Can someone tell me if the diabetic drug (pill) Metformin starts to work right away or does it take time?
Does the diabetic pill Metformin work immediately?
Question posted by lauridius on 1 April 2004
Last updated on 3 February 2019 by mralan1
5 Answers
mralan1
3 Feb 2019
From my experience with metformin prescribed by my primary care physician was, and still is 500 mg twice a day. After a number of years taking this dosage daily, I don't feel that metformin is working for me as it should. I recently informed my Dr. on Jan 24th, this year (2019), that my glucose numbers are not coming down, and that I would not mind if he prescribed some type of insulin for me. He didn't reply to my comment. When I wake in the morning my glucose is 170 or higher. I go to the VA in Providence, RI.. Never once at any of my appointments has my Dr. checked any part of me below my waist. I sit on the bed, and pull up my shirt. He presses on my stomach, then has me take several deep breaths as he listens with his stethascope, and that's it. He doesn't comment.
Since he is not prescribing insulin for me, and he knows my mother died from type 1 diabetes turning her pancreas into a cancer, then going to her liver, it puzzles me why no comment from him regarding putting me on some type of insulin, pills, liquid. I think I'm going to do the Donald Trump thing and say to him "Your Fired".
Anonymous2020
25 Feb 2017
I feel that though metformin reduces sugar leel, it does not cure it it all or even help the body resist it.
When I first found out I had pre-diabetes my sugar was 140 after food. I was eating twice as much as I do now. And I was at 180 pound weight. I am now 150 pound and eat only half the food but in 3 years my sugar with metformin is 220 or more. If I don't take it for a day, it reaches 300.
I am really sad that I took metformin, feels like I ruined my life now. It is like blood pressure medicine, difficult to leave it once you start taking it. Not to mention the side effects.
I have now started drinking honey lemon juice, bittergourd juice and I am at 210 after food without metformin. Hopefully with some exercise I can get it down further. I may look towards ayurveda treatment since it helps naturally.
If it worsens I may go back to metformin but that will be the last resort.
jdode
24 Jan 2018
Years ago, Metformin did a good job of keeping my blood sugar down to levels of 110-140. Then, I had a long illness and went off it for 5 years, even though my blood sugar levels were 150-300. When I went back on Metformin, my blood sugar level was 150-225 and it didn't seem to be having any effect. A year later, I saw a different doctor and after a few months he increased my dose from 500 to 1000. after a couple of months, it didn't seem to make any change in my blood sugar. However, I did something different with my diet and I had immediate change. I stopped drinking coffee and I started eating collard greens everyday. After doing some research, I found that some people develop insulin resistance when drinking coffee, while others do not. Also, I discovered that collard greens are very high in antioxidants and that allows cells to be more receptive to insulin.
The first day that I stopped the coffee and ate the collards, I had a dramatically lowered blood sugar to 110-120. It's been one week of no coffee and daily vegetable and collard intake and the low sugar count is persisting. I have experimented with eating bread with my meal and it raises the sugar level to 140. I will see what happens with Metformin 500, while on the no coffee, veggie diet with collards and bread. I hope this information is helpful.
dbatista
22 May 2018
I have been a type II diabetic for 23 years now. I have used each and everyone of the pills and insulin out there. I can say this with confidence: metformin is the only diabetic medication that really works. Some insulins do work but only partially. Lantus/Basaglar have some effect but not much, basically only make me gain lots of weight. I have lots of resistance to insulin. I stopped the metformin some time ago because the side effects are horrible, give me diarrhea. I can only take it if I know I'm going to be close to toilet. However the moment I start taking it my blood sugar just goes down to almost tolerant levels.
I tried taking only 500 but that did not work, so I'm now taking 1000 twice a day. I have found that if I take as I start to eat with some food already in my stomach the side effects are much better. Lantus works ok with taking metformin. I put 35 units twice a day and it is keeping it around 240 which for me is outstanding. I'm also using Apidra or Novolog at the start of a meal and that helps a lot. Apidra and Nololog work really good.
Now the only way I can avoid taking metformin is if I use Victoza. I have to use the full daily dosage for it works like a charm. But of course my Molina Health Care (Obamacare gargage) refuses to pay for it even though it is in the formulary and my doctors have requested it 3 times. They put it in BYETTA 5MG and it did not work.
