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What Is Metformin?
Metformin is the generic form of Glucophage. This can help to treat type-two diabetes. The active ingredient in metformin is metformin hydrochloride. Physicians prescribe it as an oral drug for adults who are over 18 years old. People with type one or two can take this medication. They can also take this if they have type-two diabetes and they are not insulin resistant. There are some metformin benefits that everyone should know.
If you take metformin, your body will be more responsive to the other medications OR treatments that your doctor prescribes for you to manage type-two diabetes. The medication is also known as an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor (or a biguanide).
It works by decreasing glucose production in the liver and improving how cells respond to insulin. If blood sugar levels decrease too much, it can cause hypoglycemia. This can cause dizziness, shakiness, hunger, and tiredness. This all should go away once the food is consumed. This is because it occurs so often when taking metformin if the dose is high enough.
This drug requires twice-daily dosing with meals.
Usage of Metformin
These are some problems in which you can use metformin as a drug:
Obesity
It can be used to treat obesity. This is because metformin is capable of reducing insulin resistance. That means people who are obese can benefit from metformin. This is because it should be able to help them with their body weight and other obesity-related issues. These are like heart problems, etc.
Diabetes
Metformin has been used for a long time now in the treatment of diabetes mellitus type-II (noninsulin-dependent). Its main purpose is to reduce blood glucose levels by increasing the action of insulin. This is at the same time preventing liver cells from producing too much glucose. This helps bring down high levels of sugar in diabetics quickly enough before any damage occurs. It can be due to increased amounts of sugar in one’s system. This may lead to organ failure later on if not treated properly early.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)
It is used to treat the symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome in women. PCOS can lead to insulin resistance and high levels of testosterone. This can then result in a number of other issues for affected women. These are including irregular periods, problems with fertility, etc.
Diabetic Ketoacidosis
It is also useful when treating diabetic ketoacidosis because it prevents this condition from happening since metformin reduces blood glucose levels. This means people who have been diagnosed with diabetes but may still be at risk of developing diabetic ketoacidosis (because they are not fully aware of how to manage their diabetes) can also benefit from taking metformin.
Benefits of Metformin
These are some benefits of Metformin:
Improves Fertility
This improves fertility generally in both men and women. In women, it increases the capability to produce eggs. In men, it increases the production of sperm.
Lower Cholesterol Levels
Patients who take this drug tend to experience lower LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels than those who don’t take it along with exercise.
Helps in Weight Loss
A study shows that patients who took metformin had a modest weight loss when compared to those who didn’t take it. They lost an average of about five pounds more than their counterparts.
Improves Insulin Sensitivity
This means that cells respond to insulin better. In other words, the medication helps reduce blood sugar levels.
Helps In Acne Treatment
Many people have found it helpful for treating acne because metformin reduces their body’s ability to make testosterone which causes more oil production in your skin resulting in those annoying breakouts! Metformin does not cure acne but rather treats it as a side benefit if you take this drug for diabetes purposes.
Lowers Cancer Risk
This is one of the metformin benefits. Metformin can reduce the risk of cancer in men and women with diabetes. This is by up to 48% according to some studies. This is because it reduces insulin resistance which causes an increased production of sex hormones like estrogen; this increases risk factors for hormone-dependent cancers such as breast, endometrial and ovarian cancers. It also lowers blood glucose levels which results in a decreased rate of cell division that can lead to tumors.
Reduces Heart Disease Risks
It does not only lower cholesterol but helps prevent heart disease too since there are fewer cases of cardiovascular events among people using Metformin compared to those who do not take it
Improves Blood Sugar Control
This is one of the metformin benefits. If a person has type-two diabetes and they take metformin along with their other medications, this drug helps to improve blood sugar control in people who are over 18 years of age which is not true for all diabetic drugs because some can cause low blood sugar levels when taken alone. This medication works better than insulin injections or newer oral anti-diabetic drugs called dipeptidyl peptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibitors such as saxagliptin, sitagliptin, and linagliptin. However, these new medications also help improve the body’s response to insulin-like metformin does but without causing hypoglycemia or weight gain.
Increases Life Span
Studies show that Metformin users have an increased life span. This drug decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease for people with diabetes by about 48% or even more when it is combined with other medications like insulin, sulfonylureas, and thiazolidinediones.
Prevents Dementia
Metformin users are at lower risk to develop Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. This is because the drug increases insulin sensitivity and reduces inflammation, both of which protect against neurodegeneration.
