GLUCOPHAGE®

Diabetes mellitus

Diabetes mellitus literally translated means "honey flow". This describes that the body is due to a increased blood sugar levelss produces a sweetish urine.
This high blood sugar level is the main problem with this condition and can have various causes; however, it usually arises from one Resistance of the body to the transmitter substance insulin or one destruction of the pancreas. This produces insulin and can therefore only secrete it to a lesser extent. The functions of insulin are many - important for this disease is that it triggers the absorption of sugar from the blood into various cells in the body. Becomes too little insulin released into the bloodstream or act to a lesser extent not enough sugar from the blood into the cells transported and the blood sugar level rises.
Direct consequences type 2 diabetes mellitus, which usually develops over several years, rarely has. It can too fatigue, Slackness, Visual disturbances and increased susceptibility to infection come.
In addition, sugar in the urine promotes the growth of bacteria in the urethrawhich is why it is more common too Infections of the bladder comes.
Diabetes is dangerous not because of these direct consequences, but because of it Long-term consequences. A permanently elevated blood sugar level always causes over the years severe damage in both small and large vessels. This increases the risk for Cardiovascular diseases extremely strong. 80% of diabetes patients get one high blood pressurethat in many cases too Strokes and Heart attacks leads.

Over 20% of diabetics are each from one Retinopathy - a disease of the eye vessels that lead to Blindness can lead - or one Neuropathy affected. A diabetic neuropathy describes that Damage to nervesthat occurs predominantly on the feet. She leads to Paresthesia on the legs, can be permanent Pain cause and weaken muscle strength in the affected part of the body. Together the combination performs Vascular damage and undetected injuries due to the Nerve damage for many people amputation of the foot.

Furthermore, diabetics get sick much more often arterial occlusions of the heart (Heart attack), of the brain (stroke) and of the legs (peripheral arterial disease) and often suffer from one decreased kidney functionthat to Water retention, Salt household disorders and in the terminal stages to the need for one dialysis can lead.

How Glucophage® works

It is the drug of choice for people with an increased insulin resistance, i.e. a reduced effect of insulin on body cells. The exact mode of action of Glucophage® or Metformin is still available despite the widespread use of this drug not fully explored. However, it is known to lower blood sugar levels in several ways: It reduced on the one hand the Sugar production in the liverwhich causes the liver to release less sugar into the bloodstream. On the other hand reinforced it the Insulin action on the body cells, which means that more sugar can be absorbed into them.

What is important is the metformin, unlike many other anti-diabetic drugs Weight Of the patients not increased. In this way, it does not increase an often existing excess weight, which makes the occurrence of diabetes more likely anyway. Furthermore, through Glucophage® the Blood lipid levels and a improve existing high blood pressureresulting in a lower risk of complications associated with diabetes. Glucophage® will often as the first drug in treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, but can also be combined with other antidiabetic agents and used together with insulin. Popular Combination partner from Glucophage® are next to insulin too Sulfonylureas, DPP4 inhibitors or Insulin sensitizer.

Side effects of Glucophage®

The intake of Glucophage® can lead to nausea, diarrhea and Flatulence to lead. Sometimes a patient develops from the drug metallic taste written on the tongue. Side effects are generally rather mild and can be minimized by slowly increasing the dose taken and by taking Glucophage® with meals.

The most important, most dangerous and by far the rarest side effect is Lactic acidosis to call. Here acidifies the bloodwhat to start with like unspecific symptoms nausea and stomach pain, but in the course up to Circulatory failure with a Reduced blood flow to various organs (e.g. the kidney) can lead. Patients with concomitant liver and kidney dysfunction and severe cardiovascular diseases are particularly susceptible to such lactic acidosis. Glucophage® should not be used in such patients.

Before operations should it discontinued be because the probability for one Acidosis through the intervention elevated becomes. It should also be carried out before examinations, the one Administration of contrast medium require, discontinued become. In these cases, metformin can promote renal impairment. At Pregnant women should insulin and Not Glucophage® for the treatment of diabetes used become.