Sulphonylureas

[Pranam786]

Does consumption of sulphonylureas results in depletion of beta cells if we take it for years and years?

Response will be appreciated!

[namaha Administrator]

Yes, Sulphonylurea whips the Beta cells of the pancreas to produce insulin. And long term use is known to result in defunct of Beta cells !

You may be able to control your blood sugar by diet and exercise post meal.

If you are no able to control blood sugar by diet and exercise , you may take Metformin after consulting your doctor.

Metformin does not whip the pancreas. This acts on Liver and cellular level. It is an old workhorse for type 2 diabetes which was invented more than 60 years back with almost no side effects or minimal known side effects.

This drug is also prescribed for women for PCOS. Some people do take this medicine for weight reduction .

However, please consult your doctor, who would know your specific health conditions better.

[nyonyo in reply to namaha]

a friend of mine who has been taking metformin for 12 years has a kidney problem now, his eGFR is 30, creatinin 4.0 and has to stop taking metformin, so beside HbA1c you have to check your kidney and liver function at lest once a year if you take oral drugs, some get absorbed by kidney, some by liver

[sandybrown in reply to nyonyo]

Medication we take for one problem gives another problem. Therefore we need to keep a check on all medication and dosage!!

Aspirin and pain medication are also in the list of side effects.

[namaha Administrator in reply to nyonyo]

Metformin can not be the root cause of kidney failure. Though I am not advocating the use of metformin, You may like to do your own research on the subject. It is being used extensively as a first line drugs for diabetes and PCOD. Even pregnant ladies are prescribed Metformin for gestational diabetes.

The fact remains that Diabetes if not adequately controlled , it progressively affects all organs of the body, it results in diabetic complications such as Cardiomyopathy, Nephropathy , Neuropathy, Retinopathy etc. Nephropathy is the kidney disease.

But if kidney fails, it can not excrete the Metformin from blood by which Metformin builds up in the blood leading to further complications.

Therefore , Metformin dose is reduced if a person's kidney function is affected.

The ideal is control your blood sugar by diet & exercise which today is possible.

[rnpath in reply to namaha]

metformin in higher doses causes toxicity by promoting lactic acid accumulation, cramps in legs and also causes b12 deficiency anemia in the long run.

[namaha Administrator in reply to rnpath]

Agree! Many discerning Patients after consulting their physicians are switching over to stand alone Metformin from other diabetic drugs / combo drugs.

Then the Metformin dosage is increased (I know of a case where the doctor prescribed Metformin alone 1000 mg twice daily) and in such a case Lacto-acidosis could happen!

I believe people should be able to control their blood sugar by Diet and exercise post meal and minimise drug requirement....

Why spend money in buying expensive drugs and along with drugs we buy its side effects also.

Controlling blood sugar is in our hands.

(1) Eat those food which does not spike blood sugar and does not call for increased insulin. You can get a lot of info posted by members what spikes their blood sugar and you , yourself can find out with a Gluco Meter at home.

(2) If we exercise post meal, the lazy body cells become active and start opening their doors for blood glucose molecules and use them with whatever insulin is available. Our Body cells with Insulin resistance now becomes insulin sensitive.

[makarim in reply to namaha]

Actually you are right. By avoiding the food which increase the suger spike and go for some kind of excercise after food makes things simple.even 500 mg metformin is enough for maintaining healthy b.s.Thanks for reading.

[sandybrown]

what dosage do you take and how many times a day?

[Pranam786 in reply to sandybrown]

60mg 2 tablets per day

[sandybrown in reply to Pranam786]

Thank you.

Take a look at this link:

diabetes.org.uk/guide-to-di...