Prevents Heart Failure
This is one of the metformin benefits. Metformin protects against heart failure by helping reduce blood pressure levels as well as preventing cardiac hypertrophy (increased thickness) in patients with type-two diabetes. If you have a history of heart problems or other diseases that increase your chances of developing this condition then it may be best to ask your doctor first before taking this medication even though it helps prevent certain conditions associated with heart failure like obesity, high cholesterol, hypertension etcetera!
Improves Cancer Survival Rates
Patients who take metformin after being diagnosed with cancer have improved rates of survival compared to those who don’t take the drug. This is true for cancers that are hormone-dependent like ovarian, endometrial, or breast cancers in women
Prevents Diabetes
This is one of the metformin benefits. Metformin has been shown to prevent diabetes by up to 58% which means it can delay the onset of type two diabetes for individuals at risk of developing this disease! It also helps reduce blood sugar levels and makes cells more sensitive to insulin.
Helps To Manage PCOS Symptoms
This is one of the metformin benefits. A common disorder among women called polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) causes an imbalance in female sex hormones due to cysts on one’s ovaries. The condition may cause problems pregnant but metformin treats it by improving ovulation and reducing insulin resistance which can lead to diabetes.
Side Effects of Metformin
These are some side effects of Metformin :
Physical Weakness
This is mostly caused by the lack of energy it provides to your body.
Hypoglycemia
This happens when you are taking metformin along with other medications or without eating food while on this drug.
Nausea And Vomiting
if this becomes extreme, contact a medical professional immediately.
Diarrhea
This occurs after some time but usually goes away once your body adjusts to the medication. Some people might experience constipation instead. This can lead to abdominal pain. That may even be severe enough for them to seek help from their doctors right away.
Lactic Acidosis
This is very rare so do not panic unless you have several signs. These are such as being tired, having muscle aches throughout your whole body. Some others are having flu-like symptoms as well as nausea and vomiting.
Allergic Reactions
It warrants a visit to your doctor if you experience hives, swelling, or difficulty breathing.
Abdominal Pain
This is most likely caused by stomach and intestinal gas.
Blurred vision
Contact your doctor immediately if this becomes a serious problem or it doesn’t go away after you stop taking metformin.
Tiredness
If this happens, just lay down in bed to rest for at least an hour. This is before resuming activities such as working out or driving somewhere.
Frequent Urination
You can prevent accidents from happening. This is while going to the bathroom too often. This is why you should drink lots of water throughout the day. It is to stay hydrated which will, in turn, improve how frequent urination occurs in people who take Metformin.
Loss of Appetite
This might not be a bad side effect of taking Metformin since it helps people with diabetes manage their weight.
Rash
This occurs when your body has an allergic reaction. It is to either something contained within metformin or any other medication, food item, etc. It’s best if you check the label before consuming anything during treatment with metformin.
Fungal Infection
This is rare in that it results in fungal infections in the mouth or vagina. If it occurs, contact your doctor right away.
Tips To Manage Side Effects of Metformin
Side effects like these are usually temporary. Sometimes they may persist for longer periods. The other name for this is metformin intolerance. If your symptoms are too severe then speak with your doctor. It is about whether it would be safe to stop taking metformin.
There are some tips to manage the side effects of metformin. These are
- The best way to manage the side effects of metformin is by taking it with food. You should not eat this immediately before or after taking your dose. This will help slow down the drug absorption into the bloodstream.
- When starting out on metformin you should always speak with your doctor. It is about whether it’s safe for you to drink alcohol while using this medication.
- Many doctors recommend that their patients avoid drinking altogether. This is because there hasn’t been enough research done concerning its safety levels in combination with metformin use. However, others say occasional social drinking is fine as long as you’re aware of any potential risks. You should also know preventative measures that can be taken. This is if problems arise during consumption such as drinking in moderation.
- Be careful with changes in diet when you’re on metformin. It can be easy to eat more carbs than usual, which could negatively affect your blood sugar levels.
- When you’re starting out on metformin it’s also a good idea to be aware of what foods are high in carbohydrates. This is because this will allow you to make healthier choices when grocery shopping or eating out.
- Some people find that taking their medication with food can cause problems such as feeling nauseous or vomiting. If this happens then try switching up the time of day that you take your dose. Then you can see how things go from there.
Conclusion
Doctors prescribe Metformin for Type 2 diabetes. Study shows people who take the medication can live up to five years longer. This is in comparison to those who do not use it. They can also reduce their risk of heart disease by as much as 25%. The article has given you some information about this powerful drug that may help improve your health in many ways. To learn more about this or any other drug, visit Mantra Care.
If you are facing diabetes-related issues, MantraCare is here to help. Book your free trial online diabetes consultation session now to connect with a specialist diabetologist.
