Metformin for pre diabetic patients?

@naiviv I’m 50+ years full bore diabetic and I would LOVE to have your numbers! I have many friends and family who have been diagnosed pre diabetic. Some of them have had good results with Metformin. It does have some yucky side effects that require some getting used to. It sounds like you are already working hard at sticking to a good eating plan and weight. Do you also have a plan for some type of exercise and physical activity? These things are important for good health for everyone whether diabetic or not. Keep us posted on how things are going over the next 4 months and how your next labs turn out. Do you use any glucose monitoring system at home? There are lots of kinds available.

I exercise 5 days a week, walking 45-60 minutes on a treadmill. I don’t check my glucose at home. I am strictly following the Mediterranean diet. I don’t eat eat sweets at all, no alcohol and never have smoked. I have always had less than 90 glucose but surprisingly the A1C was 5.7 which I can attribute it to my high triglycerides which have come down to normal, cholesterol is borderline right now. As soon as I get my labs in 4 months I will share. At this point I am not driven to take Metformin.

@naiviv it sounds like you are on the right track. With your attention to diet, exercise, triglycerides and cholesterol I can’t see that Metformin would be a huge benefit (but I’m not your doctor) especially if you aren’t monitoring your blood sugar at home. Monitoring your blood sugar at home would give you an idea if the Metformin was helping. Your A1C is only slightly above normal. It is an indication of how your blood sugars have been over about a 3 week time frame. As you said, you’re in lab blood sugars are good but you might benefit from seeing some daily blood sugar data. You could inquire about it at your appointment in 4 months.

Thank you. I will.

My dad was on a high dose of Metformin 2000 daily. He had experience 2 Bladder Infection with Urine retention that caused his kidney got injured. He was Hyperglycemia one week in and out of ER. His body decided to change his mental status and now Hypoglycemia. Got admitted for two weeks. The doctor said that the metformin sealed his kidney and bladder causing bacterial infection, they flushed him out and he has been on a catheter for a year now. Just be careful keep a good log system with your meds. Good luck! sp

My husband has been prediabetic since 1988 at least. He takes metformin for its anti-aging properties and not for the prediabetes. His docs are fine with his choice to do this.

I suppose you mean Metformin or glucophage? If so, I take it also for pre diabetes. I have been a pre diabetic for a few years and recently my fasting glucose was 108 and my endocrinologist started me on glucophage 750, which I have been taking every day. Recently I had blood work and my numbers are ok. Had had no side effects from it, so far, I also avoid sugars when I can. I use stevia. However, I do not deprive myself of desert when I want. Also for breakfast I usually drink green juice with fruit and raw oatmeal, and pure 100% honey.

I’m wondering about home glucose monitoring systems for pre diabetes. I bought one recently and am having trouble getting it to work well consistently. I’m getting frustrated.
I might return this one and look for a simpler version but don’t know which one to try next. Suggestions? What works for you?

Glucometers all require some fiddling with at first. There’s a learning curve. I have used an Accucheck and I currently have a One Touch Verio Flex. Both have been really accurate compared to lab blood sugar checks. Most pharmacies have many options. The meters are pretty inexpensive but the test strips can be pricey. My husband found affordable test strips on Amazon. Your provider or pharmacist could make a recommendation.

As you can see from the comments, everyone’s experience with diabetes will likely be different. I was pre diabetic and was recommended Metformin after my numbers began to creep up. After a bit of half-assing my nutrition I choose to take the Metformin: my endocrinologist (I had thyroid cancer) and PCP expressed its safety and general lack of side effects. Within a month or so of taking Metformin I began to feel tingling in my hands and feet. Way too soon to be experiencing neuropathy!… turns out some people have a negative reaction to Merformin and it results in your B12 levels plummeting- mine were essentially non existent. B12 is crucial to neurological activity. My PCP recommended intensely high doses of B12 (it is one of the vitamins your body will pass any excess amount that it doesn’t need). I choose to be super diligent with my diet and choose a keto diet and intermittent fasting (daily intermittent fasting with monthly multi-day fasts). It is a different eating routine, but it is manageable, I developed great body composition, and was able to manage my diabetes with nutrition and other lifestyle choices. However, I am now fully type 2 diabetic following a surgery to remove a tumor from my small intestine (cancer no.2 😖) which also removed a large part of my pancreas. I am now on insulin to manage my glucose levels.

I share my experiences for three reasons- 1) be aware of the potential side effects and cross interactions of any prescriptions or supplements you are taking. Do your own research and do not rely solely on your doctor; 2) generally speaking, pre-diabetes can be managed with diet choices and fitness. It doesn’t have to be extreme but it does have to be consistent; and 3) despite your efforts, you might progress into full blown diabetes: this does not mean a failure on your part. there are medical and genetic factors that go well beyond diet and nutrition that can affect your body’s resistance to insulin and there is nothing you can do about these- but consistently focus on everything that you have control over, such as nutrition and lifestyle, and you will have much less dependency on the medical approaches.

Good luck and Godspeed!