What messes with kidneys is glucose spikes. Both Before meal numbers and 2 hour numbers. Numbers above the nondiabetic range of 4.0(72 usa) to 7.8(140 usa).

This causes cumulative vascular damage that feeds diabetes complications and comorbidities.

Like organ damage. Like kidney damage. Like diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Like heart damage. Like liver damage. Like brain damage.

Metformin actually has a protective effect on damage to organs, by lowering your fasting numbers.

Once the damage from numbers above the nondiabetic range reaches an extreme point. Then your kidneys can no longer process the wastes from many things including metformin.

I repeat metformin does not cause kidney damage. The glucose spikes from poorly controlled blood glucose numbers causes cumulative vascular damage that destroys your kidneys.

Then when your kidneys are damaged to the point that they can no longer process the wastes. That is when you must stop taking metformin.

Good luck warriors.

@A DiabetesTeam Member if you have recently started Metformin or if you have just had the dose adjusted (up) then it is "normal" to have some GI issues for 2 or 3 weeks and the nausea can be quite nasty

5-10% of (patients) can never tolerate Metformin but do give it a bit of time because the alternate treatments can be "worse" (and doing nothing is not an option if you want to live)

For those that can't tolerate metformin you could go on a slow acting Sulfonylurea Class drug but it must be used with a CGM like Libre or Dexcom because a mild overdose of these drugs WILL KILL YOU in your Sleep and you can also "never" skip a meal or you could go into a coma from dangerously low blood sugar

The other alternative is a Long or Extra Long Acting Basil Insulin taken once a day

The insulin is the superior treatment but most would rather pull out their fingernails than go on insulin

So do give the metformin a chance but if you start hitting 6 or 8 weeks and the guts haven't settled down then you will have to look at another option

All of the other drugs you may see advertised like Ozempic, Mounjaro, Jardiance etc are for treating "after meal" sugars - Metformin's only job is to deal with Fasting Sugars (synthesized, stored and released by the Liver) by trying to control how much the Liver releases - No other drug can do that, so the only alternative is an SU or Insulin to "deal with" but not limit the sugar release

Metformin deals with the sugars you can't control while giving you the chance to deal with the (dietary) sugars You CAN Control by not putting the carbs in your mouth in the first place

Different meds for different purposes

Mentioned Users

A Diabete...

Is there any other medications that can be provided besides metformin or injection ?

Metformin is not good for you as it will give you digestive problems and with your kidneys. I tried Metformin and it gave me severe diarrhea. I stopped taking it. My father in law was taking Metformin for many years and is having minor issues with his kidneys now. He stopped taking it and doing much better. I also take Jardiance and that also is good for kidney problems.

I am on the extended release form of metformin, I tolerate that much better.