Intriguing, you’re right in that my blood glucose never reaches those levels.
Yet I know that I get a 10-20 fold increase in urinary glucose output when I take an SGLT2 inhibitor.
I’ll have to investigate further.
I’m in the middle of a study at the moment but when that ends, I’ll stop my SGLT2 inhibitor, do a 24 hour glucose collection, restart the inhibitor and do another collection.
Unless you have kidney disease, which also rules out metaformin.
My current thinking is that metformin is not a big deal. There is nothing in the literature that I have read that says metformin is a significant life extender in humans. Metformin is one of the drugs that has an extensive history of use in humans. It seems to have other benefits than glucose control but they are not well studied.
As far as glucose control is concerned, there is nothing I have read that says controlling glucose in non-diabetic people has any life-extension properties. I know glucose control is a popular subject in the forum threads.
On the off chance that it does, I take acarbose and linagliptin. I am currently off of metformin because it has side effects for me that I don’t like. Metformin seems to cause digestive tract issues in a significant percentage of people who take it.
Bottom line: If you are not diabetic I wouldn’t worry about the supposed life-extension benefits of metformin.
I am trending toward this conclusion. I have blood sugar issues genetically (family history) but I am doing so many things that I think metformin is not necessary for me (to accept its drawbacks). I think acarbose and canagliflozen plus berberine and ALA will be enough. That will be my next test, using HbA1c as a guide. I will not tolerate going above 5.5.
I plan to drop Farxiga for Cana, and metformin for acarbose, to stay under my limit of 10 chemicals.
Metformin use should not be abandoned in those with Chronic Kidney Disease. Most paranoia about Metformin is based on its predecessor, Phenformin, which was discontinued in the U.S. in 1978, due to excess deaths due to lactic acidosis. Although Metformin, like Phenformin, is a biguanide, it is much safer, and rarely causes lactic acidosis. If one has CKD–even Stage IV–Metformin can be safely used if the dose is reduced (500-1,000 mg/day) and its effects and side effects are monitored.
[Metformin–A Candidate Drug for Renal Diseases](https://Metformin--A Candidate Drug for Renal Diseases)
METFORMIN IN CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE–TIME FOR A RETHINK.pdf (647.1 KB)
Anyone is adding inulin powder to their diet?
I use a massive dose in my yogurt, which leaves some in there. It causes gas, so probably quite a bit. I also eat jerusalem artichokes in my salad.
Rapadmin had a problem with it and I forget what it was now. Hope it doesn’t cause memory loss.
“…rarely causes lactic acidosis.” Not good enough for me. I had a renal function panel just the other day. My GFR is 38, a pretty good number, but my CO2, a measure of lactic acid in the blood, was out of range at 17. Copyrighted in 2014, the time of the big rethink, the paper recognizes that metformin comes in toxic doses, and that the risks and rewards are probably higher for CKD Stages 4 and 5. I’m sitting nicely at 3b. I’ll get better results if I cut down on the beer and pizza, maybe once a month instead of twice.
People who are interested in Acarbose may also be interested in this new product out from a company co-founded by Robert Lustig of UCSF.
It seems to have many of the same properties (in terms of limiting increase in post prandial blood glucose) but without any gastro issues. And, its not a pharmaceutical/drug, but a supplement.
There is a presentation by BioLumen, the company behind this product, in this thread: Highlights from the 2023 Longevity Summit
Here is where you can purchase the product (called Munch, Munch)…
More on the product on the Biolumen website here: https://biolumen.tech
At the bottom of the we page they current offer
Join Our Journey to Greater Wellness and Get 30% Off
Anyone have experience with Metamucil?
I have 20 gm psyllium husk every morning. The main plus is that it should turn into SCFA which helps build the barrier between bad guys in the gut and your bloodstream. Reduce microbial burden.
Metamucil is just psyllium husk plus some sweetener. The active ingredient is psyllium.
Thx. Any suggestions on good brands?
Yerba Prima is my go-to for psyllium. Since lead contamination is a known risk for psyllium products, YP have passed consumerlab.com tests every year. BTW make sure you know the difference between whole psyllium husk and husk powder (they sell both). The powder is 3 times more concentrated.
That being said, I don’t know how psyllium is relevant to acarbose. It certainly doesn’t block carbohydrate absorption.
Yes - that pricing was quite a shock to me. That table really doesn’t seem to help them make their case…
Is this the same supplement Peter Attia is testing on himself or is it just similar product?
ps found the PA one, seems even more expensive
Pendulum helps to structurally remodel the gut microbiome, so hopefully is a bit more long term / getting us to a new level (perhaps with lower intermittent maintenance doses), vs the Monch Monch seems to be more of a continuous everyday for as long as you want the results thing
Yes, pendulum said that after two months on their product, your gut microbiome should be fixed and you can discontinue using it.
