Dr Brewer I wonder if you are able to answer my question : has anyone calculated the % decrease in blood glucose which results from metformin ? Perhaps in relation to Hba1c. I have brought mine down to an average of 41 over the last 12 months by losing weight and exercising. I am curious about the degree of difference made by taking 2 x 500 mg doses per day.
Yes. There was a New England Journal of Medicine article about this several years ago. Weight loss in > 3 times more effective at decreasing blood sugar!!
@@PrevMedHealth Thanks Doc. Thats what I thought. I am keen to stay on the Metformin for the reasons you talk about and because there is still some possibility that it aids longevity. One downside would seem to be that it can reduce testosterone in men and at 64 that is not something I want to happen but I need to get my levels tested to see if there is an issue.
Type 2, 73-year-old male, have taken metformin for 20 years, no issues. Currently 2000 mg daily. I was surprised at surgery when the nurse asked what supplements I was taking in the context of looking younger than actual age. Nothing, just reduced carbohydrates and daily exercise.
In my young adulthood, I was always told that I had Metabolic syndrome and Insulin Resistance. But no doctor ever told me what to do about that problem other than try to reduce my triglycerides by losing 20 pounds. Even though I played a lot of tennis and looked younger than my age, I had a heart attack requiring four stents at 74. After listening to you and. David Sinclair, I did start taking 500 mg of Metformin every other day, I have done much better. Have lost the 20 pounds, continue playing Pickleball four times a week, and my A1C is about. 5.5. I still take BP meds but it usually stays below 130/68. Thanks. Doc, you are my guru!
Another excellent video Doc! I am being followed by a cardiologist after having a heart attack 8 yrs ago. At that time they also discovered that I have an aortic arch aneurysm. I am on a statin and follow up annually with the cardiologist. My cardiologist never mentioned anything about taking Merformin to reduce the size of the aneurysm. I am going to forward your video to him for viewing and next time I see him I am going to ask him about prescribing Metformin. Anyway, thanks for keeping us informed! 👍👍
@@PrevMedHealth I also noticed a drastic decrease in glucose levels with ALA while supplementing for diabetic neuropathy and the antioxidant effects. I was unaware of the glucose lowering properties of ALA before using. Perhaps there was a synergistic effect of the ALA along with metformin and a low carbohydrate diet?
Berberine can cause severe digestive upset and acid reflux, did in me. There is now a modified version of it available that is easier to digest that can work for those people.
@@Dugherz Thanks for the info. With my insurance plan, I only pay $10 for a 90 day supply of metformin and my diabetes is well controlled so I'll just stay with it for now. BTW, regular metformin gives me the same GI side effects as berberine did but now that I'm on the extended release metformin, I don't have any unwanted side effects that I'm aware of.
Wow I am suprised you mentioned AAA. I am impressed! I never heard of it until a few months ago during a routine cardiogram showed a mild 3.5 cm.Looking back at an older test I was 3.1 back in 2021. I do not smoke so must have been due to high LDL. I have been on Metformin for about 8 years after I suffered a bad Pancreatitis event, causing diabetes. I'm looking for ways to slow it down further. Thanks for the content!
Great stuff as always ! It’s interesting that you extend the pronunciations at end of sentences ie the “s” Anyway a benign observation , keep doing what you do
Wow super...Dr Brewer your metmorphine information verymuch encouraging motivating the metformine users thank you for your continuous update about prevention and treating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health and cancer prevention.Lot of regards and ❤you from India.
Jane McLelland “How to Starve Cancer” also used metformin, along with other drugs and supplements, to cure her cancer. She’s a three time cancer survivor.
Yes they are chemically different, even though both owe their origins to natural forms, Metformin only being synthesised in 1921. HOWEVER. A meta-analysis of 21 clinical trials revealed that berberine has therapeutic effects on T2DM, hyperlipidemia and hypertension, comparable to other therapeutic regimes [29]. Studies have indicated that, similarly to metformin, berberine executes its functions by regulating a variety of effectors including AMPK, MAPK, PKC, PPARα, PPARγ [28, 30]. To be noteworthy, via activation of AMPK, berberine can stimulate glucose uptake in muscle, liver and adipose, and inhibit gluconeogenesis in liver by downregulation of gluconeogenic enzymes (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxyl kinase and glucose-6-phosphatase) [31].
I wished my doctor had explained what I needed to do to get out of pre-diabeties. I lost a lot of weight, just not as much as I needed to, and still became diabetic.
