Metformin, class biguanide, is a synthetic derivative of French Lilac (Galega officinalis), a herbal plant traditionally employed in Europe for diabetes treatment [23]. In 1957 French diabetologist Jean Sterne first published the drug's properties and result of administration in humans for diabetes [24].
Metformin (dimethylbiguanide) has become the preferred first-line oral blood glucose-lowering agent to manage type 2 diabetes. Its history is linked to Galega officinalis (also known as goat's rue), a traditional herbal medicine in Europe, found to be rich in guanidine, which, in 1918, was shown to lower blood glucose.
The second metformin alternative is berberine, or berberine hydrochloride, a chemical found in various plants, including goldenseal, barberry, Oregon grape, and turmeric. According to research, berberine may effectively treat various illnesses, including inflammation, diabetes, and obesity.
SGLT – 2 Inhibitors ( Invokana, Farxiga, Jardiance, and Steglatro) Usage: This can be a good metformin alternative for people who show side effects of metformin. This medicine helps to control blood sugar levels by releasing extra glucose through urine.
Making positive lifestyle changes such as eating a well-balanced diet, exercising regularly and getting down to a healthy weight (and maintaining it) are the key to possibly reversing or managing type 2 diabetes.
HOMA-IR, an indicator of insulin resistance, was also significantly decreased by metformin and cinnamon intake. Moreover, no difference was seen in the ability of cinnamon and metformin in reducing HOMA-IR. As a result, cinnamon seems to be as effective as metformin in increasing the Insulin sensitivity.
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.
GLUCOPHAGE XR contains 500 mg or 750 mg of metformin hydrochloride as the active ingredient. GLUCOPHAGE XR 500 mg tablets contain the inactive ingredients sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, hypromellose, microcrystalline cellulose, and magnesium stearate.
Berberine is a chemical found in some plants like European barberry, goldenseal, goldthread, Oregon grape, phellodendron, and tree turmeric.
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.
It was found that hypoglycemic effect of berberine is comparable to that of metformin. The level of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting and postprandial glucose decreased by 7.5%, 6.9% and 11.1% respectively at the end of the trial. Similar findings were reported in a clinical study of Zhang et al [28].
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.
Proven long-term side effects of metformin
Of those discussed above, low vitamin B12 levels is the only proven long-term metformin side effect. But, as mentioned, low vitamin B12 levels can cause other problems, including anemia. That's why it's important to go for all recommended blood tests while taking metformin.
Common side effects of metformin include: digestive problems, such as diarrhea, vomiting, and flatulence. a vitamin B-12 deficiency. slight weight loss.
Turmeric, mostly at doses of 500–1000 mg per day, might help reduce pain levels and inflammation. Cinnamon, on the other hand, has been shown to help reduce blood sugar levels. Since doctors consider diabetes to be an inflammatory condition, a person could benefit from consuming both cinnamon and turmeric.
While medications can be helpful, lifestyle changes can induce remission of diabetes and normalization of blood glucose levels without medications. Weight loss improves insulin resistance and glucose metabolism, lowering blood glucose levels into the normal range.
Pancreatic beta cells that do not produce sufficient insulin in people with type 2 diabetes (T2D) are not permanently damaged during the early stages of the disease and can be restored to normal function through the removal of excess fat in the cells, according to a study entitled “Remission of Type 2 Diabetes for Two ...
Berberine, a bioactive compound hailing from various plants, is fast making a name for itself as a health-promoting supplement in Australia. With a rich spectrum of benefits encompassing blood glucose regulation and cardiovascular health improvement, Berberine stands tall in the landscape of wellness.