How much roughly does metformin reduce a1c ... - iDEAL Diabetes

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How much roughly does metformin reduce a1c levels and how long does it take.

BlueKeith profile image
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My last a1c reading was 57 about 2 month ago so was put on metformin. I take 500mg in a morning then again in evening. I'm wondering how long would it take to get to prediabetic range if I control sugar, diet eat healthy. Obviously only a rough estimate as everyone is different. Are we talking weeks or months.?

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BlueKeith
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I’m afraid it’s a bit of how long is a piece of string question. So it depends on how you are changing your diet and how your body is managing the change. So it could be weeks, months or years, more likely to be months however. You should really just be considering how you can make the diet changes to become whole life style changes forever, as your body has physically changed. One day you maybe lucky enough to come off of the metformin but you may also be on it forever, it just depends how your body is reacting.

BlueKeith profile image
BlueKeith in reply to

I'm eating very healthy now. All carbs now are wholegrains but keep to minimum. Weekdays especially. Weekends is my downfall as I love beer. Trying to keep that to a sensible level too. The thing is my diet wasn't the best but did eat plenty of fruit and vegetables but carbs where high and beer drinking was terrible when I first got diagnosed over a year ago and I had 2 blood tests . One said prediabetic and the second just nipped in to the diabetic side of things. I changed a lot of things and got a job where I am walking all day. I exercise after work too. I was sure I was going to be back in the prediabetic range but ended up 57 a1c. It doesn't add up. So now I'm on metformin and taking my diet to another level. Fingers cross it gets lower next blood reading.

in reply to BlueKeith

that’s all great and keep it up, it’s a whole lifestyle change that will make the difference. You need to stop thinking about the next blood test, be thankful you have found out how your body is affected by too many carbs, now accept that and just keep going with the changes. You will now get checked every year to see your progress, part of those checks is to consider whether the changes you made need any other assistance with further drugs or not. Well done on making the changes and fingers crossed the body starts reacting to them and you see your levels go down.

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