Metformin is an Endocrine Disruptor and Threat to Humankind

a reply to: M4ngo

Thank you for all those studies.

I will now stack them up with 30 years of personal experience with metformin.

Guess what - metformin wins!

You still have not explained how an average person, who still has a mortgage to pay, will be able to justify the cost of inhalable insulin compared to metformin.

Sell it to the Doctor who has to prescribe a drug to control blood sugar to someone on welfare and welfare does not cover the cost of inhalable insulin.

Go ahead - please justify the cost - sell it to me

originally posted by: TiredofControlFreaks
a reply to: Anathros

For a diabetic, all carbs cause a sugar spike. It takes about two hours for the Blood sugar to return to its pre-carb level and in fact, if the carb load was too heavy, it can take days.

Every blood sugar spike causes damage to the capillaries in the eyes, kidneys and feet.

the best time to eat carbs is before a work out as it helps to return the blood sugar to the pre-carb load. Best to eat complex carbs like porridge as complex carbs don't cause such a spike.

I totally agree with what you are saying.

Ketogenic diets, extensive exercise routines all work on paper. It totally does.

But diabets are people, not paper.

Imagine, YOu have controlled yourself thru sheer will power for months to a ketogenic diet. You want carbs but have restricted yourself to the point where it hurts. You are angry at this restriction. You watch people around you eat pasta, potatoes and wonderful smelling bread. There may also be cultural aspects to this. Imagine a family gathering where everyone is eating lasagna but all you have is meat and green beans. You feel abnormal. You are fustrated. You feel separate and apart from the people you love. You feel (rightly so) that everyone is watching every bite you put in your mouth.

If you eat a single spoonful of mashed potatoes, you are blamed for your disease, dismissed as not taking care of yourself, and pitied by the same people who just ate a truck load of mashed potatoes.

What would your reaction be to soothe your feelings....yeah that's right ....have a hidden midnight feast of all the foods you have denied yourself.

It is one thing to restrict carbs voluntarily and another to have people force a restriction on you through social peer pressure.



When it comes to diabetes, slow and steady wins the race. Eating a restricted diet most of the time and planning for occasional treats is far far better for your emotional well being. Regulated living with established exercise patterns.


In other words, I know you mean well but this is not your disease. This is mine and I have to manage it as best as I can

You seem to know very little about how the inhalable insulin works. When I say mimics the endogenous secretion of insulin that is what I mean. It functions physiologically the same as someone without diabetes. You can eat anything you want on it. Literally. It will flatline any spike from carbs just like a normal healthy pancreas would. Every time. Every person I know that is on it eats whatever they want when they want and maintain time in range around the clock.

Not sure what you mean by "pneumo pulmonary" effects but never of such.

originally posted by: TiredofControlFreaks
a reply to: M4ngo

Thank you for all those studies.

I will now stack them up with 30 years of personal experience with metformin.

Guess what - metformin wins!

You still have not explained how an average person, who still has a mortgage to pay, will be able to justify the cost of inhalable insulin compared to metformin.

Sell it to the Doctor who has to prescribe a drug to control blood sugar to someone on welfare and welfare does not cover the cost of inhalable insulin.

Go ahead - please justify the cost - sell it to me

Insurance. And I suppose one would pay whatever it took to live a normal life.

Edit to say: Perhaps you should confront your doc and ask him/her. They set the rules.

a reply to: M4ngo

please read up on the side affects of inhalable insulin to learn about the effects on the entire respiratory system of inhaling powerders.



I asked you to justify the difference in cost between inhalable insulin and metformin.

Tell me what is so bad about metformin that I am forced to choose between paying for my insulin and feeding my kids.

originally posted by: TiredofControlFreaks
a reply to: M4ngo

please read up on the side affects of inhalable insulin to learn about the effects on the entire respiratory system of inhaling powerders.



I asked you to justify the difference in cost between inhalable insulin and metformin.

Tell me what is so bad about metformin that I am forced to choose between paying for my insulin and feeding my kids.

I have known about the inhalable insulin for nearly two years. So I have read up on that 2 years ago. Cough is the main side effect.

Justify? Ask your doctor. Doctors set the guidelines on diabetes management. That's who I would ask anyway, seeing they are paid in doing so.

