Metformin and Lab Results

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derMaus
derMaus Member Posts: 558 Member
in Uterine/Endometrial Cancer #1

Based on the experience of others on this board (thank you, TakingControl58!), I asked for and was prescribed Metformin. My glucose had been running around 99-104 for a few years now, but I requested it for cancer rather than diabetes as I've never been diagnosed as such. My onc said it was a good idea, yet I was the one who brought it up...but I digress. I started taking 500 mg 2xday on May 25th. I also radically altered my diet and began working with a naturopath: almost no dairy (only heavy organic cream in my morning cup of coffee), no sugar, keep carbs below 50 on the glycemic index, etc. I'm also on a gazillion supplements, which were ok'd by my oncologist. Imagine my surprise today when I got my test results from June 8 and my glucose level was 102! I asked the nurse navigator and her response was that I wasn't taking the Metformin for blood sugar control and thus shouldn't worry. I'm perplexed: shouldn't the Metformin have had *some* impact, even if that's not it's primary intent? I'll keep taking the Metformin but am curious as to why nothing is registering on the labs. Any insight is appreciated.   

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  • takingcontrol58
    takingcontrol58 Member Posts: 272 Member
    #2
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    Metformin and Lab Results

    DerMaus,
    I'm so glad to hear you are on metformin. I too started on 500mgX2 when my cancer first metastasized. When I finished chemo,
    the dose was raised to 750mg X 2; I remain on this dose today, since June 2015.

    You said you just started on the metformin on May 25th- that may not be enough time to see the results in your glucose levels yet.
    You should also get tested for A1c.  I take a supplement called Red Yeast Rise- my integrative doctor said it makes the metformin
    work better, though I know it is known to help lower cholesterol.  My highest glucose was 116 (prior to diagnosis); I was never
    diabetic but considered pre-diabetic. Glucose now averages between 85-90.  Be patient.  

    I too take many supplements - about 44 in total, about 80 pills a day. You are definitely doing the right thing.  I too was a
    big dairy eater- milk, cheese and ice cream.  No more, except organic half and half in my coffee. Dairy products are high in
    Insulin Growth Factor-1, a key driver of endometrial cancer, and mine was very high when my cancer metastasized.
    I too have cut out almost all sugar.  As they say, "you are what you eat."

    Takingcontrol58 

     

  • Lcmartin
    Lcmartin Member Posts: 8
    edited June 2017 #3
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    Metformin and Glucose

    Hi DerMas, my mother is not a diabetic but has been on Metformin for the past 14 months.  500mg x 2 for the first 6 months and 850mg x 2 for the past 8 months. Her glucose levels have not dropped during this time, in fact her last blood test showed that her glucose was 114, which indicates she could handle a higher dose for her treatment.  The maximum safe dose of metformin is 2,550 mg/day for an average size person. Four independent trials have been completed in endometrial cancer patients. All of the studies had a similar design; non-diabetic patients with endometrial cancer were treated with metformin (1500-2250 mg/day). Since your glucose has not dropped , you should ask to have your dosage increased to 850mg x 2. My mother also started a strict diet (no sugar or dairy products, etc.) from the day of her diagnosis, but she didn’t have noticeable results until her Metformin was increased to 1,700 mg/day and she started taking 12 different supplements and vitamins. She had grade 3 UPSC that moved into 5 bones and she is now NED. I could share her list with you if would like to see her complete regimen. Private Message me with your email address. The word document list also contains 12 months’ worth of research on various supplements.  I’m happy to hear you added Metformin to your treatment. I really believe it had a huge impact on my mother’s results. 

  • oldbeauty
    oldbeauty Member Posts: 366 Member
    #4
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    Lcmartin said:

    Metformin and Glucose

    Hi DerMas, my mother is not a diabetic but has been on Metformin for the past 14 months.  500mg x 2 for the first 6 months and 850mg x 2 for the past 8 months. Her glucose levels have not dropped during this time, in fact her last blood test showed that her glucose was 114, which indicates she could handle a higher dose for her treatment.  The maximum safe dose of metformin is 2,550 mg/day for an average size person. Four independent trials have been completed in endometrial cancer patients. All of the studies had a similar design; non-diabetic patients with endometrial cancer were treated with metformin (1500-2250 mg/day). Since your glucose has not dropped , you should ask to have your dosage increased to 850mg x 2. My mother also started a strict diet (no sugar or dairy products, etc.) from the day of her diagnosis, but she didn’t have noticeable results until her Metformin was increased to 1,700 mg/day and she started taking 12 different supplements and vitamins. She had grade 3 UPSC that moved into 5 bones and she is now NED. I could share her list with you if would like to see her complete regimen. Private Message me with your email address. The word document list also contains 12 months’ worth of research on various supplements.  I’m happy to hear you added Metformin to your treatment. I really believe it had a huge impact on my mother’s results. 

