Type 2 Diabetes - Biguanide Based Oral Medication
Biguanides are a type of molecule used to manufactur a class of drugs for the treatment of prediabetes, diabetes and malaria.
Metformin is the most common biguanide oral drug in the UK, and indeed the world, for the initial treatment of type 2 diabetes.
It has it's origins in the French lilac plant, which has high levels of a substance called guanidine, one of the earliest forms of treatment.
Indeed, metformin was introduced in 1957, long after guanidine derived drugs were discontinued.
There are no health complications associated with metformin, and it can be used alongside any other oral drugs associated with type 2 diabetes.
Unlike some other aspects of diabetes treatment, metformin does not encourage weight gain.
In fact, it can cause feelings of nausea that can mean that the patient eats less.
Given that many type 2 patients are overweight, this is often seen as a benefit of this drug.
It can also cause stomach cramps and feelings of irritable bowel syndrome, but these are much reduced when it is taken with a meal, and these particular effects tend to wear off in time as the user becomes more accustomed to the drug.
The only precaution associated with metformin is that it is not absorbed by the body, so your health professional will only prescribe it if you have good kidney function, as it is passed out of the body in the urine.
Metformin is effective at both increasing good cholesterol and reducing bad cholesterol.
It also works on the liver by limiting the amount of glucose the liver produces when extra glucose is required - when exercising for example.
As mentioned above, metformin can cause a feeling of irritable bowel syndrome, and it can also have an adverse effect on vitamin B12, required by the nervous system, in that it reduces the body's capacity to absorb it.
Metformin itself cannot cause hypoglycaemia.
However, hypoglycaemia can occur when it is combined with sulphonylureas- gliclazide for example.
Alcoholics, pregnant women and nursing mothers, and anyone with liver disease or at risk of heart failure should not take metformin.
Metformin is the most common biguanide oral drug in the UK, and indeed the world, for the initial treatment of type 2 diabetes.
It has it's origins in the French lilac plant, which has high levels of a substance called guanidine, one of the earliest forms of treatment.
Indeed, metformin was introduced in 1957, long after guanidine derived drugs were discontinued.
There are no health complications associated with metformin, and it can be used alongside any other oral drugs associated with type 2 diabetes.
Unlike some other aspects of diabetes treatment, metformin does not encourage weight gain.
In fact, it can cause feelings of nausea that can mean that the patient eats less.
Given that many type 2 patients are overweight, this is often seen as a benefit of this drug.
It can also cause stomach cramps and feelings of irritable bowel syndrome, but these are much reduced when it is taken with a meal, and these particular effects tend to wear off in time as the user becomes more accustomed to the drug.
The only precaution associated with metformin is that it is not absorbed by the body, so your health professional will only prescribe it if you have good kidney function, as it is passed out of the body in the urine.
Metformin is effective at both increasing good cholesterol and reducing bad cholesterol.
It also works on the liver by limiting the amount of glucose the liver produces when extra glucose is required - when exercising for example.
As mentioned above, metformin can cause a feeling of irritable bowel syndrome, and it can also have an adverse effect on vitamin B12, required by the nervous system, in that it reduces the body's capacity to absorb it.
Metformin itself cannot cause hypoglycaemia.
However, hypoglycaemia can occur when it is combined with sulphonylureas- gliclazide for example.
Alcoholics, pregnant women and nursing mothers, and anyone with liver disease or at risk of heart failure should not take metformin.
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