Until 1920 if you were diagnosed with Diabetes it was a death sentence

If it was Type 1 (Juvenile) you died quickly and horribly and if it was Type 2 (Sugar Diabetes) you died slowly and painfully

Insulin was discovered and doubled the life expectancy of Type 1 diabetics - Type 2's were still on their own with diet, exercise and a handful of traditional treatments (ginger, garlic, cinnamon et al) that simply "extended" how long they would live before suffering a lingering painful death

80 some years back a couple French Doctors looking for treatment for Typhoid found that Metformin had the effect of lowering fasting blood sugars (sugar released by the liver over which "we" have no control - not dependant on diet etc, sugar, manufactured and released by the liver in response to various other hormones present in the body)

So the "Advantage" of Metformin is that it is the only oral medication, supplement or magic potion, save using nighttime insulin, that actually helps control Fasting Blood Sugar - something that is almost impossible to do yourself

Uncontrolled Fasting Blood Sugar does massive damage to our Vascular System leading primarily to Neuropathy, Heart Attack, Stroke and/or Congestive Heart Failure

And it is a derivative of a Lilac plant that grows in Europe - so for the "naturally inclined" it IS the only "natural" treatment for diabetes that actually works

Don't know if many would need more "advantages" then that

The Disadvantage?

5 to 10% of people can't tolerate it

It doesn't cause kidney problems but if your kidney function degrades (for some other reason) you have to stop taking it - it can build to toxic levels in the blood if your kidneys can't flush the residue

It a generic - disadvantage for the Drug Companies and their lobbyists who can't get rich off the stuff

Thank you for your response. I will check this out with my endocronoligist.

I was diagnosed also at 39( I will be 40 in a few months) I was prescribed regular Metformin and the advantages was that it was helping to lower very quickly along with Lantus my bg numbers. The disadvantage was my body could not tolerate the GI upset, I was on around 2000mg, I am now on Metformin Extended Release which has been a godsend, no more GI upset and it is helping so so much better. If you can get the ER HCL tabs vs the regular I would say try it.