most commonly prescribed yet oft-maligned medicines around.

Most of my patients with type 2 diabetes are on metformin. Definitely, that is one of those drugs that are typically prescribed which is really great at keeping the sugar very well under control. So let me tell you what metformin is and how it functions in your body.

What is Metformin?

Metformin is an oral medication used in the management and treatment of type 2 diabetes.

  1. It functions in the regulation of blood sugar by:
  2. Inhibiting glucose production in the liver.
  3. Enhancing insulin sensitivity in muscle cells.

Overview of Metformin

Metformin is a biguanide, a class of drugs. Metformin is normally the first medication ordered for the treatment of type 2 diabetes since it has excellent effects and is extremely safe. The mechanisms of action are:

  1. Lowering the amount of glucose produced by your liver.
  2. Improve body insulin sensitivity
  3. Reduce the quantity of glucose absorbed from the intestines
  4. Blood Sugar Control: Metformin lowers blood sugars quite properly. It stops damages in kidneys, nerves, and sight.
  5. Reducing Weight: The medication also leads to reduced weight in diabetic patients to lose overweight.
  6. Cardiovascular: Metformin lowers the rate of heart attacks and strokes.
  7. Prevention of Prediabetes: If people have high blood sugar—that is, prediabetes—metformin can delay or prevent full diabetes.

How metformin benefits you

When you take metformin properly, you will derive a number of benefits, including:

  1. Better control of your blood sugar levels
  2. Less chance of getting complications of diabetes
  3. Maybe losing some weight or staying at your current weight
  4. More favorable cholesterols

Remember, metformin is not insulin and does not cause low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) on its own. That fact makes it a better safety option for a lot of people.

How Medicine of Metformin Works within the Body

I have to explain to my patients daily, being a physician how metformin works in their body. A drug used initially in the treatment of type 2 diabetes has several mechanisms in place to manage the blood sugar levels.

Reduced Production of Glucose

The main action of metformin is to reduce the amount of glucose your liver is producing. Basically, it prevents the process known as gluconeogenesis, in which your liver essentially creates new glucose molecules. Metformin reduces this process so that your blood sugar does not become too high. Enhance insulin sensitivity:

Another important role of metformin is to enhance the levels of sensitivity to the hormone insulin. The function of the hormone insulin is to make the cells take in sugar from the blood. Therefore, the more sensitive your cells are to this hormone, the more glucose they can clear from your blood, and the better your blood sugar levels will be controlled.

Slowing Carbohydrate Absorption

Metformin tablets will change the way your body handles the carbohydrates you eat. It slows down the absorption of carbohydrates through your intestines, which also prevents those sudden spikes in blood sugar right after meals. Now, with slow absorption, your system will be able to cope better with glucose throughout the day.

With these mechanisms, metformin manages to keep blood sugar levels stable; thus, it is very appropriate for the treatment of diabetes and preventing complications. To be considered is that while metformin is very potent, its work optimally on a healthy diet in conjunction with exercising regularly. Benefits of Using Metformin for Diabetes

  • Caution in kidney or liver condition.
  • Do not drink alcohol when taking metformin.

Blood Sugar Control

It works by reducing the amount of glucose that the liver is developing and increases the body’s sensitivity to insulin. With these two effects, the metformin lowers and steadies your blood sugar levels; thus, the one responsible for managing diabetes lies with this.

Weight Management

This comes as a surprise to most of my patients: Metformin actually supports weight reduction. The medication is purported to decrease appetite and enhance the fat-burning mechanism to provide energy to your body. It’s very helpful, because maintaining a healthy weight is one of the primary concerns in diabetes management. Cardiovascular Protection

Some research concludes that metformin has an added advantage of aiding in cases with heart disease that follows along with diabetes. Metformin has brought down the levels of ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Such drugs can also elevate the ‘good’ HDL cholesterol.

Long-Term Health Benefits

The long-term administration of metformin can decrease the likelihood of you having issues with your health that results from diabetes. Such health issues encompass:

  • Kidney disease
  • Nerve damage
  • Eye problems

In addition, some studies suggest metformin has anti-aging properties and, in time, could lead to reduced risk for a range of cancers. More research is needed in this regard, however.

Of course, while it offers many benefits, taking as prescribed and engaging in good health habits will assist in realizing the most favorable results.

Potential Side Effects from Metformin

Attention: As your physician, I want to let you know that metformin, like all medicines, is not completely without side effects. Although generally very well tolerated, there are a few side effects one may experience with the medication.  You can have: Nausea or Vomiting Diarrhea Stomach Pain or Discomfort Loss of Appetite

These side effects should eventually subside as your body adjusts to the medication. I would recommend that you take metformin with meals and start with a low dose that we will increase gradually over time.

Serious but Rare Side Effects

Although rare, be on the lookout for these severe side effects:

  1. Lactic acidosis: Although this is a rare complication, it can be very risky and life threatening. Medical emergency can be perceived if one is experiencing muscle ache, irrespirable or fatigue.
  2. Vitamin B12 deficiency: Long-term use of metformin decreases levels of this vital vitamin in your system and causes anemia.
  3. Hypoglycemia: Metformin can cause low blood sugar when taken infrequently, more so when used with other diabetes medicines.

Let me know if you are going to get unusual side effects or those that are just intolerable. Also, note that for most of my patients, the risks of metformin used to control diabetes are outweighed by its benefits, as earlier mentioned.

Frequently Asked Questions to Metformin Medicine

I’ve had several inquiries from my patients regarding metformin. Here are some of the most common questions and my expert answers:

 What is metformin and what’s the use of it?

Metformin is majorly given in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. The medication controls the blood glucose levels by inhibiting hepatic glucose production and increasing the sensitivity of the body to insulin. Under other circumstances, or the drug would be used when the patient is tested and found to have prediabetes.

Commonly seen side effects of this medication are nausea, diarrhea, and stomach upset. This side effect of the drug is usually mild and transient in nature. In order to experience minimal such side effects, I would initiate this prescription at a low dose and titrate it up. If you would continue or get worse with the side effects, please notify me at once.

Does metformin cause weight loss ?

Even though weight loss is not the goal of the prescription, it would eventually yield a small weight reduction. The potential mechanism is a better blood sugar control afforded by metformin and therefore, at lower insulin levels.

With concomitant lifestyle changes, how much time does it need for metformin to take effect?

Improvements in blood sugar levels may be observed in as early as 1-2 weeks after first dose of metformin. The full benefit of metformin may take several months though. What this also means is that at all costs, patients should make sure they follow up on blood glucose monitoring so that treatment agents may be added, withdrawn or changed if necessary.

  1. Can I Take Metformin When Pregnant? Ask your doctor; may sometimes be used in gestational diabetes
  2. Is Metformin Safe in Older People? It is usually safe, but the judgment, in an individual case is crucial.

Conclusion

In short, not any other pharmacological arm that can help, under the umbrella of treating type 2 DM, is as useful as metformin to me as a physician. From its potential in cancer prevention to its role in weight management, metformin never fails to astonish the medical fraternity.

There is one catch that you should remember: while it is a very potent tool, metformin will work best with good living habits. Consult your doctor always to determine if, in your case, metformin would be a right choice. Metformin is an effective drug in the treatment of diabetes. Individual lifestyle amendments supplement this advantage.

 

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