[candy43]

Thank you all for your informative responses!!! I really appreciate you taking the time to take this survey and welcome any future responses.

I respect "most" answers from my doctors but I know that some doctors are unfortunately biased due to gifts and perks from pharmaceutical companies. We really need to be our own advocates. Even a reader's digest article I recently read, where doctors confessed what they don't tell their patients, revealed that many doctors are influenced by pharmaceutical companies. Even though you can get metformin at Walmart for $4.00 now, millions of people have diabetes so we see that it still is a lucrative venture.

Still, this drug is recommended to quite a lot of diabetes patients and has been around since the seventies I believe. That is encouraging that it has not been pulled off the market.

Everyone is different, but this poll really does help with my safety concerns. Again thanks to all who replied. If I can finish my homework. (yuck) I will try to reply individually to you all in the next week.

Warmest Regards,
Candy

[candy43]

Hi PrincessLinda,

I am glad you are doing well with Byetta. My doctor never mentioned it but quite a few of my friends take it. I am doing pretty well with Metformin but if I ever start having problems, I will most likely ask my doctor, that is if my insurance covers it. I hear it is quite costly.

Also, like you, I can't seem to get my morning numbers down. I usually get fasting numbers of around 120 or a bit more, even after taking one metformin at night. I've tried eating a little cereal and it seems to help a little but not much.

You wrote that you have a coworker who has been on metformin for 10 years now with no problems. That is encouraging to me. I know we are all different but it helps to know that people have been on it that long with no detrimental effects. I take it her kidney function is fine for her to remain on it. The only thing that scares me a bit, is they say, your kidney function tests can be normal and 30 percent of folks can still have kidney failure. Well, here I am again, worrying, maybe for nothing but like you, the family history keeps reminding me to be cautious. We are all different and I have to constantly remind myself of that. Have a great weekend.

Candy

[candy43]

Hey Jill,

How are you today? Thanks for responding to my survey.
I too have trouble with morning numbers being about 120 or above. I will ask my doctor if I should take metformin in the evening. Do you take the 1000 mg right before you go to sleep? Do you have a snack at night? Just curious. I was told by my cousin that having a little bit of cereal at night might help my morning numbers but it really didn't that much. I guess it is different for all. I still don't quite get that whole dawn phenomenon thingie. Thanks and have a great night.

Candy

[candy43]

Dear Debbie Sue,

Thanks for responding to my post. Lisinopril is an ace inhibitor and one of its side effects is causing a dry, cough from what I understand. No offense to your doc, but I'm surprised your doc didn't tell you that. Now, that just explains one symptom you have, the cough and disclaimer:I am not a doctor so for the upper chest heaviness and achiness, a stress test does sound prudent. Again, I'm not a doctor but call your doctor and ask why he/she did not tell you the cough was a side effect of the lisinopril? I guess the pharmacist also could tell you but in my humble opinion, that should be explained to the patient BEFORE a prescription is filled. Was the Lisonopril prescribed after your visit or before? I'm very curious. Take care of yourself and if you get a chance, fill me in once you see your endo.

These are the side effects according to MedlinePlus for Lisonopril. I encourage you to make sure there are no other side effects.

cough
dizziness
headache
excessive tiredness
upset stomach
diarrhea
weakness
sneezing
runny nose
decrease in ual ability
rash


Candy

[candy43]

Dear Dave,

Thanks for responding to my post and regarding what you wrote,

"Other than my 3 moments (and that was about 5 months ago), I have had no side effects and I tolerate it very well. I can actually take it without eating, but I've always been a little odd"

haha...that is what I like about you Dave, I too am odd...no one can seem to figure me out and I LIKE IT that way...LOL...

Well, it certainly has taken away my appetitite too, but the having to use bathroom frequently is the case with me. Still, I am willing to cope with that since it helps my numbers. If I didn't exercise and watch my carbs, I'm not sure how much Met would really help but it did give me that extra confidence boost to get moving. I saw my numbers go down especially at night and was very motivated. Still can't get my morning numbers down. Have a great night, and keep being you...the Dave we all love....disclaimer: I am not hitting on you..sign this to say you will not sue me for saying this whole forum loves you...jk, jk...again, not hitting on you.

candy

[candy43]

Hi Frank,

Thanks for responding to my post/survey. This survey has been very useful to me in that I don't trust what is always given to me by doctors or the FDA. I don't believe that doctors or the FDA withhold information knowingly(many others would beg to differ) but in all reality, not "everything" is known by doctors about the safety of meds.

What comes to mind immediately is a drug called Vioxx. An article I read recently by Gardiner Harris on May 23, 2008 entitled, "F.D.A. to Expand Scrutiny of Risks From drugs After They’re Approved for Sale" stated, "Chastened by repeated instances in which popular medicines proved deadly, federal health officials announced a major effort on Thursday to use information on Medicare claims to assess the risks of drugs already on the market." The danger of this I think is that an elderly person can die of a completely unrelated issue and a drug can be blamed when it really was not to blame.

This drug I inquire about, Metformin, has been around for several decades and that helps but doctors and the FDA don't always know everything about a drug so I have to be my own advocate. Who better to ask than those who have type 2 diabetes themselves? I also don't think beta cell destruction is adequately addressed in the medical community. I still am uncertain about what causes beta cell destruction, how to avoid it as much as possible and whether or not cells can be regenerated. Alas, I love knowledge and you have, as always, been most helpful.