Es la primera vez que veo ese como un efecto secundario, si lo es debe ser muy raro, es una lastima que no te haya funcionado, espero que estés mejor ahora
According to Dr. Eric Westman, the patients he treats at his clinic at Duke, as soon as he puts them on a diet of less than 20 carbs/day, he starts deprescribing Metformin for his diabetic patients. He says they start developing adverse side effects, even the ones who'd had no side effects and been taking Metformin for years. What do you think? I'm type 2 diabetic who's been low-carb, then keto and now carnivore for almost 5 years. A1C 5.1-5.2. A few months ago started having acute "gastritis" despite PPI and am now being treated with Carafate. No H.pylori. HPB, hypothyroidism, mild cirrhosis from former hepatitis C infection. I take 2 grams/day.
That’s a great question. I use just plain old metformin usually. Many pharmacies give it away in order to get patients to come in for their other scripts. About 10% of patients go to an extended release form. Big pharma has used XL as an opportunity to charge more - a lot more.
Thank you, Doc. I'm asking because I had a similar experience with Flomax. After taking it for years, it suddenly stopped working. I noticed the pharmacy had switched to a different brand from a different manufacturer, both from India. When I insisted on the original brand, it started working again. Now, I'm concerned about my metformin. How can I ensure it's effective? I've heard about quality issues with some medications entering the US market, and I worry the manufacturer might be producing low-quality medication.
While most side effects are not much to write home about, although rare, there is stated to be an unacceptable level of cancer in some slow release tablets...
Unfortunately Metformin causes severe gastro problems, pain in the stomach, shaking and other symptoms for some people. Ask me how I know? Suffered for 4 weeks on this drug. Got the same results from ozempic. 😞
I take the extended release Metformin. It still gives me bad diarrhea. I can't go anywhere most of the time because of this. Do you have some advice for me to help with this? I've had IBS/Sibo most of my life. I want this to work because the insulin I'm taking has made me gain 40 pounds of insulin fat. Everywhere I inject insulin it turns to fat.
I usually recommend My patients to start 500 MG once a week and gradually increase on the days, diarrhea might appear but usually subsides within the first 2 weeks
Paradoxically, I tried Myo&D-Chiro Inositol that women take for PCOS (Dr. Brewer mentioned metformin helps with PCOS)) to prevent gastro problems. I tried it on myself, and it works beuatifully, no diarrhea.
I have only one kidney(removed when I was 22 due to birth defect) and my doctor won't give me metformin since the NIH studies show that metformin can worsen ckd should my kidney function go south. I am 70 yo.
@@ricpitt1 Moderate and high-dose berberine does have side effects, risks, and complications with some Meds, OTCs, and supplements. Talk to your pharmacist first.
Sorry to learn that. I am going to share with you a nut, which keeps kidneys functioning properly. 15 to 20 pistachio a day. That is it. Try it, please.
I have the same thing you got, and my cardiologist is pushing me in getting a Tavr done, and I have no symptoms, SO I'm not going that route, whenever I do get the symptoms like shortness of breath or chest pain. Then I'll worry about that then, so I hope you don't get force in having a Tarv done. I suggest you don't because the artificial valve which is a cow or pig valve, only last 10 year's or less. I would rather go the old school and have a mechanic valve done through open heart surgery, but at least that valve will last forever, the down fault is you would have to be on a blood tinner the rest of your life.
@@coach2208 The one I have is Vascular related. I also have the heart related one too. To much atherosclerosis in my body and having diabetes and taking insulin makes it worse.
@@PrevMedHealthHaving grown up in Alabama, I love your accent. Not hillbilly, just one of a variety of southern accents. I've been in Texas for 46 years, & still think the Texas accent is harsh.
Dr Brewer I wonder if you are able to answer my question : has anyone calculated the % decrease in blood glucose which results from metformin ? Perhaps in relation to Hba1c.
I have brought mine down to an average of 41 over the last 12 months by losing weight and exercising. I am curious about the degree of difference made by taking 2 x 500 mg doses per day.
Yes. There was a New England Journal of Medicine article about this several years ago. Weight loss in > 3 times more effective at decreasing blood sugar!!
@@PrevMedHealth Thanks Doc. Thats what I thought. I am keen to stay on the Metformin for the reasons you talk about and because there is still some possibility that it aids longevity. One downside would seem to be that it can reduce testosterone in men and at 64 that is not something I want to happen but I need to get my levels tested to see if there is an issue.
This is the best explanation of the benefits of metformin I have ever heard. Thank you Dr.
