your kidney function. According to the
American College of Radiology, you
may not need to stop taking metformin
if you have normal kidney function.
However, if you have acute or chronic
kidney issues, you will likely need to
stop taking your metformin prior to
the procedure and 48 hours afterwards.
Metformin may help
with weight loss.
Metformin isn’t a weight-loss drug. But
studies show that some people who take
this medicine lose weight—as long as
they are eating healthfully and being
active. Weight loss may result from
a reduced appetite. Metformin may
also affect how the body stores fat.
And metformin lowers insulin resis-
tance, which can make it easier to lose
weight. On a side note, metformin is
sometimes prescribed to people who
take antipsychotic medicines to prevent
or reduce weight gain.Metformin helps to reduce
heart disease deaths in those
with Type 2 diabetes.
A major complication of diabetes is heart
disease. Research on more than one mil-
lion people with diabetes shows that met-
formin can reduce the risk of dying from
heart disease by 30 to 40 percent com-
pared with sulfonylurea drugs (anotherclass of diabetes pills). Results from a
newer study, called REMOVAL, showed
that metformin lowered LDL cholesterol,
plaque accumulation and weight in more
than 400 people with Type 1 diabetes,
indicating that this drug may be helpful
for preventing heart disease in those with
Type 1 diabetes.Metformin sometimes has an
unpleasant smell.
It’s understandable that if your medi-
cine smells like dead fish, it’s going to
be hard to swallow. Apparently, generic
metformin has a higher likelihood of
smelling bad. If you notice a bad smell
when you open your metformin con-
tainer, you can try a couple of things:
hold your nose when you take it or
talk to your doctor about switching to
another type of metformin, including
an extended-release version.
There are definitely pros and cons to
taking metformin. Talk with your doctor
or diabetes educator if you have con-
cerns or questions about this drug and
find out if it’s a good choice for you. Clinically proven to repair, soften & moisturize
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