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Originally Posted by Mr.NorthSouth  OK... I'll start answering now since I'm not tired!
I must admit that this really freaks me out. I'm going to find out if those liver tests are performed here in Mexico. What kind of test is it? A blood test?
Another question I have is: is the risk to her liver from Metformin greater than the risk to her health if she does nothing and stays overweight? |
The tests are simple blood draws that measure the liver enzymes. The reason it's important to monitor with Met is partially because of the risk of Lactic Acidosis, which is a rare but dangerous side effect of Metformin. It's also because Met can be harsh on the liver, like alcohol, tylenol and other pain relievers.
Elevated levels can also be caused by fatty liver which is common in women with PCOS and also those who are overweight.
The trick is to be sure to get monitoring so that if the levels do get too high, steps can be taken to be sure it's not something more serious.
To be honest, if I had to choose between taking the Metformin without medical supervision and not taking it, I'd opt for not taking it. I'm currently back on the Metformin and my doctor is aware of my liver enzymes, but for the time being we're going to see what happens because my levels were only slightly elevated at my last appointment.
That said, there ARE herbal and diet remedies that can work just as well. Cinnamon is one that's been successful for many women with the IR. For me, Choline and Inositol have worked wonders for the weight loss, along with a healthy diet and slowly increasing my exercise.