Comments on: Metformin for Type 1 Diabetes – Really? Why?

By: Pebbles Smith

Pebbles Smith — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 09:31:00 +0000

I have been on Metformin since 2007 when I was first diagnosed with diabetes, but back them my doctor thought I was type 2 diabetic. Not even a year later I developed a severe spinal cyst and MRSA. I had some tests done and found out I had type 1 diabetes and was put on insulin. I’m still using metformin and use insulin and both has helped me with my type 1 diabetes.

By: Margaret

Margaret — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 06:10:44 +0000

I am T1, 37 years, on a pump. My problem is it takes about 2 – 2 1/2 hrs for my insulin to start working. I just started, today, with metformin to see if it will help it work quicker. I am on 1:15 carb ratio. I have tried different sites, needle lengths, and diff insulin brands. Anyone else have this prob?

By: jane smith

jane smith — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 04:06:54 +0000

I have had type 1 diabetes for just about five years. I was placed on metformin about a year ago since my basal rates were about 2.5, and my daily insulin amounts are, on average, eighty units. While I do still use metformin, I would not recommend anyone taking it, or rather, anyone placing it above natural actions such as exercise and healthy dieting to try an decrease insulin resistance. It seems to me that no drug is really, well, safe. Also, if you are taking or planning on taking Metformin, know about lactic acidosis. Kinda scary thought.

By: Natasha

Natasha — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 18:45:44 +0000

Thanks for this article. I was just diagnosed with PCOS but I don’t have diabetes and my PCP prescribed Metformin for me. My blood sugars are in the normal range and I’m just a little bit overweight (about 10lbs) so I’m wondering why she prescribed it… I do have hypoglycemia, so will the Metformin help with that? I’ve read that it can also help to regulate periods which are a problem with PCOS.

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 21:41:09 +0000

i am t1 and have been for 3 years now me and my hubby have been trying to have a baby for 10years now i have pcos to i stop takeing metfotmin when i become t1 i did not no that you could take it if u was t1 do any of u all take it for pcos and it help and are t1 i would love to no if it would help me to have a baby

By: rosemary johnston

rosemary johnston — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 22:17:29 +0000

I’m type 1. i’m also overweight and I use about 1.1units of humalog/kg. I think I have pcos. I have a family history of insulin resistence. If I start metformin 500mg daily for 2 weeks and then 500mg bid-is there a rule of thumb for how much to drop my insulin pump rate so I can avoid lows?

By: JKord

JKord — Tue, 17 Aug 2010 20:19:25 +0000

I’m a Type 1 diabetic who just took my first pill a couple of hours ago. I had taken my normal insulin dosage before my lunch and my blood sugars keep dropping. I’ve had a can of soda and a pack of mentos to get it to 90 mg, and now it’s at 111 mg. Hopefully it will stay there. Having it suddenly drop like a rock was a little scarey, as well as needing that much sugar to get it up to 90 mg.

And I’m definitely not Type II as Type 1 runs in my family (2 brothers also Type I) and in addition had a pancreatic surgery a while back (after being diagnosed as a type 1) due to a cyst and no longer had the tail of my pancreas removed.

It definitely helps receptors, but I’m going to have to be a lot more cautious about my dosage. I’m going to take less Lantus tonight as it is slow-acting and am a litle leary about this metformin stuff after the recent scare.

I have not thus far experienced nausea.
Good thing because if my blood sugars had plummetted and I’d thrown up, then I’d have to go to the emergency room.

It has demonstrated, however, that I am insulin-resistant. If you are a Type I, I would recommend carrying a glucogon pen and doing this very cautiously. This adjustment period is pretty precarious.

By: Eva

Eva — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 16:14:22 +0000

This sounds like a Godsend. I am Type I for 13 years and heard about the combination therapy with Metformin and insulin. When first diagnosed I was put on insulin therapy but it made me gain so much weight I became depressed since most of my life I worked on health and fitness. I am still suffering from the weight gain and am hoping that when I see my new doctor, he can prescribe the Metformin in combination with insulin. I suppose I would have to guinea pig myself and work to avoid hypoglycemia.
I will post my results after my doctor’s appointment and results of taking Metformin with insulin.
Lots of luck and love to my fellow IDDMs!!!

By: Marilyn R

Marilyn R — Thu, 27 May 2010 22:24:32 +0000

I am a type 1 diabetic and I also have PCOS. I have had issues with weight most of my life and over the years my insulin resistance has become unbearable. I take over 100 units of insulin daily and my basal/bolus ratios are lopped sided. I have asked my endo for years to try placing me on metformin or something similar, but he refused. I recently changed dr’s to get a 2nd opinion. He was willing to place me on Metformin. I am going to start the medication tomorrow. I am a bit worried about hypoglycemia, but from the prior posts I did not see any type 1′s mention issues with that. My hopes are to get my insulin requirements down and with that I hope to reduce my weight and overall feel better. I recently have cut my carb intake to 20-30 grams per meal and sometimes 15-30 more a day depending on hypoglycemia and/or snacks. My current ratio is 1-1.4 meaning for every 1.4 gram of carbs I take 1 unit of insulin. You can see why I am very concerned about my insulin resistance especially when you consider most people’s ratios are 1-6 or 1-15. I would love to hear from anyone else that can help or maybe in a similar situation or has dealt with this already. I am new to the site and unsure how to have people contact me, but you can try looking me up on Face book.
Thank you!
Marilyn Rogge

By: Mike Burns

Mike Burns — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 15:22:16 +0000

I have been type I for 25 years.
About 15 years ago a visiting Dr. at my primary care prescribed metformin for me along with my insulin.
At first the metformin made me a little dizzy, but I worked through that and the symptoms disappeared. I take 1000mg in the morning and 1000mg at night.
My basal insulin needs reduced about 15-20%, my A1c’s are usually 7-7.4.
I am non compliant, not a carb counter, and I eat anything I want, but keep my test kit and Humalog pen ready.
I have never had any complications, DKA, or hospitalizations.

Here’s the best part: Metformin is a wonder drug on the cusp of being discovered. Metformin has the same beneficial results on our bodies as does the practice of Caloric Restriction, which among other things, increases lifespans in animals ranging from flatworms to monkeys.

Caloric Restriction lowers insulin levels, reduces body temperatures, reduces arthrosclerosis, and probably cancers. Metformin does all this, too, without the need to drastically cut calories.

Recently Metformin was shown to be effective at blocking lung cancers in rats.

Google these words “Metformin and aging”. We all lose insulin sensitivity as we age. All centenarians show high insulin sensitivity. There is clearly some signaling path which indicates to our bodies at a cellular level the amount of nutrition we are receiving, which results in the life extension of CR. Insulin metabolism plays a role in this signalling, and the toxic effects of too much insulin are what results in metabolic syndrome, IMO.

Just remember, insulin is toxic and metformin lets you get by with less.
Plus it has a multi-billion human-year track record of safety over the last 50 years. It generally does not cause hypoglycemia in non-diabetics, either.