When to Take Metformin Before or After Meals:
Is metformin a miracle drug? You might think that because it is one of the most commonly used drugs to treat type 2 diabetes, not type 1. Metformin is also used to treat prediabetes, obesity, and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). It costs less than other diabetes medicines and has been sold in the U.S. since 1995. When to take metformin—before or after meals—is one of the most common questions I get. This article has the answer for you. Whether you are just starting to take metformin or have been taking it for a while, I am sure you will learn something you did not know before.
How long before Metformin starts to work?
Metformin tells the liver to stop making sugar and put it into the bloodstream. This makes the blood sugar level go down. Metformin makes it easier for your muscles to use insulin, which makes this process go much faster. This is known as being sensitive to insulin. Metformin starts to work 2 days after you take it, and 4-5 days after that, your blood sugar will go down. Over 3 months, a 1000-mg dose of metformin can bring down an A1C level by up to 2%. A1C, also called haemoglobin A1C, is a 3-month average of how much sugar is in the blood. So, if your A1C was 10%, it might go down to 8% in 3 months.
How long does metformin keep working in your body?
Metformin’s blood level is at its highest (its peak concentration) 1–3 hours after you take the pill. Metformin has a half-life of between 2 and 6 hours. The half-life of a drug is the amount of time it takes for its concentration to drop by half. The half-life, on the other hand, could take up to 14 hours. Metformin stays in your body for different amounts of time. Metformin will stay in your body longer if, for example, you have a slow metabolism, have taken a lot of it, or have been taking it for a long time. People who are older may also have a slower rate of getting rid of the drug, and if you are overweight, the drug will stay in your body longer.
Different kinds of Metformin
Metformin is also known as the following:
- Glucophage
- Glucophage XR
- Fortamet
- Glumetza
Metformin is a good medicine for diabetes, but it can cause digestive problems like
- stomachache
- nausea
- bloating
- gas
The longer-acting version (ER) helps relieve stomach pain. ER, on the other hand, costs more than immediate release (IR). If you can’t pay for your medicine, call the company and ask about savings programmes for prescriptions.
In 2020, the Food and Drug Administration said that some metformin-release products had nitrosamines that were not meant to be there. Several companies voluntarily pulled their long-acting metformin off the market.
How much Metformin should I take?
Metformin comes in many different forms and doses for adults with diabetes.
Tablets that work right away:
- 500 mg, 850 mg, and 1000 mg
- long-acting tablet (XR) and liquid form
- 500 mg, 750 mg, and 1000 mg
Most doctors will tell you to take 500 mg once or twice a day. After two weeks, your dose may go up from 1500 mg to 2500 mg per day until your blood sugar reaches the goal level. You may need more than metformin to get your blood sugar levels where they should be. It doesn’t mean your diabetes is getting worse. Metformin works on the liver, while other drugs work on other organs. Most people take more than one medicine at a time.
Metformin should be taken either before or after a meal.
Don’t let digestive side effects dissuade you from taking metformin. Not everyone feels pain in their stomach, and if they do, it may go away after a few weeks of treatment. So, should metformin be taken before or after a meal? Metformin should always be taken right after a meal. Metformin with a slow release can also help settle an upset stomach. Ask your doctor before stopping metformin if the symptoms don’t go away after a few weeks.
What Is Metformin’s Role in Lactic Acidosis?
This is a rare but very serious condition that can happen to people who take metformin and have severe kidney or liver disease, are dehydrated, or have acute or unstable heart failure. These are the symptoms of lactic acidosis:
- Fatigue \sWeakness
- Muscle pain
- Drowsiness
- Stomachache
- Strange heartbeat.
Find out if you have kidney disease by asking your doctor.
Vitamin B12 and Metformin
Metformin may lower the amount of vitamin B12 in your body, especially if you take it for a long time. Megaloblastic anaemia is a type of anaemia in which the red blood cells are abnormally big. Vitamin B12 can help stop this from happening. Vitamin B12 is also
- creates DNA (your genetic fingerprint)
- keeps nerve and blood cells in good shape.
Causes of B12 Deficiency
- Constipation
- Lose weight
- Poor appetite
- Tiredness
- Weakness
- Numbness
- Tingling \sDepression
- Lack of balance
- Confusion
- Dementia
- Pain in the tongue and mouth
Vitamin B12 only comes from animal products and is added to some foods, like some breakfast cereals and nutritional yeast, to make them healthier. Those who don’t eat meat should take a vitamin B12 supplement. Your doctor can ask a lab to check how much vitamin B12 you have in your body.
Can metformin make you lose your hair?
More and more women are getting alopecia or hair loss. Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is a complicated disorder of the hormones that cause:
- Irregular periods
- Your cells don’t respond well to insulin, so you have high blood sugar.
- Too much weight
- Type 2 diabetes
- a lot of cholesterol
- Heart trouble
PCOS can make you lose your hair. Women with PCOS are given metformin, so hair loss is caused by PCOS, not metformin. If you don’t get enough vitamin B12, your hair follicles don’t get enough oxygenated blood, which makes you lose your hair. If you take metformin for a long time, you may not get enough vitamin B12. If you are losing hair or noticing that your hair is getting thinner, ask your doctor to check your levels of vitamin B12 and iron.
Now that we’ve talked about the basics of metformin, let’s bust a few myths and answer some common questions and worries.
Metformin Illusions
Metformin stops a CT scan with contrast from working.
Current recommendations don’t say that people with mild to moderate renal failure should stop taking metformin before a CT scan with contrast. If your kidneys aren’t working very well, you may need to stop taking metformin 48 hours before the test. Your medical team will tell you what to do.
Metformin raises cholesterol levels.
Metformin has been shown to lower triglycerides and LDL cholesterol, which is the bad cholesterol (fats in the blood).
Metformin is not safe to take during pregnancy.
Metformin use during pregnancy has not been shown to affect how the baby grows and develops.
Metformin and Kidney Function
Before giving you metformin, your doctor will check how well your kidneys work. Your doctor will check your glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and your kidney’s work. Your doctor will check your glomerular filtration rate (GFR). GFR is a way to measure how well your kidneys get rid of waste and extra fluid from your body. Metformin shouldn’t be used if the GFR is very low.
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