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Metformin

For some obese patients, their overweight condition is due to type 2 diabetes. Diabetic patients must be extremely careful when taking any type of medications, since any change in the blood could affect their sugar levels. Changes in the blood sugar level may cause serious complications, even a coma or death.

For this reason, scientists have successfully introduced a drug that not only fights obesity, but fights type 2 diabetes as well. It’s called metformin, and is marketed under the brand name Glucophage.

How it works

Type 2 diabetes and its associated symptoms (i.e., obesity) are merely two of the maladies that Metformin targets. The drug has also had success when used to help treat heart failure, gestational diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, and cholesterol reduction. Metformin contains hypoglycemic agents, which aid the body in lowering blood sugar levels. The drug relies on the effectiveness of the kidneys to refine the blood and prevent lactic acidosis.

Effectiveness

Metformin is, first and foremost, a treatment for diabetes. It improves the body’s blood sugar hormone sensitivity, and limits sugar absorption in the digestive tract. These are features that help minimize the negative impact of diabetics. Thus, Metformin is primarily used as a double-whammy treatment of diabetes and obesity—helping the body avoid blood sugar extremes, and aid in weight loss. The anti-obesity qualities of Metformin are not as effective as most diabetes medicine. However, it is the best alternative for those who are diabetic and obese.

Side effects

Digestive issues often plague those who use metformin. In fact, as anti-diabetic drugs go, Metformin has the most serious and uncomfortable gastrointestinal issues. Diarrhea, nausea, flatulence, bloating, and constipation are among some of the side effects. One possible side effect is called lactic acidosis, by far the most serious of the potential side effects that metformin produces. Lactic acidosis is a buildup of lactic acid, occurring when cells produce lactic acid from glucose faster than the body metabolizes it. Although rare, lactic acidosis prompted from metformin can cause muscle stiffness and breathing problems.