Type 2, 73-year-old male, have taken metformin for 20 years, no issues. Currently 2000 mg daily. I was surprised at surgery when the nurse asked what supplements I was taking in the context of looking younger than actual age. Nothing, just reduced carbohydrates and daily exercise.
In my young adulthood, I was always told that I had Metabolic syndrome and Insulin Resistance. But no doctor ever told me what to do about that problem other than try to reduce my triglycerides by losing 20 pounds. Even though I played a lot of tennis and looked younger than my age, I had a heart attack requiring four stents at 74. After listening to you and. David Sinclair, I did start taking 500 mg of Metformin every other day, I have done much better. Have lost the 20 pounds, continue playing Pickleball four times a week, and my A1C is about. 5.5. I still take BP meds but it usually stays below 130/68. Thanks. Doc, you are my guru!
RR 130/68 mm Hg? Then your blood pressure is in a normal range!
The Dr is a pill pusher like he said!!
Another excellent video Doc! I am being followed by a cardiologist after having a heart attack 8 yrs ago. At that time they also discovered that I have an aortic arch aneurysm. I am on a statin and follow up annually with the cardiologist. My cardiologist never mentioned anything about taking Merformin to reduce the size of the aneurysm. I am going to forward your video to him for viewing and next time I see him I am going to ask him about prescribing Metformin. Anyway, thanks for keeping us informed! 👍👍
Yes please do an exclusive video about diagnosis of prediabetes
Thanks ❤
Just bought some Alpha Lipoic Acid lately. Sure brings down the blood glucose levels like crazy. And I mean like crazy
Wow!
@@PrevMedHealth Surprised me it did. 200 mg with a carby meal. Can't wait till I try Acetic Acid as a shot of EV Olive Oil before hand also. 🤔mmmmm
@@PrevMedHealth I also noticed a drastic decrease in glucose levels with ALA while supplementing for diabetic neuropathy and the antioxidant effects. I was unaware of the glucose lowering properties of ALA before using. Perhaps there was a synergistic effect of the ALA along with metformin and a low carbohydrate diet?
@@J_H72 What brand of ALA do you use?
Berberine does everything that metformin does but without side effects.
That wasn't my experience.
Berberine can cause severe digestive upset and acid reflux, did in me. There is now a modified version of it available that is easier to digest that can work for those people.
@@Dugherz Thanks for the info. With my insurance plan, I only pay $10 for a 90 day supply of metformin and my diabetes is well controlled so I'll just stay with it for now.
BTW, regular metformin gives me the same GI side effects as berberine did but now that I'm on the extended release metformin, I don't have any unwanted side effects that I'm aware of.
Berberine is a broad spectrum anti-microbial and will have negative effects on the gut microbiome (think taking an antibiotic every day).
@@Dugherz agreed. Berberine gave me significant gastric distress. It is NOT a replacement for metformin.
I'm 65 - glad to hear Dr. Brewer calling me a young person...... :)
When i had a radio frequency ablation i was told to stop taking Metformin a few days prior to operation. Curious why?
Thank you Dr. Ford!Excellent information😊
Wow I am suprised you mentioned AAA. I am impressed! I never heard of it until a few months ago during a routine cardiogram showed a mild 3.5 cm.Looking back at an older test I was 3.1 back in 2021. I do not smoke so must have been due to high LDL. I have been on Metformin for about 8 years after I suffered a bad Pancreatitis event, causing diabetes. I'm looking for ways to slow it down further. Thanks for the content!
Thanks for sharing! It helps others a lot. Things like AAA are theoretical until people hear from someone that actually has it!
Hi Please explain why one is at risk of Dementia with metformin.please
How does the metformin affect kidney function
Nausea was my main issue with it. Every day I took it. Which wasn't long. I just went on really low carbohydrate eating for results at that time.
Thanks for sharing that.
Great stuff as always ! It’s interesting that you extend the pronunciations at end of sentences ie the “s”
Anyway a benign observation , keep doing what you do
@@drdave971 That’s interesting. Can you give an example?
But Metformin tried to kill my kidneys. Since I stopped taking it, my eGFR has improved drastically. So this video doesn't tell the full story.
Can you take metformin with low dose 10mg rovustatin?
The simgke major reducer of blood glucose is decreased carbohydrates. The same reduction in carbohydrates reduces cancer.
Agree
A video about diagnosis and treatment of diabetes wpuld be great!
Can you recommend a video on what diet you do what I eat in a day and the supplements and medication you take? Thx.
It's hard because it is usually and individual decision, but we are about to drop a video about foods everybody should eat
@PrevMedHealth Ok, great one more question, can you tell me why the difference in the dosage of Metformin, i.e.,
what determines that?
