Metformin and Intergrative Medicine

Metformin is a well known drug used for diabetes and PCOS and lately even used for some cancer cases.

What is known of how it works is that it helps lower the blood glucose level by reducing the amount of stored glucose released from the liver, slows absorption of glucose from the gut and helps the body become more sensitive to insulin. Side effects of Metformin are nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, weakness and a metallic taste.

It comes under various names like

• Diabex
• Diabex XR
• Diaformin 
• Formet
• Glucobete
• Glucomet
• Glucophage

If you think about this logically, by stopping the glucose being absorbed from the gut then the gut is exposed to more glucose. Glucose over load on the microbiome mucks up the microbiome / probiotics. This is why the gastrointestinal side effects.

Remedies to consider when on metformin are:

Lipoic acid – Can be used in combination to get better blood sugar level results.

Carnitine – Metformin does NOT help the peripheral neuropathy effects of diabetes. Carnitine can help with the peripheral neuropathy. Lysine is the precursor to Carnitine.

B12 - Long term use of Metformin can cause malabsorption of B12 causing elevated levels of homocysteine. B12 helps the liver detoxification, helps energy and brain function. B12 is very important to peripheral neuropathy. It is also worth looking at Folate here and the Activated B Complex.

It is important to look at the MTHFR gene with metformin for if the person has this polymorphism and takes metformin for more than 6 months it can contribute to the peripheral neuropathy.

Probiotics – To help the microbiome cope with the extra glucose it is encountering. Supplements and diet for gut repair.

Cinnamon- May help lower blood sugar and fight diabetes by imitating the effects of insulin and increasing glucose transport into cells. It can also help lower blood sugar by increasing insulin sensitivity, making insulin more efficient at moving glucose into cells

Co Q10- ubiquinol- This nutrient is more used for energy and heart health but it only recently has been shown to help some of the biomarkers for diabetes like HBA1C. This is new but here at Possum Hollow we will watch the research. This nutrient is not right for everyone so talk to your practitioner.

Chromium - Chromium has gained a lot of interest, in recent times, with people with diabetes type 2 as it has been reported that chromium picolinate has been found to lower blood glucose levels. Chromium is an essential mineral that helps insulin regulate blood sugar level in our body. 
Like ubiquinol it is not right for everyone and ideally not given long term.

Bitter Melon -  Researchers believe bitter melon contains substances that cause decreases in blood glucose and appetite suppression. One study published in the Journal of Ethnopharmacology found that 2,000 mg daily of bitter melon lowers blood glucose levels considerably in people with type 2 diabetes.

Please check with your practitioner if you would like to look at any of these remedies with your Metformin . What is right for one person may not be right for another.