    Four independent trials of metformin

    Lcmartin, do you by any chance have a link to literature concerning the four independent trials you mention in your post?  Thanks. Oldbeauty

  • Lcmartin
    Lcmartin Member Posts: 8
    #5
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    oldbeauty said:

    Four independent trials of metformin

    Lcmartin, do you by any chance have a link to literature concerning the four independent trials you mention in your post?  Thanks. Oldbeauty

    Metformin Studies

    Hi oldbeauty, here are two publications regarding Metformin. Please see the References for the actual studies that they cite. I can give you additional publications regarding the completed clinical trials, if this isn’t what you are looking for. I hope this is helpful. 

    Repurposing metformin for gynecologic cancers. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4268303/#R65

     

    Repurposing metformin for cancer treatment: current clinical studies. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5130043/

  • derMaus
    derMaus Member Posts: 558 Member
    #6
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    Thank You All!

    Thank you all so much for the feedback. Today I spoke to the Nurse Navigator and she upped my Metformin prescription to 850 @ 2x day. I'm also looking into the absorbtion rate of my current curcumin supplement, thanks to Len. Any suggestions as to brands I should lean towards? Thanks again, y'all are WAY better than my doc, ha!

  • oldbeauty
    oldbeauty Member Posts: 366 Member
    edited June 2017 #7
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    Lcmartin said:

    Metformin Studies

    Hi oldbeauty, here are two publications regarding Metformin. Please see the References for the actual studies that they cite. I can give you additional publications regarding the completed clinical trials, if this isn’t what you are looking for. I hope this is helpful. 

    Repurposing metformin for gynecologic cancers. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4268303/#R65

     

    Repurposing metformin for cancer treatment: current clinical studies. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5130043/

    Thank you

    I will read these with interest.  I am (I hope) coming to the end of chemo and will be looking at what the future holds in terms of progression-free survival time.  I had good luck with hormone therapy for a time and I am interested in other non-chemo treatments.  Thanks.  Oldbeauty

  • takingcontrol58
    takingcontrol58 Member Posts: 272 Member
    #8
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    Brand of Curcurmin

    DerMaus,

    The brand I have been using for 2 1/2 years is Thorne Meriva SF (sustained release)- it is the only formulation that I've seen
    written up in medical journals, because it is formulated for good absorption. It also contains Phosphatidylcholine which I
    believe helps with the absorption.  I take 2 caps in the AM and 2 caps in the PM.

    Takingcontrol58

     

    Takingcontrol58

  • Nellasing
    Nellasing Member Posts: 528 Member
    #9
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    takingcontrol58 said:

    Brand of Curcurmin

    DerMaus,

    The brand I have been using for 2 1/2 years is Thorne Meriva SF (sustained release)- it is the only formulation that I've seen
    written up in medical journals, because it is formulated for good absorption. It also contains Phosphatidylcholine which I
    believe helps with the absorption.  I take 2 caps in the AM and 2 caps in the PM.

    Takingcontrol58

     

    Takingcontrol58

    That is the one I take too

    my naturopath gave me the exact same one and I've been on it for a little more than a year also 2 am and 2 pm.  Laughing

  • derMaus
    derMaus Member Posts: 558 Member
    #10
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    Thank you both for responding

    Thank you both for responding, I'm placing my order!

  • MAbound
    MAbound Member Posts: 1,168 Member
    edited June 2017 #11
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    Losing Weight?

    Have you been losing weight? When the liver metabolizes body fat it gets converted to glucose and that may be raising your blood sugar until your body adjusts to the changes you've made to your diet. Excercise is needed to help use that. Metformin doesn't lower blood sugar quickly like insulin does, so it takes time to see it's impact on your blood sugar, although I'd think after a month on it that you'd start to notice something. 

  • derMaus
    derMaus Member Posts: 558 Member
    edited June 2017 #12
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    Yes I've lost weight but have

    Yes I've lost weight but have been at the same level for about a month now. I have no appetite due to stress and, now, radiation and chemo, and my naturopath cut out dairy, sugar and high glucose starches from my diet, so I'm not having the cheese-chocolate-etc fun I used to have...thus the weight loss. I haven't been exercising much but recently ramped up to a brisk 20+ minute walk every day or two, and am working on increasing that. Thank you for your input, it's greatly appreciated. Now if only I got such guidance from any of my healthcare professionals...

  • Tarans
    Tarans Member Posts: 13
    edited June 2017 #13
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    I wouldn't worry about the a

    I wouldn't worry about the a.m. BG fasting number.  Ask if they could run an A1C on your next lab since that is way more indicative of your diabetes status.  Also, it takes about 6 weeks before the metformin is at the theraputic levels.  What are your TOTAL gr. carbs during the day? If you are eating over 130 gr./carbs per day, well, that may be your answer.  Good luck! I have to count carbs all the time in order to calculate insulin bolus and found that the glycemic index was worthless for me.

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