In conclusion a combination of metformin, lantus and apidra will keep you alive. If you can get victoza you can get rid of the metformin and put a lower quantity of lantus.
Hope this help...
jdode
27 May 2018
dbatista... Thanks for mentioning the diarrhea. I have had chronic diarrhea since going back on the Metformin. I had no idea what was causing it. I had to stop using the time released pill, because I would find the pill in the toilet 6 hours later. Now, I'm taking 1G in the morning and 500mg in the evening, if needed. As for the diarrhea, I have found relief by eating instant mashed potatoes throughout the day.
Years ago, I was discovered to have elevated BS prior to a gallbladder surgery. I started taking glucophage after that surgery. I assumed the diarrhea was due to the gallbladder being taken out and I was having too much bile in the stomach at one time. Many gallbladder patients say they don't have a bile/diarrhea problem, so maybe my diarrhea is related to the Metformin and not the missing gallbladder. At any rate, it's time for me to eat some instant mashed potatoes.
ssnoles5
28 Jan 2010
Im not sure but you might want to reconsider taking it. There are some really horrible side effects. Please do some careful research in regards to the side effects,i think you might be surprized. It is prescribed for several diff. Things but please consider all the side effects
cpmty
9 Jan 2011
PLEASE I need to know what/which th bad side effects are and where to find this information???
Jackalope04
6 June 2011
I personally find when I take 2 tablets as prescribed by my Dr.I get weird feelings in my Esophagus and I feel like I have bad indegestion.It lasts all night some times however as of late I have stopped taking both tablets togethor and now take them at about and hour or more apart.I do this both times I take my meds in the morning and the evening as well.I have found that it does pretty well stop the gastrointestinal problems.
charcot2
9 Aug 2009
for me it did; it actually helps your own pancreous produce its own insilan immediately where as Actos produces its own artifical type.
donnel
6 Jan 2012
Actually metformin helps to decrease the amount of glucose released by the liver to lower the level of sugar. There will be some side effects. Different person will have different effect.
1sttenor
4 June 2004
I can only speak from my own experience. I have taken glucophage or the genaric metformin for about 8 years. No one ever explained to me that the metformin should be taken just before eating, the label from the pharmacy only said "take with food." A nurse explained to me that the metformin should be taken just before eating your meal, or it would be lots more ineffective. I find it works well, in conjuncion with my insulin. Good luck with your blood sugar.
nataliepujo
2 Nov 2009
I just began taking metformin and my endocrinologist told me to take it with food.
Why is it more effective when taken just before food?
cpmty
9 Jan 2011
I know since I am taking Metformin, my memory is gone... I can't remeber anything anymore... words, things, people (I was very good recognizing and remembering people)
daniel betancourt
9 Jan 2012
I was taking 500 ml metformin twice daily or 12 hours apart and had no side affects, then the doctor changed my dose to 1000 twice a day and had diarrhea for 15 days, he change it to a slow release type and I tried it again krazy diarrhea. so now i have to go in and see what he is going to do. but i was taking it with no food. I don't eat breakfast and my doses are at 4:45 and 4-5 in after noon. I get about 3 bad bouts of the D and then it's gone until next does.
petpater
18 Nov 2016
I am seventy-one and have been a type 2 diabetic for nearly 4 years... this is what I have found out about Metformin time release which I take once every 24 hours at 4 or five PM. When I was scheduled for surgery, Ovario-Hysterectomy--I was told to not to take take it the day before surgery as I was fasting for surgery. The following day post op, they checked my BSL and gave me a very small dose of insulin because my BSL was above two hundred fifty (eeek!), because Metformin did not work fast enough, taking more two hours to bring down blood sugar levels- Prior to this I had been taking my dose when I took my bedtime medications and my A1C was 6.5 or higher so I changed the time of time of day to current 4-5 pm, always before eating. My last A1C cane back at 5.7! Happy me and my Doc was amazed because he knows I'm not the most compliant patient--it's all in the timing!
Related topics
Further information
- Metformin uses and safety info
- Metformin prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Metformin (detailed)
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