ahhh…ok…it is true that its standard practice. losing weight is important to me as im overweight by 10-15 pounds. so im hoping it will help a bit
Watch out for depleted Vitamin B12. Insist on including levels check when you have blood work done.
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will do…i just started…i could always take a B12 vitamin if need be. i see my endo in 4 months so ill be sure to have that done
I know a type 1 who takes metformin.
I am on an insulin pump and also take metformin. On days that I forget to take it, my BG goes up.
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so definitely remember to take it. how long does it take to see an improvement? im still learning on it
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Does anyone have any journal/research articles on metformin and type one diabetes? I get dawn syndrome but my doctor won’t consider prescribing metformin.
Thank you for sharing this. I may change my endo - who won’t discuss metformin.
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I don’t remember, I was on it while taking MDI. I just know that some folks have trouble with it at first.
Metformin for type 1.
The good:
- My insulin TDD dropped from 65 to 45. This is because of how metformin affects your body metabolism.
- Metformin helps control blood sugar in 3 known ways.
The bad.
Note: It takes about 1 week to get the full effect of metformin. Be ready to visit the toilet frequently. LOL.
- Diarrhea. Specially at higher dosages, 2000 mg. per day. Use extended release metformin to alleviate diarrhea. Glumetza or equivalent.
- Vitamin B12 absorption by the body is inhibited by metformin.
- I experienced skin dryness.
- I feel cold easily.
- The recent research findings (controversial?) linking metformin long term usage to dementia and Parkinson’s disease. Here’s the link:
http://www.diabetesincontrol.com/metformin-linked-to-increased-risk-of-dementia-and-parkinsons-disease/
I stopped using metformin after 10 years (I’m LADA) because of item 5 above. Then I found out about items 3 and 4 after I stopped using metformin, for 5 months now. The vitamin B12 deficiency I knew already. Now that I am not taking metformin, my TDD went up to 65. It was 45 with metformin.
I decided some extra insulin is better than the possible risk of dementia and/or parkinson’s disease. But perhaps, it’s a false alarm.
im not sure how long ill be on the medication. i know some arent on it forever. so far no side effects. so after a week is when it kicks in?
No, any side affects should occur immediately. If any do start occurring after initial side affects subsided call your Dr. pronto.
i havent had any side effects so far. i guess its unusual to not have them?
I didn’t have any either.
honestly i was worried about it. a few have told me oh these are the side effects and it was all the same. but so far none
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Thank you for such a thorough response. This is very helpful.
The evidence of increased risk of Parkinson’s and dementia is mixed. So I guess no one will know definitively for at least another decade. Although it is concerning.
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Okay so my husband doesn’t have diabetes at ALL and he put himself on Metformin!!! (he can do that he’s a dr.) He thinks it’s a miracle drug and says he’s way less hungry and has lost weight. I can’t believe he would do that- when I took it before I was correctly diagnosed as T1 it made me feel nauseated (although that could be because my bg was out of control and they were trying to treat me with metformin instead of insulin) and cause bathroom issues. Good luck! Sometimes I wonder if it would help with control if I took it.
Nor have I.
im hoping it will give me better control or more control i should say. so far no side effects and its been a week. and i cant believe your husband would do that as well! hey as long as it helped him right
So sorry, Willow. I despise medical practitioners who can’t seem to “get it” that older people can be Type 1. They want to put everyone in a neat little box and wrap it up with a bow. One thing I have learned about diabetes is that there are no boxes!!