Metformin Linked With Lower Risk of Death From COVID-19 in People With Type 2 Diabetes.

[DRH-sangli]

The diabetes drug metformin lowers blood sugar, an outcome that may independently lower the risk of dying from COVID-19 in this group. Yet some experts speculate that the drug may have other properties that reduce the severity of the respiratory illness.

Even though people with diabetes are at an elevated risk for having complications and dying from COVID-19, a new study suggests that a common hypoglycemic drug may help lessen the toll of the respiratory disease in this group.

For the study, published in May 2020 in the American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, researchers studied the health outcomes of 283 people hospitalized for COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, who all had diabetes, according to the paper. The analysis included 104 participants taking metformin and 179 patients who didn’t take this drug. Metformin is commonly prescribed to people with type 2 diabetes to help lower their A1C, a three-month average of blood sugar levels.

Pls see the link...

everydayhealth.com/coronavi...

[namaha Administrator]

👍Informative...but the observation seems to be on a a small group of people...

[DRH-sangli Star in reply to namaha]

Yes, sample size is small but results are encouraging...Let’s hope researchers would be on lookout for a larger sample...Metformin has always been a wonderful drug..

[namaha Administrator in reply to DRH-sangli]

Dear Sangli

Not denying the fact that Metformin has several benefits other than Blood sugar lowering....

And every other day, there is an article saying it's benefits ...

But we must know that this drug is useless for a diabetes, if his pancreas not producing any insulin....or producing extremely low level of insulin .. in fact it can it create more problem of Acidocis .....

Nevertheless, I think most members are using Metformin in combination with either Vildagliptin / Sitagliptin or Gliclazide /Glimeperide ...

There are hardly few who are using Metformin as a standalone drug....

Anyway, we would conduct a poll on Metformin usage...

Dear Leah: I think we will conduct a survey on Metformin.

Please see my pvt message !

[DRH-sangli Star in reply to namaha]

In type -2 , low insulin is not an issue most of the time.. problem is insulin resistance..hence metformin, standalone or in combination works well..Good idea to have a survey

[namaha Administrator in reply to DRH-sangli]

Agree, if one is obese/ Overweight... Low Insulin may not be an issue...IR is the issue here ..and if low insulin is not an issue....they should not be taking an insulin secretagogues at all.... Such as Gliclazide or Gliptin which unnecessarily whips Pancreas to produce insulin......only Metformin would do the trick here ...😊

But if he is a thin type 2.... With low end of BMI or underweight.... and they keep on losing weight ....extreme low insulin levels could be an issue....if not properly diagnosed and an insulin secretagogues or Exgeneous insulin is not taken ... It could lead to more and more complications....

[DRH-sangli Star in reply to namaha]

I am now 68, diabetic t2 for about 29 years, normal lipids, bp-130/70, A1c around 6.2 for almost 5 years, medium built body bmi 24,ht-5-3,wt/61 kg..Fasting Insulin-6.2 ( normal 1.9 to 23).. My medication T.Reclimate(500) -1/2-1/2-1/2 and Tab Galvus50- 1-0-0.. also take T.supradyn and vit d3.. Pls suggest ..

[namaha Administrator in reply to DRH-sangli]

Dear Sangli

You seem to be doing fine ... Continue to do what you have been doing !😊

I have following comments to offer :

(1) your fasting insulin level is consistent with your body structure and BMI....it is not excess...

(2) Hope your Diet and exercise is Primary and the medication is only secondary to support / complement...your blood sugar level

(3) If there is a scope to reduce your medication with diet and Post meal exercise , you should explore......

(4) Your Galvus 50 once daily though a low dose ...... please remain alert for any skin Itching and wound in feet/ leg .....it is a side effect of Galvus....

(5) your Reclimate is 80 mg Gliclazide plus 500 mg Metformin... Which means with half a dose 3 times , it comes to 120 mg Gliclazide and 750 mg Metformin per day .... while Metformin dose is ok.... Gliclazide is at a higher limit ...though within prescribed limit

(6) Hope you are aware that both Gliclazide and Galvus are insulin secretagogues....

(7) You can discuss with your doctor if you can introduce a low dose Pioglitazone 15 mg after reducing the insulin secretagogues...or eliminating one of them.....

Because Only Pioglitazone which is an insulin sensitiser known to preserve your beta cells in the long run...

Pioglitazone may have some side-effects at very high dose .... But appears safe at low dose..... helps Preserving beta cells .

Stay Safe, Stay Healthy 🙏

[DRH-sangli Star in reply to namaha]

Thanks a lot @ Namaha... great advise

[YESDEE]

But metformin reacts with hydroxychloroquine, the only available medicine with covid at present and death rate is more with it.

[DRH-sangli Star in reply to YESDEE]

HCQ is not anti covid drug..It is being taken by doctors and paramedics who are working with covid hospitals as a precautionary medicines..Hcq is not taken by those who are having heart issues..If they do, they might face heart issues