And what about berberine doctor ?
Berberine helps. But it’s different.
Ok, thanks for your answer doctor 🤗@PrevMedHealth
Instead of Metformin, can I take Berberine instead?
It’s a good alternative, it’s not as good, but is a good option for those who can't tolerate metformin
I'm wondering too!
Thanks doctor, you explained it very understandable.
Great info. Doc, what people can do for the side effects of metformin? Please let us know. I take 1000mg x 2 a day. Thnx
It drops your B12, so start there. Remember only methylated B12 if you have MTHFR snp's, too.
Cuantos gramos puede tomar una persona con un quiste en un ovario gracias por su ayuda
Wow super...Dr Brewer your metmorphine information verymuch encouraging motivating the metformine users thank you for your continuous update about prevention and treating cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health and cancer prevention.Lot of regards and ❤you from India.
Jane McLelland “How to Starve Cancer” also used metformin, along with other drugs and supplements, to cure her cancer. She’s a three time cancer survivor.
Yes they are chemically different, even though both owe their origins to natural forms, Metformin only being synthesised in 1921. HOWEVER. A meta-analysis of 21 clinical trials revealed that berberine has therapeutic effects on T2DM, hyperlipidemia and hypertension, comparable to other therapeutic regimes [29]. Studies have indicated that, similarly to metformin, berberine executes its functions by regulating a variety of effectors including AMPK, MAPK, PKC, PPARα, PPARγ [28, 30]. To be noteworthy, via activation of AMPK, berberine can stimulate glucose uptake in muscle, liver and adipose, and inhibit gluconeogenesis in liver by downregulation of gluconeogenic enzymes (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxyl kinase and glucose-6-phosphatase) [31].
I take 500mg in the morning and 500mg Berberine in the evening.. mixing these has brought me the best results.
I wished my doctor had explained what I needed to do to get out of pre-diabeties. I lost a lot of weight, just not as much as I needed to, and still became diabetic.
Wished he'd put me on metformin when I was pre-diabetic.
I have Mild Ascending Aortic Aneurysm, as oer my Cardiologist it’s normal and within range, does metformin will help?
Dr Ford un video de la testoterona en español por favor gracias 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
A los meses de usarla empezé a tener urgencia urinaria, cistocele grado 1. Recuerdo que el urólogo me preguntó si había estado tomando algo
Es la primera vez que veo ese como un efecto secundario, si lo es debe ser muy raro, es una lastima que no te haya funcionado, espero que estés mejor ahora
I saw one video on here,a lady had cancer and her doctor prescribed metformin and it got rid of her cancer.
According to Dr. Eric Westman, the patients he treats at his clinic at Duke, as soon as he puts them on a diet of less than 20 carbs/day, he starts deprescribing Metformin for his diabetic patients. He says they start developing adverse side effects, even the ones who'd had no side effects and been taking Metformin for years. What do you think? I'm type 2 diabetic who's been low-carb, then keto and now carnivore for almost 5 years. A1C 5.1-5.2. A few months ago started having acute "gastritis" despite PPI and am now being treated with Carafate. No H.pylori. HPB, hypothyroidism, mild cirrhosis from former hepatitis C infection. I take 2 grams/day.
I think people who are metabolically healthy might not need it, unless they want to get some extra Benefits beyond diabetes
Yo necesito las recomendaciones para la recitensia a las insulina y para él metabolismo por favor sí es posible
What about dihydroberberine as a safer alternative?
Are all metformin created equal. What brand is the best?
That’s a great question. I use just plain old metformin usually. Many pharmacies give it away in order to get patients to come in for their other scripts. About 10% of patients go to an extended release form. Big pharma has used XL as an opportunity to charge more - a lot more.
@@PrevMedHealth
Thank you, Doc. I'm asking because I had a similar experience with Flomax. After taking it for years, it suddenly stopped working. I noticed the pharmacy had switched to a different brand from a different manufacturer, both from India. When I insisted on the original brand, it started working again.
Now, I'm concerned about my metformin. How can I ensure it's effective? I've heard about quality issues with some medications entering the US market, and I worry the manufacturer might be producing low-quality medication.
excellent video. Can a non-diabetic take 500 mg Metformin XR for those benefits?
It’s a great point. Many have taken Metformin “preventively”. Most didn’t realize they already had prediabetes anyway.
@@PrevMedHealth Many thanks Doctor.
@@marcobenatar7638 You’re welcome.
While most side effects are not much to write home about, although rare, there is stated to be an unacceptable level of cancer in some slow release tablets...
