Glucophage (Metformin)

If you have diabetes, you may have a higher risk of redeveloping a cancer that was previously diagnosed or developing different types of cancer.  Females who are obese and have diabetes have a greater chance of developing recurrent breast cancer.  One of the reasons may be that higher insulin levels cause cancer cells to grow and divide faster.  Other molecules that are associated with diabetes such as insulin-like growth factor (IGF) may also cause cancer cells to multiply.

One of the most common oral prescription drugs for treating diabetes is Metformin, which is also called Glucophage.  Studies have revealed that this drug may be effective in lowering the risk of cancer-related death by reducing the proliferation of cancer cells.  Unfortunately, there is minimal clinical research evident to prove this.

The Journal of Clinical Oncology published a new study that indicates that Metformin is a possible breast cancer treatment option.  The M.D. Anderson Cancer Center obtained medical records from 2,529 patients who underwent an initial treatment of neoadjuvant chemotherapy between 1990 and 2007 to treat their early stage breast cancer.  The group of patients included 68 patients with diabetes who took Metformin, 87 individuals with diabetes who did not take the drug, and 2,374 individuals who were not diabetic.  All of the patients later underwent surgery to treat their breast cancer, at which point the researchers examined each individual’s response to their initial chemotherapy treatment.

Once a pathologist can no longer find any evidence of cancer after removing the cancer cells from the site, the chemotherapy response is considered pathologically complete.  This pathological complete response normally results in a better prognosis after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.  Therefore, this type of response was monitored in each of the three female groups who participated in the study after they underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

The women with diabetes who took Metformin were discovered with a pathological complete response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy that was 3 times higher than the women with diabetes who did not take the drug.  There was no significant different between the women who were not diabetic and the women with diabetes who took Metformin.  However, the pathological complete response was better for the women in the latter group.

Although the low number of women who were diabetic in the study and its retrospective nature make it difficult to draw relevant conclusions, the results coincide with the findings of previous research studies.  Therefore, the data points to the fact that Metformin may be effective in counteracting the effects that diabetes has on breast cancer cells.  One question that results is whether women with diabetes and breast cancer should be automatically treated with Metformin.  The study revealed an insignificant improvement in the rates of pathological complete response for women with diabetes who take Metformin compared to women without diabetes.  Consequently, more thorough clinical studies may reveal whether Metformin may also be useful to treat breast cancer for women without diabetes.

There are several clinical research trials currently in progress that examine Metformin’s role in breast cancer management and one trial for prostate cancer.  The hope is that some of these trials will shed some light on Metformin’s role concerning breast cancer therapy for women who are diagnosed with diabetes as well as non-diabetic women.  If you have diabetes and have survived breast cancer, you may want to discuss taking Metformin with your doctor.

Fortunately, there are currently many available treatment options if you are diagnosed with diabetes. Previously, there were very few options and doctors didn’t really understand how to treat the condition. Now that we know much more about the disease, individuals with diabetes can choose different treatments which may include medication.

It is recommended to consult with your doctor. You may be able to control your diabetes without the use of medications or injections. Your treatment options will be based on the causes, current condition and type of diabetes you have.

Following a regular exercise routine and a healthy diet may help in preventing or treating diabetes. Developing healthy habits in these two areas of your life can produce remarkable results in terms of controlling blood sugar, reducing complications and improving diabetes. In fact, exercise and diet may prevent you from developing diabetes.

Following a healthy diet enables you to better control your blood sugar levels and preventing further complications from diabetes. Obesity individuals are at the highest risk of developing the disease. Therefore, losing excess weight can help you become healthier and take control of the condition. Talk to your doctor about a diet and exercise program that will help you develop healthier eating habits.

A healthy diet is one that is consistent contains balanced meals containing a large amount of fiber and small amount of saturated fat and sugar. It is recommended to consume approximately the same number of calories each day. This will help you to better control your blood sugar levels so they remain at a healthy level for your particular body.

Exercising regularly is also very important if you have been diagnosed with diabetes. Any type of exercise such as jogging and walking will improve your diabetes and your body. It is best to exercise for a minimum of 3 times each week for 20-minute periods. Before you begin a new exercise program, you should talk to your doctor. You may do more harm than good if you perform some exercises incorrectly.

If following the above steps still doesn’t result in an improvement in your blood sugar levels, you may need to look at other treatment options. Many oral and injection-based medications are available to treat diabetes. The only medication that is injected is insulin, and it is normally taken when your pancreas stops producing insulin.

There are also many other available diabetes medications:
• Glucotrol
• Precose
• Avandia
• Glyset
• Glucotrol
• Actos
• Glucophage
• Micronase
• Prandin
The above medications work in various ways to produce, utilize or absorb insulin in your body.

The most important factor in controlling your diabetes is regularly monitoring the levels of your blood sugar. You should test your blood daily before eating and before you go to sleep at night. You can record the results in a special diabetes treatment book.

You should also record the type of food you have eaten each day, the amount and time of your daily exercises, the dose of your medication, the times you have eaten. In addition, be sure to record any results that are too high or low and the treatment options used in each case. By following the proper steps, you can prevent or treat your diabetes more effectively and live a much healthier and happier life.

If you have type 2 diabetes, you may be prescribed an oral drug to help you maintain your blood glucose levels. In addition to the diabetes medication, most people also have to alter their diet and ensure they are following a regular exercise routine. We’re going to discuss some of the diabetes medications currently available.

First of all, type 2 diabetes is caused in the following two situations:

1. The cells become resistant to insulin

2. The pancreas fails to produce sufficient quantities of insulin

Your doctor can determine which is the most suitable diabetes medication to prescribe, depending on the cause of your type 2 diabetes. A simple blood test will determine which of the two categories you fall under.

Biguanides

This kind of diabetic medication helps insulin transfer glucose into various cells of your body. Examples of Biguanides include Fortament, Riomet, Glumetza and Glucophage. Anyone who has a history of heart or kidney problems should not take this kind of medication, as they may suffer serious medical complications as a result.

Sulfonylureas

This type of oral drug includes Glynase, DiaBeta, Amaryl, Micronase and Glucotrol. They work by stimulating the pancreas to produce and release additional insulin which helps to reduce blood glucose levels.

Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors

This type of diabetes medication blocks the enzymes that assist in digesting starches. This retards the increase in blood glucose levels. However, you should note that one of the common side effects caused by alpha-glucosidase inhibitors such as Glyset and Precose is diarrhea and gas.

Thiazolidnediones

Drugs such as Avandia and Actos belong to this drug class, and they improve the effectiveness of insulin in the body. The drugs work by preventing the liver from releasing excess insulin. This type of diabetes medication also makes the insulin more effective in fat and muscle. Thiazolidinediones are very effective in managing type 2 diabetes, but your doctor must conduct periodic blood tests to ensure they do not cause damage to your liver.

Meglitinides

Meglitinides such as Starlix and Prandin lowers blood glucose levels by stimulating the pancreas to release more insulin.

In addition to the above medications, various combinations that include two different types into one pill are also available. You should consult with your doctor to determine which type of type 2 diabetes medication is best for you.