If you’re living with diabetes… chances you've heard of or even been prescribed… Metformin.
Metformin is a medication that boosts insulin. Insulin is a hormone created by the pancreas
that helps regulate blood glucose. But when you’re living with type 2 diabetes…
your insulin might not work properly. This is known as insulin resistance.
Insulin resistance can impact the body’s good functioning and increase:
- Inflammation - High blood glucose levels
- And diabetes complications… when not managed. Metformin can help reduce insulin resistance…
to make type-2 diabetes more manageable… And keep your marker in a healthy range.
People who are prescribed metformin may think that… They are
failing at looking after their diabetes. But taking metformin can be a great way
to manage diabetes more efficiently. However… if you’re watching this video…
You might be weighing the pros and cons of starting this medication!
So to help you be more informed… we’re breaking down the 5 important things you
should know about metformin… Including its side effects.
So keep watching! Before we get started… Can you do us a favor?
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And now… let’s explore the 5 things you should know about this diabetic medication starting with…
Number 5. Metformin comes in different forms and dosage
To get started with metformin… you will need a prescription from your doctor.
But… This prescription can vary in form and dosage among people with type 2 diabetes.
And it depends on several factors… including: - Age and gender
- Diabetes diagnosis - And individual lifestyle factors.
For example… A young woman who is physically active and has gestational diabetes…
Can have a different prescription than a 50-year-old man with diabetes mellitus.
There are a variety of brands of metformin you can be prescribed
such as: - Bolamyn
- Diagment - Glucient
- Glucophage - And Metabet…
And your prescription might include a standard-release or a slow-release tablet.
Standard-release metformin is used when the body needs to receive the medicine quickly.
Slow-release metformin is often a smaller dose of the medicine…
That takes longer to be absorbed by the body. There isn’t one form of metformin
prescribed more than the other… Although a slow-release will be preferred for
diabetic patients who experience side effects. Because yes… metformin can come
with side effects you should be wary of. Number 4. The common side effects of Metformin
Side effects can occur when you start taking any new medication… including Metformin.
The body needs time to adjust… and while symptoms usually go away over time…
At the beginning you might experience: - Heartburn
- Stomach pain - Nausea
- Bloating - Gaz
- Irregular bowel movement - And headaches.
A study in 120 patients with type 2 diabetes observed that…
51% of patients experienced side effects after taking 1000 mg of metformin.
The side effects included: - Nausea
- Vomiting - Diarrhea
- And stomach pain. Most patients had side effects during the
initial phase of the treatment. Doctors recommend
that… to minimize common side effects… It is best to take the medication with food….
Keep yourself hydrated… And speak with your doctor
about your metformin dosage. Monitoring your symptoms is
important when taking metformin… As the medication can cause more
important changes in your body. And we’re about to explore those…
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And now… let’s look at the changes metformin can bring to your body with…
Number 3. Metformin’s impact on weight People are often eager to take metformin…
Because they hope that it will help them regulate their weight.
Having insulin resistance means that the body cannot process blood glucose properly.
As a result… The unused glucose can be stored into body fat…
and induce weight gain. It has been found that reducing insulin resistance
helps process blood glucose more effectively… And as a byproduct… lose weight.
So it is easy to believe that taking metformin to regulate insulin can help you lose weight.
A review of cohort studies did conclude that there is a link between Metformin and weight loss.
However… solely relying on metformin doesn’t mean that you will lose weight.
Weight loss in diabetes can occur when… - Diet changes
- Regular exercise - And insulin support… is combined.
The good thing is that… further weight gain is not a side effect of metformin.
In short… Taking medication in combination with lifestyle changes can help improve your weight.
Number 2. Metformin can come with more serious side effects
Yes… metformin is beneficial for diabetics when it comes to:
- Insulin sensitivity - And blood glucose regulation.
But in a handful of cases… Metformin can bring more serious side effects you need
to watch out for. This includes:
- Anemia - And Lactic acidosis.
Anemia relates to low levels of red blood cells in the body.
It can occur from metformin as the medicine can decrease
Vitamin B12 in the body. A study found that…
Taking 1 gram a day of metformin is associated with a 2% higher risk of having anemia.
Additionally… Lactic acidosis is another serious side effect to watch out for.
Lactic acidosis relates to a pH imbalance in the body.
It can occur from a build-up of metformin… which can have deadly consequences.
The death rate of lactic acidosis induced by metformin is between 30 and 50%.
Yet… about 10 cases per 100,000 patients taking metformin occur every year.
So while these side effects can be extremely serious… their incidence is limited.
But if you start experiencing scary symptoms… It is best to chat with your doctors… and not
come off your medication without their approval. Number 1. What happens when you stop
taking metformin Metformin is a long-term treatment.
And while not having an end date to your prescription may be scary…
There are cases when you’ll be able to come off the medication…
As long as you follow your doctor’s direction. When lifestyle changes are regulated…
And you’re able to easily manage your blood glucose levels…
Doctors can reduce the dosage of metformin and over time… slowly remove it completely.
However… stopping your treatment abruptly may increase your risks of diabetes complications.
Overall… when it comes to metformin… it is highly recommended to:
- Monitor improvement in diabetic symptoms - Watch out for potential side effects
- And regularly communicate with your doctor about the course of your treatment.
And now we want to hear from you… What are your thoughts
and concerns with metformin? Share your experience with a fellow diabetic in
the comment section below. And before you leave… make sure
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Thanks for watching. We hope you're having a diabetes-fighting day.