It is not uncommon for people to start a new diabetes medication and experience fluctuations in blood glucose and perhaps weight gain. Some medications for type 2 diabetes can also cause nausea, diarrhoea or cramping.
Nevertheless, sulfonylureas can cause many harmful side effects, such as low blood sugar and heart problems. After years of uncertainty, there is growing evidence that patients taking sulfonylureas are more likely to have a heart attack or die from heart issues than other diabetes patients on metformin alone.
A medication may work by: Causing the pancreas to make and release more insulin. Limiting the liver's ability to make and release sugar. Blocking the action of enzymes in the intestines that break down carbohydrates, slowing how quickly cells take in carbohydrates.
Under certain conditions, too much metformin can cause lactic acidosis. The symptoms of lactic acidosis are severe and quick to appear, and usually occur when other health problems not related to the medicine are present and are very severe, such as a heart attack or kidney failure.
Medicines containing guanidine, such as metformin and phenformin, were developed to treat diabetes. But they fell out of favor due to serious side effects caused by phenformin, and by the discovery of insulin.
If diabetes isn't treated, it can lead to a number of other health problems. High glucose levels can damage blood vessels, nerves and organs. Even a mildly raised glucose level that doesn't cause any symptoms can have long-term damaging effects.
Adverse Effects of Diabetes Medications
There are several classes of diabetes medications, each with different ways they work to help stabilize blood sugar. Some have side effects such as fatigue.
Most people need medicine to control their type 2 diabetes. This helps keep your blood sugar level as normal as possible to prevent health problems. You may have to take it for the rest of your life, although your medicine or dose may need to change over time.
Metformin may have an adverse effect on renal function in patients with type 2 DM and moderate CKD.
This condition can be life-threatening. Certain people taking metformin may also have a risk of kidney damage. A 2018 study suggests that metformin may reduce kidney function in people with both chronic kidney disease and type 2 diabetes.
Approximately 25.8 million children and adults in the United States (8.3 percent of the total population) have diabetes. While not every diabetic needs medication, many people control their symptoms through insulin or oral medications.
Losing sleep—even just one night of too little sleep can make your body use insulin less well. Skipping breakfast—going without that morning meal can increase blood sugar after both lunch and dinner. Time of day—blood sugar can be harder to control the later it gets.
Can long-term metformin use cause kidney damage? Metformin doesn't cause kidney damage. The kidneys process and clear the medication out of your system through your urine. If your kidneys don't function properly, there's concern that metformin can build up in your system and cause a condition called lactic acidosis.
Symptoms of type 2 diabetes often develop slowly. In fact, you can be living with type 2 diabetes for years and not know it.
Both nateglinide and pioglitazone have been reported to cause liver injury, but the timing of onset of the hepatitis most closely implicates metformin.
Official answer. Most experts consider metformin to be the safest medicine for type 2 diabetes because it has been used for many decades, is effective, affordable, and safe. Metformin is recommended as a first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes by the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
Metformin has a black box warning for lactic acidosis — a condition where too much lactic acid builds up in the blood. It's a serious problem and can lead to death. If you experience these symptoms, seek medical attention right away.
The current drug labeling strongly recommends against metformin use in some patients whose kidneys do not work normally because use of metformin in these patients can increase the risk of developing a serious and potentially deadly condition called lactic acidosis, in which too much lactic acid builds up in the blood.
High-Fiber Foods
Researchers posit that exceeding 30 grams of fiber in a day may lower metformin levels in the body due to the fact that fiber binds to the drug and reduces its efficacy. (9) So it may be best to avoid high-fiber foods like oatmeal, chickpeas, avocado, berries, peas, beans, and chia seeds.