What exactly is Glucophage and who should use it? Glucophage is for diabetes patients and is an oral medicine that aids in managing blood your blood sugar levels. Is Glucophage for anyone with any type of diabetes? Glucophage is for those with type 2 diabetes who do not rely on insulin. Glucophage is not a treatment for Type 1 diabetes; it might be used in combination with another medication, but is not to be used as a sole source of medication for those with Type 1 diabetes. Glucophage helps to lower your blood sugar by slowing sugar creation and absorption. This in turn assists your body in reacting better to its own insulin. This then encourages the processing of sugar, but does cause an increase of the body’s creation of insulin. Glucophage is an oral medication for the treatment of diabetes.
What should you know before you start taking this medication? Are there any factors that wouldn’t make you a good candidate for Glucophage? There is in fact important information that you should familiarize yourself with before you start taking Glucophage. It’s important to know the ins and outs of a medication to avoid any potential issues or interactions. You shouldn’t take Glucophage if you have kidney disease. If you begin to experience any type of ketoacidosis reaction, you need to seek medical treatment.
Ketoacidosis is when you have dangerous levels of ketones in your body. Ketoacidosis can cause you to go into a diabetic coma if not treated properly; Glucophage is not a treatment for Ketoacidosis. Another factor to consult with your doctor about is if you have any history of liver or heart disease in your family. This can be an important factor to determine if you are a good candidate for taking Glucophage. It’s also significant to mention your taking of Glucophage to any doctor before certain testing is done. Especially if you have to have an x-ray taken or a CT scan performed, Glucophage can interfere with these kinds of medical testing if the doctor is not aware of your prescription.
As with any type of medication there are chances of side effects, Glucophage is no different in this aspect. There is a certain amount of risk to be considered when taking Glucophage. In some people taking Glucophage has resulted in a life-threatening condition known as lactic acidosis. Lactic acidosis occurs when there is a build-up of lactic acids in the body. When taking Glucophage it is important to note any unusual side effects such as weakness, increased sleepiness, slow heart rate, cold or numb feeling, muscle pain, shortness of breath, stomach pain, light headiness, and fainting. All of these are symptoms of lactic acidosis and should be treated by medical professionals.
It’s imperative to know the warning signs of low blood sugar for anyone planning on taking Glucophage. It’s also vital that you share all of your medical history before taking this medication. If the doctor is not aware of all the factors of your medical history, they might prescribe Glucophage to someone who is not a good candidate for the medication. There are multiple factors to take into consideration before being prescribed Glucophage. Glucophage need to be used in addition to both diet and exercise in order to be effective.