Unfortunately Metformin causes severe gastro problems, pain in the stomach, shaking and other symptoms for some people. Ask me how I know? Suffered for 4 weeks on this drug. Got the same results from ozempic. 😞
Because of those same effects, my doc put me on time released Metformin. No issues at all. Night and day between the two.
@Dugherz thanks, I was afraid to try it, but I will give it a try.
Yes, I'd like to see a Video from you on /re: @ 17;42 / the topics you cited. Thank-you ! Sincerely, Cindy : )
Before food or after?
Well done Doc. I read it icreases risk of Parkinson's. Anyone hear this. Cheers.
I was about to get on my exercise bike when he said that. Confirmation 😅
Excellent! Many thanks 🙏🏻
What do you think of the Yuka app? 💜🇺🇲
Interested in the testing for metabolic disease.
I take the extended release Metformin. It still gives me bad diarrhea. I can't go anywhere most of the time because of this. Do you have some advice for me to help with this? I've had IBS/Sibo most of my life. I want this to work because the insulin I'm taking has made me gain 40 pounds of insulin fat. Everywhere I inject insulin it turns to fat.
I usually recommend My patients to start 500 MG once a week and gradually increase on the days, diarrhea might appear but usually subsides within the first 2 weeks
@PrevMedHealth I usually give up taking it because of the diarrhea but I will give it some time for my system to get use to it. Thank you!
Well shyt
@@johndoles3713 lmao that's what I'm saying. 😅
Paradoxically, I tried Myo&D-Chiro Inositol that women take for PCOS (Dr. Brewer mentioned metformin helps with PCOS)) to prevent gastro problems. I tried it on myself, and it works beuatifully, no diarrhea.
I have only one kidney(removed when I was 22 due to birth defect) and my doctor won't give me metformin since the NIH studies show that metformin can worsen ckd should my kidney function go south. I am 70 yo.
Thanks for sharing. We have a few patients with one kidney. Most docs & patients remain nervous about that.
Berberine is better
Metformin comes from the French lilac!
Insightful
Depagliflozin has generic in the Philippines
Yep. It’s one of my favorite SGLT2s. & these are such an improvement over previous diabetes drugs.
I take 2000 mg of Berberine { Metformin is made from berberine } and no side affects and it works please respond to post please
Metformin is not made from berberine.
@@ddutton4716 my mistake
@@ricpitt1 Moderate and high-dose berberine does have side effects, risks, and complications with some Meds, OTCs, and supplements. Talk to your pharmacist first.
¡Gracias!
Muchas gracias!
Berberine is better. You don't need Metformin.
It brought me kidney's problems
Sorry to read this, what happened?
Sorry to learn that. I am going to share with you a nut, which keeps kidneys functioning properly. 15 to 20 pistachio a day. That is it. Try it, please.
@ETPAK thanks you. It doesn't matter if pistachio comes with salt ? And at what time would be better or mix with other meal ? Gracias
@@ETPAKwhy? How?😮
I have severe Celiac aortic stenosis. Is that part of what you are talking about?
I have the same thing you got, and my cardiologist is pushing me in getting a Tavr done, and I have no symptoms, SO I'm not going that route, whenever I do get the symptoms like shortness of breath or chest pain. Then I'll worry about that then, so I hope you don't get force in having a Tarv done. I suggest you don't because the artificial valve which is a cow or pig valve, only last 10 year's or less. I would rather go the old school and have a mechanic valve done through open heart surgery, but at least that valve will last forever, the down fault is you would have to be on a blood tinner the rest of your life.
@@coach2208 The one I have is Vascular related. I also have the heart related one too. To much atherosclerosis in my body and having diabetes and taking insulin makes it worse.
Very interesting, but I'm sticking with Berberine.
You’re not alone.
Why always drugs? Why not organic food?
Me Type 2 diabetes , take metformin 30 years.
Very disappointed that you did not mention BERBERINE in your video are you paid not to say this ? IMHO
He don't promote it
Hey guys
Hey Bama!
is tis another hype like vitamin d ...done for drug makers
nice to hear a hillbilly accent but with great info on health.
What hillbilly accent? Just kidding.
@@PrevMedHealthHaving grown up in Alabama,
I love your accent. Not hillbilly, just one of a variety of southern accents. I've been in Texas for 46 years, & still think the Texas accent is harsh.
@ Thank you.
Gave me bad diarrehia.
Metformin ruins your teath..ask dentist
It also screws your kidneys. Choose wisely
Yes it does!