When people are at risk for developing adult-onset diabetes, they may find themselves on a medicine called Metformin. It is a drug used to regulate blood-sugar levels while you make a change in your lifestyle, including an increase in exercise and an improved diet. While this drug can be of great benefit, it does have potential side effects.
Identification
Metformin is a biguanide drug used to help control the glucose level in the blood of a person with Type 2 diabetes, which is the form of diabetes not dependent on insulin. Usually, Metformin is used in conjunction with a balanced diet and proper exercise to increase its efficacy and potentially prevent development of diabetes in those people considered high risk. Basically, it aids in your body's response to insulin so you don't develop adult-onset diabetes.
Function
Metformin essentially helps decrease the amount of sugar made by your liver and returns your reaction to insulin back to "normal," so to speak. In doing so, you'll usually decrease your chances of kidney disease, stroke, blindness, problems with circulation and heart disease, among other problems associated with Type 2 diabetes.
Effects
While the use of Metformin affords some people the benefit of diabetes prevention, it does have some common side effects that usually take place at the very beginning of your treatment, including nausea and diarrhea as well as an almost persistent metallic taste in the mouth. Typically, these symptoms will subside as your body adjusts to Metformin. If they continue, make sure to inform your health care professional.
Considerations
Some people will occasionally experience an almost hypoglycemic reaction, or a lowering in blood sugar, while on Metformin. Usually, this will be accompanied by very evident symptoms, including dizziness, drowsiness, fainting, trembling, weakness, cold sweats, headache, blurred vision, extreme hunger and an elevated heart rate. Mind you, these symptoms are not a side effect of Metformin, but a result of potential hypoglycemia. To counter this sort of reaction, it is best to carry something that can raise your blood sugar relatively quickly, like fruit juice, candy or something with fructose.
Warning
Although very rare, some patients on Metformin have suffered from something called lactic acidosis, which is basically a build up of lactic acid, leading to an acidification of the blood (or an elevated acidity in the blood plasma). Often times, the kidneys will not be able to get rid of the acid. When experiencing lactic acidosis, you will become tired and chilled as well as possibly suffering some muscle pain, difficulty breathing and a slowed heart rate. Some people even become somewhat blue in color. If something like this happens to you while on Metformin, consult your doctor immediately.
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