When used on its own, metformin is often extremely effective in controlling blood glucose (sugar).
This article explains how metformin works and signs that the drug may no longer be working.
It also outlines some of the available options should metformin fail to control your blood sugar.
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Its main function is to stop the liver from releasing too much glucose into the blood.
People withtype 1 diabeteswho haveinsulin resistancecan also use it.
Most of the time, you don’t need to worry about these occasional increases.
The pattern may not be due to the waning effects of the drug.
Or, it could be that you’re not taking the drug as prescribed.
Whatever the reason, the very first indication thatmetformin is not workingis when your blood glucose levels are high.
Or, you may start to notice when using ablood glucose monitor.
If metformin is unable to control your blood sugar, you gotta take action.
You may not be taking the drug correctly, or your dose could be too low.
They may be able to switch you to an extended-release version of metformin which may lessen your side effects.
This can help avoiddisease complicationslike heart disease, nerve damage, or eye damage.
Unexplained increases in blood sugar may be the first sign that metformin has stopped working.
You may also experience symptoms of hyperglycemia such as excessive thirst or hunger, fatigue, and blurry vision.
If needed, ask your healthcare provider for a referral to anutritionistor personal trainer who can help.
Metformin works best when combined with diet, exercise, and a healthy weight.
Simply taking metformin without lifestyle changes will likely shorten the effectiveness of the drug.
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