Guest guest Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 I would like to know why some of you feel that Metformin is the least harmful of all the diabetic meds long term. I am not disagreeing - never been on it but will most likely be switching meds in the next few months (unless I am able to control with diet/exercise for a while after going off Amaryl) - When looking at the list of meds in one of my diabetes classes, Metformin had the longest list of side effects as well as long term problems associated with it so I'm curious if you can point me to some literature on this being one of the better ones? I need to find one I'm comfortable with - doc says he would probably go with Actos or Avandia - both I have decided I will not take (due to reading about possible vision complications) so I need to find one I'm comfortable with. He doesn't feel I would use insulin either. Sandy Date: Sun, 1 Jan 2006 20:56:24 -0500 Subject: Re: Metformin I agree about metformin. I also agree about the yogurt. Sue > Others might disagree, but to me metformin is the least harmful of > the oral medications prescribed to diabetics. It can be used in > combination > with other orals and also with insulin. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 > I would like to know why some of you feel that Metformin is the least > harmful of all the diabetic meds long term. One reason is that it has been in use for 20 years or more, whereas some of the other medications are new, and no one knows what the long-term effects will be. Many people feel that the sulfonylureas increase the rate of beta cell burnout. The glitazones tend to cause water retention, which can exacerbate heart failure. There is new evidence that metformin increases the level of a tumor suppressor gene and hence may help prevent certain types of cancer. Following is very technical. A summary is in Science magazine p 1259, Nov. 25, 2005. http://www.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/abstract/310/5754/1642 Metformin does cause nausea in some people, and it may be hard on kidneys and liver. But high BG also has side effects, and they're not nice. Gretchen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 > > I would like to know why some of you feel that Metformin is the least > > harmful of all the diabetic meds long term. > I don't know the science, really, but I can say that once my system got used to the mertformin, and once my body became used to lower bg, I love metformin. It seems to have an appetite supressant effect on me, and after a month or two of use, really brough the numbers down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 > > I would like to know why some of you feel that Metformin is the least > > harmful of all the diabetic meds long term. > I don't know the science, really, but I can say that once my system got used to the mertformin, and once my body became used to lower bg, I love metformin. It seems to have an appetite supressant effect on me, and after a month or two of use, really brough the numbers down! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 At 06:14 AM 1/2/2006, you wrote: >I would like to know why some of you feel that Metformin is the least >harmful of all the diabetic meds long term. I am not disagreeing - never >been on it but will most likely be switching meds in the next few months >(unless I am able to control with diet/exercise for a while after going off >Amaryl) - When looking at the list of meds in one of my diabetes classes, >Metformin had the longest list of side effects as well as long term problems >associated with it so I'm curious if you can point me to some literature on >this being one of the better ones? I need to find one I'm comfortable >with - doc says he would probably go with Actos or Avandia - both I have >decided I will not take (due to reading about possible vision complications) >so I need to find one I'm comfortable with. He doesn't feel I would use >insulin either. > >Sandy Hi Sandy, This is going to be my very subjective, highly personal experience, with Metformin, Actos, Avandia & Insulin. When I first went to meds, the doc put me on Metformin. I eventually worked my way up to 2500 mg a day. As long as I took it with a meal I did not have any 'gastric' problems with it. I eventually stopped taking it because it was making a very minimal difference for me. Next went to Actos. This med seemed to make a some of difference for me, but still not enough. The only side effect I can recall is some extra edema in my ankles, but not an excessive amount. My doc later switched me to Avandia - same basic results. Next, the doc suggested insulin which I agreed to try. This really made a difference. I was finally able to get my numbers down where they belonged and keep them there. At 1st I continued to use the Avandia along with the insulin, but eventually dropped the Avandia and stayed on insulin alone. For myself, the insulin has been the best choice. Since we are all individuals, our responses to different meds, both good responses and side effects, are going to be somewhat different. I believe that the best way to find out if any particular control method is going to work is to try it for yourself and test a lot while you do. Just my 2 cents! Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 At 06:14 AM 1/2/2006, you wrote: >I would like to know why some of you feel that Metformin is the least >harmful of all the diabetic meds long term. I am not disagreeing - never >been on it but will most likely be switching meds in the next few months >(unless I am able to control with diet/exercise for a while after going off >Amaryl) - When looking at the list of meds in one of my diabetes classes, >Metformin had the longest list of side effects as well as long term problems >associated with it so I'm curious if you can point me to some literature on >this being one of the better ones? I need to find one I'm comfortable >with - doc says he would probably go with Actos or Avandia - both I have >decided I will not take (due to reading about possible vision complications) >so I need to find one I'm comfortable with. He doesn't feel I would use >insulin either. > >Sandy Hi Sandy, This is going to be my very subjective, highly personal experience, with Metformin, Actos, Avandia & Insulin. When I first went to meds, the doc put me on Metformin. I eventually worked my way up to 2500 mg a day. As long as I took it with a meal I did not have any 'gastric' problems with it. I eventually stopped taking it because it was making a very minimal difference for me. Next went to Actos. This med seemed to make a some of difference for me, but still not enough. The only side effect I can recall is some extra edema in my ankles, but not an excessive amount. My doc later switched me to Avandia - same basic results. Next, the doc suggested insulin which I agreed to try. This really made a difference. I was finally able to get my numbers down where they belonged and keep them there. At 1st I continued to use the Avandia along with the insulin, but eventually dropped the Avandia and stayed on insulin alone. For myself, the insulin has been the best choice. Since we are all individuals, our responses to different meds, both good responses and side effects, are going to be somewhat different. I believe that the best way to find out if any particular control method is going to work is to try it for yourself and test a lot while you do. Just my 2 cents! Rick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 > Since we are all individuals, our responses to different meds, both > good responses and side effects, are going to be somewhat different. I agree. I have a friend who went through about 3 or 4 arthritis drugs that didn't work for her or that had bad side effects. Then she tried another one, and it was the answer for her. The same is true of diets. Low carb works for many but low fat works for others. Try everything and stick with what works. Gretchen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 2, 2006 Report Share Posted January 2, 2006 Just google metformin +benefits, and you'll get a lot of hits. Sue > I would like to know why some of you feel that Metformin is the least > harmful of all the diabetic meds long term. I am not disagreeing - > never > been on it but will most likely be switching meds in the next few > months > (unless I am able to control with diet/exercise for a while after > going off > Amaryl) - When looking at the list of meds in one of my diabetes > classes, > Metformin had the longest list of side effects as well as long term > problems > associated with it so I'm curious if you can point me to some > literature on > this being one of the better ones? I need to find one I'm comfortable > with - doc says he would probably go with Actos or Avandia - both I > have > decided I will not take (due to reading about possible vision > complications) > so I need to find one I'm comfortable with. He doesn't feel I would > use > insulin either. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 3, 2006 Report Share Posted January 3, 2006 There is a group of serious minded non-diabetic investigators who take metformin off label because they believe that it will extend their lives. They believe that a major cause of aging is glycosylation and metformin slows this mechanism down even in people without diabetes. tf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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