Metformin

Hello puddy and welcome to the Diabetes forum. There are studies about metformin and kidney disease that have come to different conclusions. The latest studies say there are no more risks for kidney patients when using metformin than for those who don't have kidney disease.

In any case, though, when a patient is on this drug, lab test are always done to check kidney function and to see if there are any irregularities in the blood.

Having nausea and diarrhea are problems that some people have but this is not related to kidney problems. Doctors normally tell the patients to cut down on carbohydrates and to not eat greasy/oily or fried food because all this will make the stomach problems much worse. I'm on metformin and I don't have those symptoms.

So, my thoughts are that you absolutely should talk to her doctor about how she's feeling and also about your concerns about the kidney disease and metformin.

In the meantime, please understand that as a diabetic, her blood sugar will rise very high if she's eating bread, potatoes, any food made with flour (pasta, cakes, biscuits, etc.) or rice.

Metformin is the most common drug for new diabetics (type 2) and, if tolerated, is beneficial in many ways, but as I wrote, regular blood tests are given to make sure there are no problems with it, and normally the digestive problems are solved with changing the diet.

I hope she is doing better but please call her doctor. I'm glad you found our forum!

Good analogy! I've said this before (but why stop from repeating myself) that I've eaten much more healthful (healthy?) food since being told to check my blood sugar.