Medformin and insulin

[nelly2605]

Im taking both,5 injections and 2 tablets.

Any1 else on both?

[liz32]

I am but I'm T2. I take metformin and levemir and novorapid.
Liz

[nelly2605]

I'm confused now,thought type 2 were non insulin dependant.

What am I now then?

Jeez

[Lex4153]

Type 2's can take insulin. I don't know why you're on metformin if you're T1 though. Maybe someone else can clarify that.

[Funnygrl]

I'm confused now,thought type 2 were non insulin dependant.

What am I now then?

Jeez
Type 2s are often on orals, then orals and insulin. Type 1s always need insulin, and type 2s eventually need insulin.

[spring]

Lex - I believe some type 1s take metformin because they are insulin resistant (in addition to not producing any. lol... so basically it helps them be more sensitive to the insulin they inject)

[Cyborg]

I'm confused now,thought type 2 were non insulin dependant.

What am I now then?

Jeez

Type 1.5???? :confused:

[dgrilli]

Yes I've heard of Types 1's taking Metformin and Insulin. Also heard where some Type 1's need very little Insulin 10 units or less a day I figure a real protein diet and not many carbs would put you way down there.

I bet your body could be trained to function a lot less carbs than the average 20th century diet. I've heard that the Worlds Populations Carb intake is gradually making them sick and disease ridden.

I imagine the 2 different diseases are not picky and you could get both at one time or another. I imagine a Type 1 letting there BG run High for awhile would cause Insulin resistance.

When I was reading Pumping Insulin 4th Edition I saw mentioned that it is not uncommon for a Type 1 to later also obtain either from genetics or otherwise Type 2 and have both diseases just as Type 2's at time later obtain Type 1.

Wow a double whammy.

I have an awful lot of Diabetes in my family and also an Aunt that just came down with Lupus that is autoimmune also so their must be some wild genes running through my family.

I wonder if there are any Type 1's here in this forum taking Metformin and Insulin?

[nelly2605]

Yes,me. :frown:

[Funnygrl]

Yes,me. :frown:
In order to know what type you have, you have to look at a lot of things. How old were you? Were you overweight? How much insulin do you use? Have you been on insulin the whole time? Have you ever had ketones?

[BlueSky]

As a T1, I have experimented with Metformin. And it makes a big difference. I don't have significant insulin resistance. And the BG reduction Metformin had on me is caused by a different mechanism. Essentially, it is the inhibition of hepatic glucose. Metformin reduces the production of glycogen by the aplha cells, which in turn releases glycogen into the blood stream. This pushes up blood sugar, especially after meals.

So, yes Metformin can help T1s contain the DP effect and post prandial blood glucose excursions. But it isn't usually prescribed for T1s. I stopped using it mainly because it was complicating my insulin/carb ratios. I also had a few hypos after startingh a regular exercise program. I figured that I could do without it. :)

[jenet]

In order to know what type you have, you have to look at a lot of things. How old were you? Were you overweight? How much insulin do you use? Have you been on insulin the whole time? Have you ever had ketones?
And it helps to have a GAD antibody test to see if you have antibodies from autoimmune reaction (Type 1 being an autoimmune disorder), and a C-peptide can tell if you are producing insulin at all, which may or may not really indicate your type if it is early in onset and/or you are Type 1.5, but will indicate whether your body is producing no insulin, just a little insulin, normal amounts of insulin, or way too much insulin (indicating either Type 2 or hyperinsulinemia).

I way oversimplified these, but probably someone will come along and explain in much greater detail scientific soon.

cheers,
j

PS. I understand that it is indeed possible to be both Type 1 auto-immune and Type 2 insulin-resistant.

[blue_eyed_devil]

yup, i was on both. but stopped the metformin cause it made me fell like crapp... and that's the polite word.

[seacomp]

but will indicate whether your body is producing no insulin, just a little insulin, normal amounts of insulin, or way too much insulin (indicating either Type 2 or hyperinsulinemia).
And in the late stages of Type 2, the amount of insulin naturally produced may also be very low, because of degeneration of Beta cells. This does not mean, however, as someone as claimed. that T2 "turns into" T1. The cause of the two disease process are still different and what is required for a cure is different.
If a T1 has their Beta cell function restored, there is still the problem of the autoimmune response; if a T2 has their Beta cell function restored, there is still insulin resistance.

[poodlebone]

And in the late stages of Type 2, the amount of insulin naturally produced may also be very low, because of degeneration of Beta cells. This does not mean, however, as someone as claimed. that T2 "turns into" T1. The cause of the two disease process are still different and what is required for a cure is different.
If a T1 has their Beta cell function restored, there is still the problem of the autoimmune response; if a T2 has their Beta cell function restored, there is still insulin resistance.

I've seen people say that a lot - "I was Type 2 for X years and now I'm Type 1". Injected insulin does not = Type 1.

5-6 years ago, when I was gaining a lot of weight due to other problems, my PCP at the time was suggesting trying an oral med but I don't know if he ever said which one. He said that it might help by causing me to need less insulin. I resisted and he dropped the idea. I was already having so many hypos anyway and didn't need anything else in the mix.

When I started pumping last year I was at my highest weight ever. I had some insulin resistance but still not to the degree of a Type 2. Once I lost the weight, the resistance disappeared and now I'm quite sensitive to insulin.

[Lex4153]

In order to know what type you have, you have to look at a lot of things. How old were you? Were you overweight? How much insulin do you use? Have you been on insulin the whole time? Have you ever had ketones?

I don't think any of these are good indicators of what type you are. For example, everyone with T2 in my family were young (I was 13) and slim. A better indicator would be to have the doctors run blood work to test insulin antibodies and c-peptide.

[Tsukia]

I use both and I find that it helps and it was recommended because i was insulin resistant but I have always been on insulin since diagnosis. However I did have a c-peptide done and the resaults are in my signature. But I also have family members that are type 2 one that also needs insulin and the other is only on pills the treatment is very different from what i have seen.

[palefacegirl03]

I am Type 1, on insulin ( I was diagnosed at 21 , was thin to begin with then lost alot of weight before diagnosage ) the doctor added Metformin about 18 months ago. He said that I had developed insulin resistance, my numbers are much better, I take it 500 mg at breakfast and another with my evening meal.

[nelly2605]

I am Type 1, on insulin ( I was diagnosed at 21 , was thin to begin with then lost alot of weight before diagnosage ) the doctor added Metformin about 18 months ago. He said that I had developed insulin resistance, my numbers are much better, I take it 500 mg at breakfast and another with my evening meal.


I take exactly same dose.B/s been brilliant this first week of regular testing,woo-hoo.

[palefacegirl03]

nelly2605,

From your signature it looks like we were diagnosed about a year apart. I was diagnosed Oct 27,1990 ... I did not get to take my 4 yr old son trick or treating because I was still in the hospital on Halloween.

[nelly2605]

I was due to go away for the weekend,which in a way I did,but it was in the hospital instead.

[blue_eyed_devil]

I'm a type one and I have been on metformin in the past, but I refuse now because it makes me feel really sick.

[dbc]

I'm type 1.5, still got a moderately functioning pancreas and not yet on insulin, but taking metformin 3x500mg/day - for about a year now. Occasionaly still get the side effects, sometimes think it might be better to start on insulin & get done with it..... But the metformin does work for me.

[bel4_20]

I'm a type 1 and I'm using both my pump and 3 500mg's a day due to me being extremely resistant to insulin I do find it helps a bit but not a whole lot.