Should elderly take metformin?

Metformin is an attractive agent to use in older adults due to a low risk of hypoglycemia. Healthy older adults may be treated similarly as younger adults with initiation of metformin at the time of diabetes diagnosis, even if the presenting A1C is below the individualized medication-treated target.

Which anti diabetic drug is preferred for elderly patient?

Long-acting basal insulin analogs (insulin glargine and detemir) are preferred in older adults with diabetes because these agents are relatively easy to titrate and have a decreased risk of hypoglycemia compared to NPH and regular insulin [50].

What should my A1C be at age 75?

For functionally independent older adults, the IDF recommends an A1C goal of 7–7.5%, whereas for functionally dependent, frail patients or patients with dementia, an A1C goal of 7–8% is recommended.

What is the downside of taking metformin?

Long-term side effects

Taking metformin can cause vitamin B12 deficiency if you take it for a long time. This can make you feel very tired, breathless and faint, so your doctor may check the vitamin B12 level in your blood. If your vitamin B12 levels become too low, vitamin B12 supplements will help.

Which groups of patients should not take metformin and why?

Metformin should be avoided in patients with acute or unstable heart failure because of the increased risk of lactic acidosis. It also should be avoided in patients with hepatic impairment, according to the labeling.

Should healthy people take metformin? (benefits vs. negative exercise effects) | Rhonda Patrick

Why are doctors hesitant to prescribed metformin?

More serious side effects are rare. They include severe allergic reactions and a condition called lactic acidosis, a buildup of lactic acid in the bloodstream. The risk for this is higher among people with significant kidney disease, so doctors tend to avoid prescribing metformin for them.

What are the two most common side effects of metformin?

Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are some of the most common side effects people have when they first start taking metformin. These problems usually go away over time. You can reduce these effects by taking metformin with a meal.

What is normal A1c for a 70 year old?

The key measure of diabetes control is hemoglobin A1c. For healthy over 65ers with long life expectancy, the target should be 7.0 – 7.5%.

Is metformin hard on your kidneys?

Metformin doesn't cause kidney damage. The kidneys process and clear the medication out of your system through your urine. If your kidneys don't function properly, there's concern that metformin can build up in your system and cause a condition called lactic acidosis.

How long can you stay on metformin?

Chances are, you doctor will have you take metformin for at least a year. This is because it takes about 3 months for your HbA1C to change, and those changes are usually very gradual. If your fasting blood sugar and HbA1C drop to the normal range, your doctor may take you off metformin and see how you do without it.

What is the normal blood sugar level for a 80 year old?

Normal ranges of blood sugar levels are between 70 and 130 mg/dL before eating meals. The American Diabetes Association recommends seniors have blood glucose levels of less than 180 mg/dL two hours after eating. Not every senior has the same care needs, which means they don't all need the same type of at-home care.

Does A1C get higher with age?

In summary, in the current study, the uniform results between FOS and NHANES establish clearly that A1C increases with age even after multivariate adjustments for sex, fasting, and 2-h postload glucose.

What is A1C goal for elderly?

Healthy older adults – In the absence of any long-term clinical trial data in fit older populations and in those with life expectancy of >10 years, an A1C goal of <7.5 percent (58.5 mmol/mol) should be considered in medication-treated patients.

What medication should be avoided in the elderly?

When should elderly stop taking diabetes medication?

Discontinuing metformin should be considered in adults over age 80 who have persistent GI side effects or declining kidney function with an eGFR <60 mL/min. GLP-1 receptor agonists. Most GLP-1 receptor agonists don't require dose adjustments for moderate eGFR impairments.

How can I control my sugar in my old age?

Be active. Walking and other forms of daily exercise can help improve glucose levels in older people with diabetes. Set a goal to be more active most days of the week, and create a plan for being physically active that fits into your life and that you can follow. Your health care team can help.

What damage does metformin do to you?

Metformin is an oral medication used to treat type 2 diabetes that is generally well tolerated. GI upset, especially diarrhea, is the most common side effect. This typically decreases over time. Although rare, lactic acidosis, hypoglycemia, and vitamin B12 deficiency can occur.

Is metformin hard on your heart?

Recent studies have also found that metformin has a positive effect on cardiovascular protection [8,9,10,11,12]. Metformin also lowers risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as blood fats [13,14,15], body weight and blood pressure.

What organ is affected by metformin?

The human pharmacokinetic data point to the liver, kidney and intestines as the key target organs of metformin and in this review we will primarily focus on the liver and intestines, particularly when referring to the beneficial impact of metformin on metabolism and inflammation.

Is A1C of 7 considered diabetic?

Diagnosing Prediabetes or Diabetes

A normal A1C level is below 5.7%, a level of 5.7% to 6.4% indicates prediabetes, and a level of 6.5% or more indicates diabetes.

Is 7.0 A good A1C for a diabetic?

The goal for most adults with diabetes is an A1C that is less than 7%. If your A1C level is between 5.7 and less than 6.5%, your levels have been in the prediabetes range. If you have an A1C level of 6.5% or higher, your levels were in the diabetes range.

What drink lowers blood sugar?

Drinking water regularly may rehydrate the blood, lower blood sugar levels, and reduce diabetes risk ( 20 , 21 ). Keep in mind that water and other zero-calorie drinks are best.

How does metformin make you feel?

Metformin does cause side effects in some people, but many of these are mild, and are associated with taking the medicine for the first time. Nausea and gastric distress such as stomach pain, gas, bloating, and diarrhea are somewhat common among people starting up on metformin.

How can you tell metformin is working?

How to check if metformin is working. A medical provider can run a few tests to see how metformin is affecting your health: Blood work can check if your glucose, insulin, and HbA1C levels are in range. If they are, the medication is working.