Metformin & Geting Blood Checked???

SweetGirl55 · 07-26-2009, 03:59 AM

Everytime I go to the doctor they alway's take my blood & check it since I'm on Metformin.
1. Why is this???
2. Does everyone else get their blood checked everytime at their appointment???
I think it's a complete blood count check.

MDC05 · 07-26-2009, 12:54 PM

They're checking your blood for a few reasons:

1. They are probably checking for your glucose levels. It is an ant-diabetic drug first. If it makes your blood sugar too low, you risk suffering from hypoglycemia, which can be just as bad as hyperglycemia.
2. They are also probably checking your hormone levels to make sure it is affecting/helping to control them.
3. Liver/kidney output/functions can be initially assessed by what's in your blood. Metformin has been linked before to negative side effects with those organs. If they find initial abnormalities, they might re-think your treatment with Met.

While I am on met and am seeing positive results, I suggest if you want to see more stuff, check out any one of Kat Carney's posts about Met. She's got a plethora of information about the cautious use and alternatives of met.

SweetGirl55 · 07-26-2009, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDC05

They're checking your blood for a few reasons:

1. They are probably checking for your glucose levels. It is an ant-diabetic drug first. If it makes your blood sugar too low, you risk suffering from hypoglycemia, which can be just as bad as hyperglycemia.
2. They are also probably checking your hormone levels to make sure it is affecting/helping to control them.
3. Liver/kidney output/functions can be initially assessed by what's in your blood. Metformin has been linked before to negative side effects with those organs. If they find initial abnormalities, they might re-think your treatment with Met.

While I am on met and am seeing positive results, I suggest if you want to see more stuff, check out any one of Kat Carney's posts about Met. She's got a plethora of information about the cautious use and alternatives of met.

I don't know if I would want to look I worry myself to much so some things that I read worry me

& When I look on my paper of the blood test it only shows a complete blood count test being done nothing else

1.How would u know if u had hypoglycemia?
2.What are ALL of the signs & symptoms?
3.How would u know if u had hyperglycemia?
4.What are ALL of the signs & symptoms?
5.Should I be asking my doctor to do other blood tests?
6.Why or Why not?
I'm sure she knows what she's doing though

MDC05 · 07-26-2009, 02:37 PM

Hi SweetGirl55...

There's really no reason to worry. Just arm yourself with good information, and I think it helps you worry less because you feel more in control and empowered.

You would know if you had hyper/hypo glycemia by blood tests. A doctor would need to diagnose either one. Basically, they are high (hyper) and low (hypo) blood sugars. There are a lot of different symptoms of both. I suggest checking them out on a good medical website.

I would ask your doctor what tests were done to your blood. Ask her what she know about metformin and liver/kidney functions. Just start talking to her. You have a lot of questions just like I did, and your doctor should be willing to talk with you about them. If she seems rushed and/or uncaring, you need a different doctor. I think you should write down all of your questions and schedule an appointment to talk with her.

Hope this helps