Thank you for writing and I hope you have a great night.

Candy

[candy43]

Karen,

Thanks for replying to my survey. That is great that you have been able to maintain your weight with metformin. It really does take my appetite away. That itself, seems, worth the bathroom visits...ahem...but I have lost 15 pounds in a couple months so for me, this aspect is excellent too. Have a great night.

Candy

[candy43]

Dear Rich,

Thanks for responding to my post. I too, have switched to the ER version, however I am still having to use bathroom quite frequently so I'm glad for you. To me, so far it is worth it because it takes away my appetite, helps my numbers and gives me that extra kick. I want to learn more about beta cells and not many resources out there that are not in highly scientific terms.

I really hope I am able to stay on it, as long as I don't have trouble. I am not really looking forward to going on insulin b/c I am a wimp about injections!! LOL...I guess I am also trying to find the maximum amt of time you can be on it safely, or if I should eventually try diet and exercise alone once my A1C goes below 6. Have a great evening.

Candy

[candy43]

Dear PDX..

Thanks for responding to my post. I must say that it is encouraging that you have been on it without complications for 15 years...Wow...that is good. Have you ever had a c-peptide test? Do you have a way of knowing once your beta cells burn out? Thanks so much for your time and knowledge.

Candy

[candy43]

Dear Art,

Thanks so much for responding to my post. I don't like needles! I didn't know that metformin was safe for those who were in complete renal failure. Is lactic acidosis not a risk for you? Were you able to reverse your renal failure and is that why there is not a risk for lactic acidosis?

Thanks and have a great night. Take care.

Candy

[candy43]

Dear Art,

Thanks so much for responding to my post. I don't like needles! I didn't know that metformin was safe for those who were in complete renal failure. Is lactic acidosis not a risk for you? Were you able to reverse your renal failure and is that why there is not a risk for lactic acidosis?

Thanks and have a great night. Take care.

Candy

[BigcityRich]

Hey Candy,

When I was first diagnosed I was ordered to take 850mg Metformin 3x day with meals. My doctor, the nurse and the Rx Tech all warned me of the side effects gas and diarrhea. I started with 1/2 Met at breakfast and 1/2 at dinner for two weeks. Then 1/2 Met 3 x day for two weeks. I was told to gradually build up to 3x day. Gas and diarrhea were minimal unless I pigged out on Chinese or something. My only side effect that bothered me was nausea. I would get really bad motion sickness. It eventually passed and got even better with the ER version. Stick to it and hopefully with portion control, a little exercise, and smart eating choices you may
be able to back off the dose some. Good luck!

[Petruchio]

Metformin is a rather safe drug for Diabetics. It works in basically 2 ways. One, it supresses the Liver from releasing glucose. And two, it lowers Insulin Resistance so your body can better use the Insulin already there.

Originally Posted by candy43

I still don't quite get that whole dawn phenomenon thingie.

Candy

DP is not that hard to understand. It goes back to the Liver. As you get near the time to wakeup, your Liver releases glucose into the blood for a quick energy boost to help you wake up. In a Diabetic this is a bit harder for the body to handle, hence the problem. Metformin does help by telling the Liver NOT to release as much glucose. If you are taking the ER version of Metformin and you take one with Dinner, it should last through the night and help hold down the DP.

Originally Posted by candy43

I also don't think beta cell destruction is adequately addressed in the medical community. I still am uncertain about what causes beta cell destruction, how to avoid it as much as possible and whether or not cells can be regenerated.
Candy

Beta cell destruction falls into 2 groups. For type 1 Diabetics the Beta cells are killed by the Immune system. For type 2 Diabetics then die off from over use. If glucose is high the Beta cells crank out more and more Insulin. At some point they exhaust themselves (like a marathon runner that is not in condition) and drop dead. Metformin's effect on Beta cells is indirect. By lowering Insulin Resistance, it reduces the body's need for Insulin. Less need means less stress on the Beta cells.

Metformin can and does have side effects. They can be minimized or even go away by adjusting how you take the medication. They say to take it with food. However, if you read that to mean take it in the middle of a meal, the side effects are less. Also it seems that it works better in lowering BS levels if taken with a full meal.

[Cormac_Doyle]

Minimizing the side effects of metformin

metformin when taken on an empty stomach will irritate the lining of the stomach and small intestine.

If you then later eat a meal ... it will hit the "Metformin express" and (depending on the dose of Metformin), you'll be passing it back out within an hour.

Needless to say, this will impact the absorption of all nutrients ...

A high fiber diet will slow this down. but more importantly, taking the metformin WITH the meal (or IMMEDIATELY afterwards) will allow for it's absorption, but minimize the stomach irritation.

This minimizes the side effects, and maximizes the positive effects.

[candy43]

Petruchio,

Thank you for responding. You know quite a bit about dawn pheno. and Beta cells. Taking the one metformin with dinner hasn't Seemed to help since my morning numbers are still in the 120's but maybe before, they were even worse. What I might try to get those morning numbers even lower is to take one right before bed with a very small snack. I am on ER.

Wow, so taking Metformin should actually give my beta cells a break by causing me to need less insulin, thus being less insulin resistant, thus causing less stress. That makes complete sense.

Dude! I am feeling better about taking metformin. Have a great weekend Petruchio.

candy