Metformin is a medicine that can effectively treat type 2 diabetes. It is one of the most common treatments for this type of diabetes and is often the first treatment offered when you have diabetes 2. It has more functions in the body and works in several ways to control blood sugar levels.
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When should you use Metformin?
When you have diabetes, it means there is too much sugar in the blood. For type 2 diabetes this may be due to various causes. This may include reduced insulin production, which will help the cells to absorb the sugar in the blood. In other cases there may be enough insulin production, but the insulin can not get into the correct cells because they are blocked. Both problems may be due to overweight.
Metformin is a drug that primarily provides for people with type 2 diabetes due to obesity and who have not had success with lifestyle changes with diet, exercise and weight loss.
How does it work?
Metformin contains the active substance with the same name and helps to control high blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetics. The treatment helps in several ways by:
- Increase sugar burn in the muscles so that blood sugar is lowered.
- Increase the sensitivity of the cells to insulin so that the insulin can better transport the sugar into the muscles.
- Reduces liver sugar production
- The drug helps to get the sugar taken up the right places so that it does not remain in the blood and create high blood sugar levels.
It may take some time to start treatment until the maximum effect can be expected. It usually takes a few days before the medicine has achieved its full effect in the body.
What are the benefits?
Diabetes treatment has some great advantages over other type 2 diabetes treatments. One of the biggest benefits is that you do not risk getting too low blood sugar, which can be very uncomfortable. Too low blood sugar is one of the risks of insulin treatment. This is among the reasons why you first try to use metformin as a treatment for type 2 diabetes.
There are also studies indicating that treatment can help prevent cardiovascular disease.
In addition, the treatment works in several different ways, as described above, which can provide effective treatment of the disease.
How do you use the tablets?
Metformin is available in tablet form, and it is therefore easy to take comparisons with, for example, injections. When you start treatment, you will usually get a low dose to see if it is enough to get symptoms under control and get your body used for treatment gradually.
Initial dose: 500 mg 1-2 times a day.
Subsequent: The dose may be increased by 500 mg per week.
The maximum dose you should take is 1000 mg twice a day.
The tablets should be taken in conjunction with the main meals. It’s breakfast, lunch or dinner.
If you have impaired liver function, the dose should be reduced and adjusted accordingly. Therefore, you should always contact your doctor to find the dose that suits you best.
Possible side effects
It is individual how diabetics respond to treatment. Therefore, some will experience some side effects when they start on the tablets. The most common, like more than 10 out of 100, may experience:
- Nausea
- Pain in the stomach region
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Reduced appetite
More unusual side effects may include reduced taste sensation, redness and too much lactic acid in the blood. For long periods of time, vitamin B12 deficiency may occur. It is always important to keep an eye on the symptoms when starting a new treatment.
If you have any side effects, consult your doctor for advice and guidance on the dose or the start of other treatments. If you experience severe or unpleasant side effects, contact a doctor or healthcare professional immediately.
Who can not use the treatment?
There are various diseases where it is not advisable to use Metformin for the treatment of diabetes. These include:
- Heart disease
- Liver Diseases
- Kidney disease
- Alcoholism
- Diabetic coma
- Major operations
If you have any of these problems, you should inform your doctor before starting treatment so that it can be considered if you are suitable for treatment.
If you suffer from dehydration or severe infections, you should stop treatment. There are also some medicines that will not be used at the same time. Therefore, you must always state all medicines you take so that your doctor can assess whether it will cause problems.
Who is suitable for treatment?
Metformin is primarily intended for type 2 diabetics who have not achieved satisfactory results using lifestyle changes such as weight loss, healthier diet and more exercise. It is often the first treatment offered, as it has a number of advantages over other diabetes treatments. It is a drug commonly used for obese people suffering from type 2 diabetes.
Can you buy Metformin online in the UK?
Yes, it is possible to purchase this diabetes treatment online through approved online clinics. It is via a medical consultation online where a doctor will look at your health information. It is important that you have already been diagnosed with diabetes because blood tests must be performed.
If you are suitable for treatment, your doctor will print a prescription for you, which is sent directly to a registered pharmacy. They will make sure you send the medicine directly to you so that you can get started quickly.