I was diagnosed nearly 10 years ago as a diabetic (T2). The doctor I had at the time put me on Metformin, I think it was 2-500mg tablets daily (not ER).

At first that's all it took - diet, exercise and pills. Now I'm reaching the point where my doctor will want me on insulin and I just can't do it. All I have for insurance is Medicare Part A. Still struggling to get the gov't to waive the late signup penalty for Parts B & D so I can get well again. I have numerous health problems inc. diabetes, which has been way out of control.

It's not unusual for me to wake up with a blood sugar of over 200 in the am even if I am good the night before. I am cutting out as many carbs as possible....ditched hot dogs and other unhealthy foods, etc. But it's just not working for me any more. I'm on 2-1000 mg tablets of Metformin every day and my doctor has been prescribing other meds to complement it, like Glimiperid, Januvia, etc.

All I get for meds is on Walmart's $4 list unless it's a freebie from a pharmaceutical company.

As the Lord is my witness I am at wit's end with this @#$$$# disease, esp. since I have insurance issues. I want to see a specialist at the Joslin Center in Syracuse but can't afford it.

I can't do alot of walking and am in a power wheelchair.

It feels like I've been giving a death sentence by big pharma and the health insurance industries because I've been struggling so much to get someone in power in Washington to listen to me.

I honestly don't know what to do. I can't see specialists until i get insurance, which could very well be never.

a reply to: dianajune

This is really hard and difficult post to respond to because it is the personal experience of many diabetics. You can't exercise properly because you are mobility challenged.

You are buying - buying and eating quality high protein food is a challenge. Hell it can be hard to avoid going hungry sometimes.

You can buy a lantus insulin pen that provides 320 units of fast-acting insulin for about $100 at any Canadian Walmart or Costco in Canada. You might be able to get it on-line. Or do you have friends who go to canada

We have diabetic clinics in Canada (where insulin was invented). Do you have any in the states?

a reply to: dianajune

Wait - let me add to my answer


You are taking 2000 mg of metformin a day. That is the maximum dosage for a diabetic. Any metformin over and above 2000 mg per day is nothing but a waste. the extra metformin will not help you at all.

Jenuvia is a combination of metformin and some other drug. It would be a waste for you and its a relatively new drug that is expensive.

Ask for Glyberide as an adjunct to metformin. Its an older drug but very effective and it is cheaper because the patent has run out.

As for exercise - every mobility challenged people can exercise. When you are in bed, lay on your side and do leg lifts. Do what you can comfortability do at first but try to work your way up to 3 sets of 10 repetitions.



Although you cannot walk, you can move your arms. Use large tomato cans as wieghts.

heck search the internet. There are quite a few exercise programs that people in power chairs can do.

Exercise is life for a diabetic.

a reply to: dianajune

I have no words to express how I feel about your situation. If I could reach out across the internet, I'd give you a big hug, its the very least I could do to express so. But I'll send you a virtual . There's no carbs!

I hope your fortunes change, and the fortunes change for many other Americans in your shoes.

x

a reply to: M4ngo

So M4ngo - go ahead. I would like to hear your advice for dianajune.

Do you think she should stop eating and paying her rent to buy inhalable insulin???

This isn't a study. Its real life and the real life of many many diabetics. Go ahead, explain how metformin is a neurotoxin and she really really need inhalable insulin.

You said your wife is on inhalable insulin. How many cartridges a month does she take of this miracle drug. What does it cost? How often must she test her blood sugar? What is the cost in test strips?

originally posted by: TiredofControlFreaks
a reply to: M4ngo

So M4ngo - go ahead. I would like to hear your advice for dianajune.

Do you think she should stop eating and paying her rent to buy inhalable insulin???

This isn't a study. Its real life and the real life of many many diabetics. Go ahead, explain how metformin is a neurotoxin and she really really need inhalable insulin.

You said your wife is on inhalable insulin. How many cartridges a month does she take of this miracle drug. What does it cost? How often must she test her blood sugar? What is the cost in test strips?

Where did I ever say my wife is on inhalable insulin?

Done with your games.

originally posted by: TiredofControlFreaks
a reply to: dianajune

This is really hard and difficult post to respond to because it is the personal experience of many diabetics. You can't exercise properly because you are mobility challenged.

You are buying - buying and eating quality high protein food is a challenge. Hell it can be hard to avoid going hungry sometimes.

