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Does Metformin For Type 2 Diabetes Worsen Kidney Problem?

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Posted on Wed, 4 Mar 2015
Question: Good mornig. In April of 2006 my kidneys were fine. In August of the same year I was put on Metformin until 1012. In 2012 I was hospitalized because a nurse said that my diabetic medicine was shutting down my kidneys. Now I've been on insulin for 2 years and my doctor just told me that I am in stage 3 of 5 chronic renal failure! Needless to say, I feel like he just handed me a death sentence. Is Metformin to blame for this?
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Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (20 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
NOT AT ALL.

Detailed Answer:
Good day,
Noted your concern.
Sorry to hear about the kidney problems. METFORMIN is an excellent medicine for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. It doesn't cause any kidney problems ( I am sorry for the wrong information given by the nurse).

After the use, metformin is pushed out ( excreted) of the body by kidneys. When there is a kidney failure, Kidneys can not effectively excrete Metformin and thus Metformin accumulates in body. So in kidney failure, we do not use Metformin.

METFORMIN doesn't cause renal failure. I can assure you that
Regards
Binu

Note: For further queries related to kidney problems and comprehensive renal care, talk to a Nephrologist. Click here to Book a Consultation.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
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Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai

Endocrinologist

Practicing since :2003

Answered : 1438 Questions

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Does Metformin For Type 2 Diabetes Worsen Kidney Problem?

Brief Answer: NOT AT ALL. Detailed Answer: Good day, Noted your concern. Sorry to hear about the kidney problems. METFORMIN is an excellent medicine for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. It doesn't cause any kidney problems ( I am sorry for the wrong information given by the nurse). After the use, metformin is pushed out ( excreted) of the body by kidneys. When there is a kidney failure, Kidneys can not effectively excrete Metformin and thus Metformin accumulates in body. So in kidney failure, we do not use Metformin. METFORMIN doesn't cause renal failure. I can assure you that Regards Binu