Do you currently take medication to reduce insulin resistance (e.g., metformin, thiazolidinediones)? If so, when did you start the medication?
Home > LC Polls > Do you currently take medication to reduce insulin resistance (e.g., metformin, thiazolidinediones)? If so, when did you start the medication?
Sarah Howard (nee Tackett) has dedicated her career to supporting the T1D community ever since she was diagnosed with T1D while in college in May 2013. Since then, she has worked for various diabetes organizations, focusing on research, advocacy, and community-building efforts for people with T1D and their loved ones. Sarah is currently the Senior Manager of Marketing at T1D Exchange.
In my original diagnosis was prescribed insulin, than switched to metformin for several weeks. Than after 3 years diet alone prescribed various meds until I was mystically diagnosed TYPE1. The opinion the meds did nothing more than act was a placebo.
I answered no. However, when I was first diagnosed, in 1977, my doctor put me on pills (don’t remember what it was) for a few days. Then, he put me on insulin, and that has been my diabetes medication since then.
Since I am a T1D LADA, I was treated with metformin by a local GP. It only made me sick and didn’t bring sugars down at all. I gave it up quickly and continued with an endocrinologist for treatment. I have been on insulin ever since, Lantus and Humalog. Happy Birthday Insulin, 100 years old this year!!!!!
I answered, but five years after I was diagnosed, put on a Draconian diet and lost and let off 25 lbs, my annual A1C was over 12 and my GP wanted to start me on insulin. I insisted on trying pills and was briefly given Diabenase, which did nothing. Then I started 70/30 insulin, and the adventure began.
After being diagnosed as T1D, everything ran smoothly for a while. Then my sugar started taking off overnight, would increase by more than 100 points by the time I woke up. Was taking Lantus back then, eventually my endo prescribed metformin at dinner. Now taking Tresiba so less of a need and have reduced metformin by half.
So the real question is, how many of us were initially misdiagnosed because our doctors couldn’t fathom us being any thing other than T2 since we obviously weren’t little kids.
The most recent statistics say that 40% are initially misdiagnosed. https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/44/11/2449
What are organizations like this one going to do about this?
That’s what happened to me when I initially went to a GP. A few months later, I went to an Endo. She took one look at me and said if she was a betting woman, she would bet that I was T1. She did tests and was correct. Switched from metformin to insulin and things got way better quickly.
I replied with N/A. About 20 years back I was directed by my PCP to try Metformin to deal with insulin resistance. I followed that plan for about a year. No positive results. So we dropped the Metformin, and no insulin increase was needed.
I need an “other” category. I was on Metformine for about a year at 20 years post T1dx but I struggled to remember to take my morning dose and even when I did it only lowered my afternoon insulin by a tiny bit and it wasn’t worth the hassle and cost of another drug on board to lower my insulin needs so I stopped taking it.
I was originally misdiagnosed as T2. Took Glucovance for a few years, until I was diagnosed as T1. Then I went on insulin. Now I take insulin, plus Trulicity and Actos as I have developed strong insulin resistance.
Following this. T1D for 40 years. I have noticed that insulin isn’t working as well as it used to, I do have a grandmother who had T2D, so I’m not immune to T2D (too bad there isn’t a medical issues “okay you have type 1 D, you’ve met your quota”) I am going to suggest Ozempic or Jarxiga. Wish me luck. I also have about 15 lbs to lose so that would be a benefit as well. I do know that T1D folks have had success with it.
I have never been prescribed oral diabetes medications and remain insulin sensitive 26 years post diagnosis.
My mother developed T1D in her 50s, and as others who presented later in adulthood have mentioned, she was initially misdiagnosed as a type 2 and prescribed metformin and then other oral medications with no effect. She continued to have passing blood sugars in the 300s and to lose weight. We finally convinced the GP to run autoantibodies & c-peptide, which confirmed autoimmune T1D. Insulin did the trick! She is not required any further medication for insulin resistance.
I answered NO, because I’m not currently on one. I was however on Rezulin before it was pulled. We tried the others but I had major side effect’s from them.
I have never been on any oral pills or any injectable other than insulin. Even though I am overweight my TDD is only 28-30 units (pumping) eating moderate amounts of carbs (150-170g daily).
Metformin is touted for other reasons, like restoring sleep cycle for non-diabetics. From comments here, some T1D have benefitted. Others, no benefit. Makes me curious. I doubt I’ll ever have to stop taking insulin. I accepted this long ago. I’m grateful for this community. I’m grateful for learning that diabetes, like cancer, has many varieties. I’m very grateful for China’s early research into adult stem cell transplantation. Finally, the US is catching up on stem cell research and MRNA. I’m ready to be experimented upon!