You can buy a lantus insulin pen that provides 320 units of fast-acting insulin for about $100 at any Canadian Walmart or Costco in Canada. You might be able to get it on-line. Or do you have friends who go to canada

We have diabetic clinics in Canada (where insulin was invented). Do you have any in the states?

We have a Walmart in town. I have to go tomorrow anyway and will ask about that pen and how much it costs and then run this idea by my doctor. Earlier today I started the Glipizide in addition the the Metformin. I don't think I'm going back on the Janumet/Januvia/whatever it's called.

So far it doesn't seem to be helping. My sugar wasn't bad at all before dinner. It's afterwards that it likes to act up even if I eat earlier than I used to and even if I have a healthy meal.

I will try some of those chair exercises. My doctor mentioned them to me as well.

There's the Joslin Center in Syracuse but I don't have insurance. I looked for a clinical trial but couldn't find one. I'll keep checking.

What are the legalities of my going across the border to get this medicine? I'm probably about 80 miles or so from the border if I were to take I-81N from here and past Watertown.

a reply to: TiredofControlFreaks

I'll check with the pharmacist and see if this could be worked out. I sure hope so. I'd hate to have to go on insulin. I know someone who was on it and decided to stop because it made her gain weight. She lost I don't know how many pounds by doing alot of walking. But her last A1c, if I'm not mistaken, was a 7.5.

That's what mine was about three months ago. Tomorrow I'll find out what it is now. It most likely went up from there.

originally posted by: auroraaus
a reply to: dianajune

I have no words to express how I feel about your situation. If I could reach out across the internet, I'd give you a big hug, its the very least I could do to express so. But I'll send you a virtual . There's no carbs!

I hope your fortunes change, and the fortunes change for many other Americans in your shoes.

x

Thank you! I could sure use a hug right about now!

I hope that our gov't will wake up and finally let us little people get the healthcare we deserve, regardless of our ability to pay for it.

a reply to: dianajune

If you can afford it - there is a new drug called jardiance. Jardiance has the effect of weight loss and replaces insulin but it is a new drug so its expensive


Good luck with your pharmacist. please let me know how it has worked out.

You may also want to check out the local y to see if you can use their bike. Cycling is weightless and you may be able to manage it. Also the local community centre may offer some program for water aerobics.

You need exercise to stay off insulin

a reply to: TiredofControlFreaks

I hear some of what you're saying. Insulin resistance can cause obesity, which can lead to T2D. Not the other way around.

originally posted by: dianajune

originally posted by: auroraaus
a reply to: dianajune

I have no words to express how I feel about your situation. If I could reach out across the internet, I'd give you a big hug, its the very least I could do to express so. But I'll send you a virtual . There's no carbs!

I hope your fortunes change, and the fortunes change for many other Americans in your shoes.

x

Thank you! I could sure use a hug right about now!

I hope that our gov't will wake up and finally let us little people get the healthcare we deserve, regardless of our ability to pay for it.

Agree 100%.

Has to start with the people first. Now you just need to tell your doctor your frustrations. They are the gate-keepers.

Wish you the best.

a reply to: TiredofControlFreaks

Swimming would probably be good low impact exercise...

a reply to: Kettu

absolutely! and just treading water in the deep end reduces swelling and allows for better circulation

a reply to: M4ngo

Our bodies can burn ketones if we do not have sugar. Most problems occur in a shakey conversion from burning glucose to burning stored fats. A person can get dizzy or even pass out if their blood volume is low. I think that examining blood volume would be good when diagnosing diabetes, if a person has low volume from dehydration, the levels of sugar and insulin will be higher appearing because it is concentrated. Not all diabetics have this type of problem though. It will also throw off the A1c test if long term hypovolemia is evident. Lots of older people have hypovolemia, their production of blood cells slows down and to keep from being anemic, the body lowers volume.

I read a lot of articles on this, I have always had either hypovolemia or anemia. I like the hypovolemia a lot better than the anemia unless the volume gets too low or a high nitric oxide producing food is eaten. Also if I eat too much sweet liquids, it boosts my insulin and when the glucose is used up I get a really bad conversion to burning ketones, my body expands the vessels and I get dizzy when my blood volume is low. Some women get fainting spells because of this and lots of older people have problems with low volume..