For those who have trouble tolerating metformin:
http://www.nutraingr...etic-Case-study
'Cobiotic' delivers dramatic decrease in fasting blood glucose and 'virtually eliminates' diarrhea caused by Metformin in type 2 diabetic: Case study
A new-onset type 2 diabetic who developed diarrhea after being prescribed the drug Metformin resumed regular bowel movements, lost weight and experienced a dramatic reduction in fasting blood sugar after taking a novel ‘cobiotic’ ingredient, according to a case study published in Beneficial Microbes.
The ‘cobiotic’ NM504 - a proprietary combination of purified inulin, beta-glucan and blueberry pomace extract - was developed by MicroBiome Therapeutics (formerly NuMe Health), a biotech firm co-founded by Whole Foods Market chairman John Elstrott...
In the case study, ‘JH’, a 30-year old man just diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, developed diarrhea during the first few days of Metformin treatment and only saw a small drop in fasting blood sugar (FBS) from 375mg/dl to 325 mg/dl.
On the 9th day of Metformin treatment he started taking NM504 in a smoothie twice a day [in addition to Metformin], and saw rapid improvements.
After two days, his FBS dropped to 175 mg/dl and after eight weeks, his blood sugar was 100 mg/dl and he had lost 5.5 kg. His bowel movements, which returned to normal once he started taking the smoothies, reverted to diarrhea when he went off them for two days, and then returned to normal once he started drinking them again, said the authors.
Dr Mark Heiman: 'NM504 virtually eliminated the diarrhea caused by Metformin in this patient with type 2 diabetes and was also associated with additional large decreases in his highly elevated blood glucose levels.'
“Metformin is a safe, effective and inexpensive generic medication favoring weight loss, recommended as initial treatment of type 2 diabetes by the American Diabetes Association. However, a 20% incidence of diarrhea limits its tolerability.
“Physicians report diarrhea as a frequent cause of Metformin discontinuation or dosage limitation. The second-line therapies prescribed as a substitute for metformin are expensive and carry risks of potentially serious side effects.”
NM504 virtually eliminated the diarrhea caused by Metformin in this patient
Co-author Mark Heiman, Ph.D., chief scientific officer of MicroBiome Therapeutics, added: “NM504 virtually eliminated the diarrhea caused by Metformin in this patient with type 2 diabetes and was also associated with additional large decreases in his highly elevated blood glucose levels.
Whether you need a proprietary and no doubt expensive "cobiotic" mix, or whether you can use an inexpensive inulin/ FOS supplement, for the above described benefits, is an interesting question.
