metformin= miracle pill ??

1234usmc

Saw this online today. This is the kind of stuff my dr. has been telling me about trying to get me to start taking it.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=11553026

Hearts_2015

I'd suggest you consider doing you doing a bit more research. It's a good drug when a diabetic needs it but to call it an anti-aging drug? Well that sounds like a pitch for someone looking to make money on it in ways it was never intended. I'm not familiar with that paper...but it sounds pretty far fetched.

Your doctor has been trying to get you to take it as an anti-aging pill? Or as a medicine to lower your diabetes numbers?

1234usmc

I was able to get my a1c down with low carb diet but she said more and more studies are showing anti cancer fighting results and well as over all health. She never mentioned anti aging. I fought it for a while but finally gave in to taking 500mg once a day. Just thought the article was interesting, not saying its fact.

wtskinner

Hearts_2015 wrote: »

I'd suggest you consider doing you doing a bit more research. It's a good drug when a diabetic needs it but to call it an anti-aging drug? Well that sounds like a pitch for someone looking to make money on it in ways it was never intended. I'm not familiar with that paper...but it sounds pretty far fetched.

Your doctor has been trying to get you to take it as an anti-aging pill? Or as a medicine to lower your diabetes numbers?

Agreed, definitely not a miracle pill. If you are just starting to hit higher blood sugars, it is usually a 1st go to for doctors because it will bring blood sugar down and a lot of diabetics stay on it because there aren't really any documented bad side affects for staying on it long term. However, if you are a long term diabetic (10 - 20 yrs+) it won't fix bad diet problems. When i'm on that, even in combination with other meds and some insulin, it all still doesn't keep my blood sugars under control even at the maximum doses unless I'm on a low carb diet along with it.

1234usmc

My title was a little facetious. I know it's not a miracle pill, but when I kept refusing to take it, my Dr kept pointing out similar studies. The studies showing promising results with helping prevent several types of cancer hit home to me as a cancer survivor. I was able to finally get my sugar down with low carb combined with exercise. She asked if I was going to be able to keep this up the rest of my life. I said well, I hope so but I can't guarantee it. So she talked me into taking 500mg once a day as a little added insurance. She said complications later in life are lessened the longer you can keep it under control. Having a mother on dialysis and watching her and her families struggles has been an eye opener. Of coarse low carb compared to the consequences of not controlling my sugar should be easy, but its not. Not for me anyway. I do the best I can and hopefully I can keep it up. The mentioned article is promising though. For the person that said to more research, I have dont exhaustive research. There are more and more stories talking about the benefits of metformin. Am I getting them from such a low dose, maybe not, but I feel like I am tyring.

RalfLott

wtskinner wrote: »

If you are just starting to hit higher blood sugars, it is usually a 1st go to for doctors because it will bring blood sugar down and a lot of diabetics stay on it because there aren't really any documented bad side affects for staying on it long term. However, if you are a long term diabetic (10 - 20 yrs+) it won't fix bad diet problems. When i'm on that, even in combination with other meds and some insulin, it all still doesn't keep my blood sugars under control even at the maximum doses unless I'm on a low carb diet along with it.

Exactly my experience. I would only suggest turning to brand Glucophage if you're having GI "trouble" with one of the Metformin generics.

Unknown

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