Do you currently take medication to reduce insulin resistance (e.g., metformin, thiazolidinediones)? If so, when did you start the medication? Cancel reply
In my original diagnosis was prescribed insulin, than switched to metformin for several weeks. Than after 3 years diet alone prescribed various meds until I was mystically diagnosed TYPE1. The opinion the meds did nothing more than act was a placebo.
I answered no. However, when I was first diagnosed, in 1977, my doctor put me on pills (don’t remember what it was) for a few days. Then, he put me on insulin, and that has been my diabetes medication since then.
I have never been prescribed any medication to reduce insulin resistance. In fact, after 40+ years I’m still very insulin sensitive.
Still on medication for insulin resistance even tho being diagnosed T1D. It’s because I am very resistant to insulin.
Since I am a T1D LADA, I was treated with metformin by a local GP. It only made me sick and didn’t bring sugars down at all. I gave it up quickly and continued with an endocrinologist for treatment. I have been on insulin ever since, Lantus and Humalog. Happy Birthday Insulin, 100 years old this year!!!!!
I answered, but five years after I was diagnosed, put on a Draconian diet and lost and let off 25 lbs, my annual A1C was over 12 and my GP wanted to start me on insulin. I insisted on trying pills and was briefly given Diabenase, which did nothing. Then I started 70/30 insulin, and the adventure began.
After being diagnosed as T1D, everything ran smoothly for a while. Then my sugar started taking off overnight, would increase by more than 100 points by the time I woke up. Was taking Lantus back then, eventually my endo prescribed metformin at dinner. Now taking Tresiba so less of a need and have reduced metformin by half.
So the real question is, how many of us were initially misdiagnosed because our doctors couldn’t fathom us being any thing other than T2 since we obviously weren’t little kids.
The most recent statistics say that 40% are initially misdiagnosed.
https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/44/11/2449
What are organizations like this one going to do about this?
That’s what happened to me when I initially went to a GP. A few months later, I went to an Endo. She took one look at me and said if she was a betting woman, she would bet that I was T1. She did tests and was correct. Switched from metformin to insulin and things got way better quickly.
I replied with N/A. About 20 years back I was directed by my PCP to try Metformin to deal with insulin resistance. I followed that plan for about a year. No positive results. So we dropped the Metformin, and no insulin increase was needed.
Same.
For just a few months my doc tried it but I had to many lows so she stopped.
Kim, are you T1D?
I need an “other” category. I was on Metformine for about a year at 20 years post T1dx but I struggled to remember to take my morning dose and even when I did it only lowered my afternoon insulin by a tiny bit and it wasn’t worth the hassle and cost of another drug on board to lower my insulin needs so I stopped taking it.
I was originally misdiagnosed as T2. Took Glucovance for a few years, until I was diagnosed as T1. Then I went on insulin. Now I take insulin, plus Trulicity and Actos as I have developed strong insulin resistance.
Following this. T1D for 40 years. I have noticed that insulin isn’t working as well as it used to, I do have a grandmother who had T2D, so I’m not immune to T2D (too bad there isn’t a medical issues “okay you have type 1 D, you’ve met your quota”) I am going to suggest Ozempic or Jarxiga. Wish me luck. I also have about 15 lbs to lose so that would be a benefit as well. I do know that T1D folks have had success with it.
I have never been prescribed oral diabetes medications and remain insulin sensitive 26 years post diagnosis.
My mother developed T1D in her 50s, and as others who presented later in adulthood have mentioned, she was initially misdiagnosed as a type 2 and prescribed metformin and then other oral medications with no effect. She continued to have passing blood sugars in the 300s and to lose weight. We finally convinced the GP to run autoantibodies & c-peptide, which confirmed autoimmune T1D. Insulin did the trick! She is not required any further medication for insulin resistance.
I’ve been taking Victoza for quite a while. Not sure how long, but years.
I answered NO, because I’m not currently on one. I was however on Rezulin before it was pulled. We tried the others but I had major side effect’s from them.
Yes, 30 yrs after diagnosis. However, it was only for 4 months. It did nothing for me so she stopped it.
I have never been on any oral pills or any injectable other than insulin. Even though I am overweight my TDD is only 28-30 units (pumping) eating moderate amounts of carbs (150-170g daily).
No
Metformin is touted for other reasons, like restoring sleep cycle for non-diabetics. From comments here, some T1D have benefitted. Others, no benefit. Makes me curious. I doubt I’ll ever have to stop taking insulin. I accepted this long ago. I’m grateful for this community. I’m grateful for learning that diabetes, like cancer, has many varieties. I’m very grateful for China’s early research into adult stem cell transplantation. Finally, the US is catching up on stem cell research and MRNA. I’m ready to be experimented upon!