About the recent insulin articles

[desquinn]

There have been various articles and media stories about whether there is a correlation about pre diabetes insulin resistance and fibromyalgia. Also, whether the use of the drug metformin can treat fibromyalgia pain and give relief. The University of Texas study can be found here: journals.plos.org/plosone/a...

Unlike some of the tabloid stories and those full of hyperbole and extravagant claims, the actual study does not pretend to be anything other than a pilot study with its main conclusion being that more research is required to explore this correlation and replicate it as well as explain it.

The study mentions a number of caveats that "must be carefully considered in the design of future clinical trials attempting to confirm this hypothesis." It highlighted the issue with retrospective studies, and that patients with fibro are commonly overweight which would predispose them to prediabetes. Efficacy of metformin was again done retrospectively without a randomised placebo controlled clinical trial.

They also highlight that metformin may possibly have an effect on chronic pain that is independent of its insulin resistant action.

With pilot studies like these, it is important to realise that they are trying to establish a hypothesis to then settle on a theory that has some credible evidence behind it. They will tend to have a small sample size of people and have not had their hypothesis and method replicated. To be successful in establishing a theory they will need to conduct a study that is randomised, double blinded and done with a population size that is representative. Following this they should have this same trial replicated by other researchers not connected to the initial trial.

This study is definitely of interest but it is at the very start of a process that would take years normally before it makes the leap from hypothesis to theory to eventual treatment.

Des

[Midori]

Thank you. I am always sceptical about these extravagant claims in the MSM about 'cures' for this and that. I consider it irresponsible reporting, by raising hopes, only for desperate folk to be bitterly disappointed when they try to find out more.

Many thanks for finding the research for us, and debunking the Hype.

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee in reply to Midori]

When we get these stories we will post them on social media with the newspaper link that it comes from as most people will have see it there i.e. the sun or mirror. But we do not post these without looking for the source article and checking it out.

We may not always have time to add the proper context to an article that we post like I have done on this one. However even when the sun is or whoever are covering something like this its always best to look at the source.

[Midori in reply to desquinn]

Yes, as a former nurse I agree totally.

[PurpleDragonMistress]

Thank you for being able to clear this up.. it's a new trend to a cure.. pah as if! Xx

[robpw]

It’s didn’t really raise my hope .. I hate when they claim brings new hope to .. etc

[grandmama16]

Very good answer to this hypothesis but it's interesting. In the directions for using Cymbalta it says May inncrease blood sugar which is what I think happened to me. I take Metformin for what Dr. calls Diabetes since my A1c will go above 7. My diet and exercise is not good either due to Fibro. I have not notice an increase in pain control from taking Metformin, nor from Cymbalta, nor even lately from Norco. I've had too much going on I guess that causes stress and anxiety. Also have active Epstein Barr virus.

[desquinn Partner Volunteer FMAUK Trustee]

knowing a bit about diabetes I would say even if you have been borderline diabetic and dipping into bms being low, its unlikely the your neuropathic pain is diabetic is origin.

Peripheral neuropathy is a longer term side effect after high sugars misbehaving over time.