If you have been diagnosed with Type II Diabetes then you are probably familiar with Metformin. If you're relatively new to diabetes then you can use this as a guide to familiarize yourself with one of the most trusted and frequently used medications for Type 2 Diabetes. Metformin is good for overweight patients who have diabetes mellitus type 2.
Although Metformin is primarily used for Type II Diabetes, it is being used more and more for PCOS (Polycystic ovary syndrome) NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) and premature puberty. As it hasn't been extensively studied, the benefit of Metformin in NAFLD may only be temporary. Some randomized controlled trials have found significant improvement with its use. The evidence, however, is still insufficient. Metformin has also been investigated for other diseases where insulin resistance plays an important factor.
As mentioned previously, Metformin is the first-line drug of choice for the treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2, particularly those who are obese, overweight, and/or have normal kidney function. The way Metformin works is by suppressing glucose production by the liver. The drug helps reduce LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Metformin is not associated with weight gain. Glibenclamide and metformin are the only two oral antidiabetics in the World Health Organization Model List of Essential Medicines.
Just like any drug, Metformin comes with a few side effects. Some of the common side effects include: cold-like symptoms, diarrhea, headache, indigestion, upset stomach, mild weight gain, nausea, gas, vomiting and temporary metallic taste. If you take Metformin and experience the following contact your doctor immediately: severe allergic reactions like itching, hives, rash, difficulty breathing, swelling of the mouth, face, lips or tongue, tightness in the chest, dizziness, light-headedness, fast breathing, muscle pain or weakness, unusual drowsiness, persistent sore throat, irregular or slow heartbeat and persistent stomach pain. These are severe side effects of Metformin. You may or may not experience any of these side effects, but it's just good to be aware. Metformin is associated with a low risk of hypoglycemia and when prescribed appropriately, can also cause gastrointestinal upset, which is the most common adverse affect.
The medicine was first synthesized and found to reduce blood sugar in the 1920s. During the next two decades Metformin was forgotten as research shifted to insulin and other antidiabetic drugs. Around the late 1940s interest in the drug resurfaced once several reports surfaced that it could reduce blood sugar levels in people. A French physician named Jean Sterne published the first clinical trial of Metformin as a treatment for diabetes in 1957. By 1955 the drug made its way to the United States and today is believed to be the most widely prescribed antidiabetic drug in the world. Last year's report indicates that more than 48 million prescriptions were filled for its generic formulations.
Although Metformin is primarily used for Type II Diabetes, it is being used more and more for PCOS (Polycystic ovary syndrome) NAFLD (non-alcoholic fatty liver disease) and premature puberty. As it hasn't been extensively studied, the benefit of Metformin in NAFLD may only be temporary. Some randomized controlled trials have found significant improvement with its use. The evidence, however, is still insufficient. Metformin has also been investigated for other diseases where insulin resistance plays an important factor.
As mentioned previously, Metformin is the first-line drug of choice for the treatment of diabetes mellitus type 2, particularly those who are obese, overweight, and/or have normal kidney function. The way Metformin works is by suppressing glucose production by the liver. The drug helps reduce LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Metformin is not associated with weight gain. Glibenclamide and metformin are the only two oral antidiabetics in the World Health Organization Model List of Essential Medicines.
Just like any drug, Metformin comes with a few side effects. Some of the common side effects include: cold-like symptoms, diarrhea, headache, indigestion, upset stomach, mild weight gain, nausea, gas, vomiting and temporary metallic taste. If you take Metformin and experience the following contact your doctor immediately: severe allergic reactions like itching, hives, rash, difficulty breathing, swelling of the mouth, face, lips or tongue, tightness in the chest, dizziness, light-headedness, fast breathing, muscle pain or weakness, unusual drowsiness, persistent sore throat, irregular or slow heartbeat and persistent stomach pain. These are severe side effects of Metformin. You may or may not experience any of these side effects, but it's just good to be aware. Metformin is associated with a low risk of hypoglycemia and when prescribed appropriately, can also cause gastrointestinal upset, which is the most common adverse affect.
The medicine was first synthesized and found to reduce blood sugar in the 1920s. During the next two decades Metformin was forgotten as research shifted to insulin and other antidiabetic drugs. Around the late 1940s interest in the drug resurfaced once several reports surfaced that it could reduce blood sugar levels in people. A French physician named Jean Sterne published the first clinical trial of Metformin as a treatment for diabetes in 1957. By 1955 the drug made its way to the United States and today is believed to be the most widely prescribed antidiabetic drug in the world. Last year's report indicates that more than 48 million prescriptions were filled for its generic formulations.
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Learn more about Type 2 Diabetes . Stop by Steve Johenson's site where you can find out all about Metformin and what it can do for your diabetes.
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