Diabetes seems like a common disease in the modern world. You can definitely know at least one person in the family or family of someone you know who has diabetes. Diabetes is so much more than just high blood sugar level. While in many cases it does not have obvious symptoms, people with diabetes are at risk for many complications such as eye diseases, kidney failure and nerve damage. This is because the excess blood sugar itself is considered toxic to the blood vessels and many cells in the body which ultimately damages the structures and affect body functions. Untreated diabetes can cause life-threatening events such as heart attack, stroke and diabetic ketoacidosis. It is estimated that 65 % of people with diabetes face death after heart disease or stroke.
There are numerous medicines used to help regulate blood sugar. One of the common drugs is metformin such as in Glucophage 500 mg. To understand what Glucophage, do for the body, you have to understand the ingredient. As mentioned just now, in Glucophage there is metformin. Metformin is known as a biguanide. It works on people with diabetes by lowering the amount of sugar produced in the liver. It also works by increasing the sensitivity of muscle cells to insulin and absorption of sugar through the intestines. Since diabetes is involved with insulin resistance, improving insulin status will greatly help to control blood sugar. Insulin plays an important role in maintaining blood sugar level by binding cells to sugar and is used by the body cells to function properly.
Glucophage is typically prescribed to those with type 2 diabetes and is overweight or obese. Medication for diabetes is often prescribed as the last resort after diet and exercise as lifestyle modification fails to control the blood sugar level. Glucophage sometimes may be combined with other anti-diabetic drugs in cases that one anti-diabetic drug is not enough to control the blood sugar level. In general, Glucophage is taken 2 to 3 times a day with meals or right after meals. You should drink plenty of fluid when taking this medication unless told otherwise by your doctor. It is best to avoid eating too much food laden with sugar such as candy and soda or simple carbohydrates such as chips and crackers. These foods not only will lead to a spike of blood sugar but also will lead to metformin being unable to work properly and may need a higher dose or other medication to help control blood sugar.
With any kind of medicine that brings benefits, also comes possible side effects. Common side effects include light-headed, low blood sugar level (hypoglycaemia), nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, fatigue and upset stomach. If these side effects get worse, do tell your healthcare provider. If there are serious side effects such as lactic acidosis marked by unusual muscle pain, sudden feeling of cold, breathing difficulty and stomach pain, you should seek immediate medical advice by visiting the emergency department even if the symptoms are mild. If you experience hypoglycemia when using this medication, it is likely probably due to use of other anti-diabetic medication or because of your lifestyle such as not consuming enough calories from food or after heavy physical activities. Hypoglycemia symptoms include sweating, shaking, hunger, dizziness, tingling hands or feet or fast heartbeat. Always keep a quick source of sugar such as candy or fruit juice in hand if you start to experience hypoglycemia. After a hypoglycemic episode, you should let your healthcare provider know about this.
In essence, Glucophage is an anti-diabetic medication used to treat diabetes. It needs to be taken regularly and does not work immediately to lower the blood sugar. Never stop taking Glucophage even if you do not feel any changes. You may need to take antidiabetic medication for a lifetime to help control blood sugar level.
Living with diabetes may not seem easy to some people as they struggle to keep their blood glucose level on optimal level. While taking medication is a must for patients with diabetes, medicine alone may not be enough to help them reach the optimal blood sugar level as proposed by their doctor. Thus, there are other things to do to help patients with diabetes achieve better quality of life:
- Learn more about diabetes itself. This could be from reading articles online or asking your healthcare provider.
- Practise an active lifestyle by working out. Simply by taking a 10 minute walk 3 times a day, you are doing your body a great favour.
- Make a diabetes plan meal with help from your healthcare provider.
- Practise good eating habits by eating meals low in calories and high in fibre. Try eating more fruits and vegetables. Try to eat as fresh and natural as possible.
- Choose plain water over sweetened drinks such as soda or juice high in sugar. If you still want to have water that tastes good, you may try making your own fruit juice or adding squeeze of lemon or lime into a glass of plain water.
- Know how to manage stress level. Stress can raise your blood sugar level. Try relaxation activities such as deep breathing, meditating, listening to music and work on hobbies. You are more than welcome to get help from a mental health counsellor such as a psychologist or psychiatrist for insight.
