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What Are The Side Effects Of Metformin?

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Posted on Thu, 2 Feb 2017
Question: What does metformin do with the glucose it removes from the blood?
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Answered by Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai (38 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Actions of Metformin

Detailed Answer:
Good day.
Interesting question. Metformin is a wonderful drug and it helps to reduce insulin levels by different ways. It helps to improve insulin sensitivity by reducing insulin resistance particularly in skeletal muscles and liver. These tissues will respond to insulin in a better way while taking Metformin. Skeletal tissue is the main consumer of glucose. Hence, if it can utilize glucose well, blood glucose comes down. Apart from that, Metformin controls the amount of glucose produced in liver by glycolysis and by gluconeogenesis. Apart from that, Metformin also reduces appetite and helps in weight control. Recently there is some research about Metformin's direct action on pancreas. In addition, there are reports of Metformin reducing heart disease and certain cancers.
Regards
Binu
Note: For further follow-up, discuss your blood glucose reports with our diabetologist. Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Nagamani Ng
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Answered by
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Dr. Binu Parameswaran Pillai

Endocrinologist

Practicing since :2003

Answered : 1439 Questions

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What Are The Side Effects Of Metformin?

Brief Answer: Actions of Metformin Detailed Answer: Good day. Interesting question. Metformin is a wonderful drug and it helps to reduce insulin levels by different ways. It helps to improve insulin sensitivity by reducing insulin resistance particularly in skeletal muscles and liver. These tissues will respond to insulin in a better way while taking Metformin. Skeletal tissue is the main consumer of glucose. Hence, if it can utilize glucose well, blood glucose comes down. Apart from that, Metformin controls the amount of glucose produced in liver by glycolysis and by gluconeogenesis. Apart from that, Metformin also reduces appetite and helps in weight control. Recently there is some research about Metformin's direct action on pancreas. In addition, there are reports of Metformin reducing heart disease and certain cancers. Regards Binu