Metformin Causing Diabetes???

ks1543 · 05-05-2006, 11:36 PM

I am on 1500 mgs of MetXR. I am NOT insulin resistant, but I do have PCOS. I just was told by someone at my office that Metformin can cause diabetes in people who take it who are not IR. Is there any truth to this?

I am kind of freaking out. I have been taking it for 3 mos and it has done nothing for my hormone levels. I will only take it for 3 more mos and if it does nothing, I will discontinue its use.

Thanks!!!

innkeepermommy · 05-06-2006, 02:55 AM

I've never heard this before. I know that in those who are IR and who would eventually develop diabetes, met can delay the onset. I think that most of us are IR, even if we "test" not IR. The tests are not accurate.

Met doesn't effect the production of insulin (except indirectly.) It makes your body more sensitive to the insulin it already produces. Not sure how that would make your pancreas shut down and stop producing insulin...

HOLLAND · 05-06-2006, 02:58 AM

I asked my Dr this same question and he said they have not found that it cause it. So it seems safe at least right now.

ks1543 · 05-08-2006, 07:35 PM

Thank you both for you replies...I was totally freaking out :-)

KYBluegrass · 05-08-2006, 07:42 PM

I've been taking met for 4 years, and I have never heard of any such thing. Metformin does nothing to affect sugar levels in your body...it resensitizes your cells, to make more efficient use of the insulin your body produces. It only affects your insulin, not your glucose levels. If anything, I believe it may help me to stave off the possibility of having Diabetes in the future, by regulating my insulin now. Metformin has not been shown to adversely affect the pancreas, which is what would have to shut down or cut production of insulin for you to develop diabetes. Hope this helps, but I've taken it 4 years and had no problems. My doctor does test my liver function and cholesterol regulary to be sure I'm still okay to be taking it.