Has anyone else used Metformin for Diabetes and gotten no improvement?!
Question: Has anyone else used Metformin for Diabetes and gotten no improvement.?
My husband was recently diagnosed with Diabetes Type II. He is 6'4, 337 lbs. His doctor started him on Metformin 500mg one twice a day. He's now been on the medicine for 4 full weeks and his sugar is the same, sometimes worse than when he was first diagnosed. It's stays around 190-230 range. Should we give it more time or ask the doctor about something different or increasing it.?.? He's not getting any exercise but is totally avoiding sugar. He's doing the best he can on the carbs. Has anyone else had trouble not responding to Metformin.?Health Question & Answer
Answers:
Metformin helps more in peripheral utilization of Sugar than insulin production. So it is more useful in people with insulin resistance. But initially most Diabetes Type II patients are started on Metformin. As you don't have much improvement with Metformin alone I think you should add a sulphonylurea (like glibenclamide, glimepride etc) to the Metformin after you consult with your doctor. Sulphonylurea increases the insulin production in pancreas.
Though most of the patients who are found to be Diabetic after the age of about 30 are Type II, there is a chance that your husband has Type I DM. If so he will need insulin for control of DM.
Or it may be LADA which is another type of DM in which you will need insulin early for treatment.
I think you should consult your doctor again. Keep these informations and anything you can read on DM in mind so that you can ask the doctor for specific questions and learn more about the problem.
Don't worry he will be controlled on proper treatment, diet and exercise.Health Question & Answer
Though most of the patients who are found to be Diabetic after the age of about 30 are Type II, there is a chance that your husband has Type I DM. If so he will need insulin for control of DM.
Or it may be LADA which is another type of DM in which you will need insulin early for treatment.
I think you should consult your doctor again. Keep these informations and anything you can read on DM in mind so that you can ask the doctor for specific questions and learn more about the problem.
Don't worry he will be controlled on proper treatment, diet and exercise.Health Question & Answer
First of all,,he really has to get active....especially after he eats..no matter what is fed.
Metformin..well personnaly I had very adverse side effects...shitty...and no pun intended...it cramped all that. But I do hear it is beneficial for some.
You said he is avoiding exercise....well that is BS...your 337lbs..you have to...get his azz up. I was almost 200lbs on a whole shitload of meds for diabetes...I got down to 135 and no meds..just diet...it may or can be reveresed. dont know whatever your situation may be...there is hope...but help yourselves.Health Question & Answer
Metformin..well personnaly I had very adverse side effects...shitty...and no pun intended...it cramped all that. But I do hear it is beneficial for some.
You said he is avoiding exercise....well that is BS...your 337lbs..you have to...get his azz up. I was almost 200lbs on a whole shitload of meds for diabetes...I got down to 135 and no meds..just diet...it may or can be reveresed. dont know whatever your situation may be...there is hope...but help yourselves.Health Question & Answer
Yes I am on 2x500 twice a day and it has not really had much effect on my sugars, at the last count they averaged 8 (Uk measurements) I have now been given a gliclazide to take with it in the mornings. I am not sure that has had that much effect but it has brought my daily readings down 2 points on what they were before so fingers crossed. I have been exercising more though 3+ times at the pool for 30 minutes at a time or a session at the gym or sometimes even both! I have not lost any weight though!Health Question & Answer
The reason he's not responding to the Metformin is because he's overweight and he is not active. Metformin does not work alone. It is for use with weight management such as diet and exercise. Have your husband speak to a dietitian for a better plan for losing weight and keeping active.Health Question & Answer
I would talk to his dr about it and then if nothing changes insist he try another med or if at all suggest maybe the fact that insulin will help . exercise is key too . please get him to see that maybe go for a walk with him or do something to get him off his rear end or else he is going to be worse off . good luck .Health Question & Answer
control diabetes,Just visit http://herbsack.comHealth Question & Answer
I would talk to his Dr. about it. Alot of times they add other meds to the Metformin for better control. Many people also take a higher dose. It takes awhile to find out combinations of medicines work for the best control. He might want to see an Endocrinologist, they specialize in diabetes, but most Dr.s know alot about diabetes. If you are not satisfied in about 6 months, you might consider another Dr. Read as much as you can about it. This is pretty much a couples disease. You are both going to work together to make sure his sugar sugars stay controlled. Make sure he has regular eye exams by his eye Dr. Should he ever need the expensive diabetic medications go to www.needymeds.com, type in the brand name of the med. If it comes up, print the application and follow instructions exactly, or it will cause delays. also, if you have no insurance or a high co-pay, call around to other pharmacies in your area. You would be surprised at the difference in prices.Health Question & Answer