Wellness

[Trinity11]

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@SeaMaiden wrote:

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@Trinity11 wrote:

Many studies are proving it prolongs life and especially in people with cancer. Numerous websites explain the mechanism of metformin.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/277679.php

Hopefully, the medication will not become outrageously priced as it is the most popular diabetic med on the market. It rarely causes hypoglycemia and it has a fairly good track record regarding side effects.

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@Trinity11  The LifeExtention foundation talks highly of it for prolonging life.  Many people have their DRs prescribe it to take  as a  supplement  without having blood sugar issues at all. 

I have an oncologist who prescribed it years ago. Apparently, a lot of this was just not known by the general public. I have had no recurrence.

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[151949]

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@SeaMaiden wrote:

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@Trinity11 wrote:

Many studies are proving it prolongs life and especially in people with cancer. Numerous websites explain the mechanism of metformin.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/277679.php

Hopefully, the medication will not become outrageously priced as it is the most popular diabetic med on the market. It rarely causes hypoglycemia and it has a fairly good track record regarding side effects.

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@Trinity11  The LifeExtention foundation talks highly of it for prolonging life.  Many people have their DRs prescribe it to take  as a  supplement  without having blood sugar issues at all. 

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Metformin - the regular one - not the timed release is so inexpensive they will give it to you for free at Publix. I only have to pay $2 copay for my 90 day supply of the timed release version.

They are studying now though the effects of antioxidants on Metformin - they believe antioxidants reduce it's effects.

[Catty2]

I'd be leary about going on it when you haven't been officially diagnosed.  I've had Type 2 for about 15 years and am still not on meds.  Try to control it through diet, but not always easy. 

[chrystaltree]

I don't believe there are any side effects with low does or Metformin but if your numbers are borderline, I would not jump right to Metformin. If I were you, I 'd take a nutritional approach.  Not a do it yourself thing, have your doctor refer you to a nutritionist for some counselling. 

[chrystaltree]

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@Catty2 wrote:

I'd be leary about going on it when you haven't been officially diagnosed.  I've had Type 2 for about 15 years and am still not on meds.  Try to control it through diet, but not always easy. 

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      What do you think Metformin is?  It's not insulin and while it can be used for Type 2 Diabetics, it is also used for situatuons like the one OP is in.  She hasn't been diagnosed because she has nothing to be diagnosed with.   They once called it pre-diabetes.  They don't use that term anymore.  They prescribe a very low does of Metformin to people whose blood sugar is slightly above normal.  They take it until their bs returns to normal and most patients see a nutritionist for a session or two.  I've been reading that with the epidemic of Type 2, Metformin should be prescribed much more than it is rather than waiting until patients develop Type 2.   Although, I agree with a diet change first....but only if she's the type of person who change the way she eats. 

[151949]

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@chrystaltree wrote:

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@Catty2 wrote:

I'd be leary about going on it when you haven't been officially diagnosed.  I've had Type 2 for about 15 years and am still not on meds.  Try to control it through diet, but not always easy. 

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      What do you think Metformin is?  It's not insulin and while it can be used for Type 2 Diabetics, it is also used for situatuons like the one OP is in.  She hasn't been diagnosed because she has nothing to be diagnosed with.   They once called it pre-diabetes.  They don't use that term anymore.  They prescribe a very low does of Metformin to people whose blood sugar is slightly above normal.  They take it until their bs returns to normal and most patients see a nutritionist for a session or two.  I've been reading that with the epidemic of Type 2, Metformin should be prescribed much more than it is rather than waiting until patients develop Type 2.   Although, I agree with a diet change first....but only if she's the type of person who change the way she eats. 

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Yes, they feel putting patients on Metformin eary protects their organs from damages due to high glucose that actually occur early, before the diagnose is confirmed most notably neuropathy.

[SilleeMee]

I was in that same boat as you @Shanus. All my numbers were good except for the a1c which mine was in the pre-diabetic range. My doc wasn't too concerned about it and let it go for another year during which I started changing up my diet somewhat but nothing drastic. Mostly more fiber and more exercise. These things paid off  and my a1c came down to normal. Of course only your doctor can weigh any risk factors that you may have to determine if you need to be placed on medication. I did not display any risk factors at the time of examination so that could be why I never was given the Metformin.

Another thing...I had been taking a statin for borderline-high LDL prior to the discovery of my abnormal a1c and my doc said the statin is know to cause a1c numbers to rise. I hope to get free of the statin upon my next check-up and I think I have a good chance of this happening because of diet changes which will further lower my a1c number.

[Shanus]

@SilleeMee Thanks for the reply. There is diabetes on both sides of my family. I can't take statins (all negative side effects in commercials) & cholesterol is not high, but could be better. I already take bp meds. All 3 are risk for stroke. My doc figured since bp is under control, can't do anything to lower cholesterol, so should maybe control the diabetes 2 threat. 

[kittymomNC]

My Dad's entire family was diabetic, so my siblings and I were at risk, but so far so good.  My blood glucose the last few years was at the top of the range or sometimes very slightly above, but my A1C was fine.  Then a year or two ago my doctor told me my A1C was just slightly high.  We talked, and I immediately knew what had probably caused it.  I had found a new artisan bread at a local store called Band of Bakers Pan de Casa... it's a HUGE loaf.  It was so good that sometimes I would cut two or three slices, butter and toast them, and then top them with apple butter.  Oh boy... I knew I shouldn't be doing it so often, and I told her about it.  She almost rolled off her chair... saying "that would do it"!!  So, now I seldom buy it, if I do NEED a slice, it's only one, not three at a time!  That and a couple of other changes got my A1C back where it needed to be, but I know now I have to be more careful.  Such as, no more overdoing french toast or pancakes for breakfast.  Not sure how long it's been since I had those, but I just saw a recipe for Pumpkin Pancakes that cuts down on the sugar and white flour, so I may try that. 

[Shanus]

@jaxs mom  Hi. I've been on a modified diabetic diet for 20 yrs. It's Atkins, but a few more carbs that are low glycemic. I only weigh 110 lbs. and walk my dogs regularly as well as lift light weights. Wouldn't you assume w/ a family history of diabetes, I've been doing everything possible to not have it? Metformin is the last resort as a precaution and also because my diet is so limited that because I walk briskly 3-5 miles a day, it's difficult to maintain my current weight. With Metformin, my doc said I can increase fruits and starchy veggies that will add calories to my diet each day.