![]() ![]() Standard metformin is taken two or three times per day. Once I dropped my carbs to 30-50 grams per day – something that took me weeks to do – any symptoms of gastric upset went away.Īsking your doctor for the extended-release version of metformin can keep these symptoms at bay, and so can tracking your diet. I experienced some mild side effects when I started taking metformin, and I found that the symptoms correlated with how many carbs I had in my diet. This means there’s less chance of getting an upset stomach from the medicine, but also means it may take a bit longer to experience the full benefit when getting started on metformin. Many people start with a small metformin dose – 500 milligrams once a day – and build up over a few weeks until the dosage reaches least 1,500 milligrams daily. Nausea and gastric distress such as stomach pain, gas, bloating, and diarrhea are somewhat common among people starting up on metformin.įor some people, taking large doses of metformin right away causes gastric distress, so it’s common for doctors to start small and build the dosage up over time. Metformin does cause side effects in some people, but many of these are mild, and are associated with taking the medicine for the first time. What are the most common side effects of metformin? ![]() ![]() ![]() Metformin is considered a safe, cheap, and effective medication worldwide, and is widely accessible in most countries. It’s not so much a quick fix with overnight results as it is an important component of a larger health regimen that keeps the condition manageable. Metformin is commonly used to help people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood sugar levels. For most, metformin works to bring down blood sugar gradually when combined with a healthy diet and exercise (I found Adam Brown’s book, Bright Spots & Landmines: The Diabetes Guide I Wish Someone Had Handed Me to be helpful, particularly in deciding what to eat and not to eat). It also decreases the amount of glucose that our bodies absorb from the foods we eat. As it lowers glucose production in the liver, metformin also lowers blood sugar by increasing the body’s sensitivity to insulin. The medicine does not increase insulin levels in the body, but instead lessens the amount of sugar the body produces and absorbs. Metformin, which is also sold under the trade names Glucophage, Fortamet, Glumetza, and Riomet, is of the class of drugs called biguanides, which inhibit the production of glucose in the liver. But it is an effective medicine, and its interaction with the body is complex and interesting. It might not solve all your problems in the blink of an eye. It can take four or five days to experience the full benefit, depending on your dosage. I learned – as millions of people with type 2 diabetes have – that metformin doesn’t immediately lower your blood sugar. I expected it to work like insulin in pill form and drop my blood sugar (around 180 mg/dl at the time) right away. I also read that metformin has side effects for some people. It’s not linked to weight gain and it puts very little stress on the internal organs. I soon learned why metformin is considered the first line of defense for people with the condition, as it is safe, effective, and affordable. When I was first diagnosed with type 2 diabetes at the age of 58, my doctor immediately put me on metformin, a medication I didn’t know much about. It was updated by Eliza Skoler in March 2021. Starting on metformin? My journey as a type 2 of learning how to deal with side effects, “faux lows,” and learning more about this therapy.Įditor’s note: this article is in Marcia’s perspective of living with type 2 diabetes, as written by Timothy Hay in January 2019. ![]()
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