Type 2 form of diabetes is more common among adults. This condition is age-related and as you grow old, the odds of your having it are more. However, those in their teens are increasingly getting it. Reasons behind the incidence of type 2 form of diabetes are a combination of age, genetic makeup as well as your habits. Also, being obese, hypertensive as well as leading a sedentary lifestyle fare as key risk factors. Drugs such as metformin are widely administered for the case management of this ailment. But, can you take alcohol while you are consuming metformin? It helps to have more details about this. Not many people know that they are diabetic. You can sense its onset through a few distinctive signs; these include blurring of vision, a tingling sensation in your feet and hands, urges to pee more often as well as a persistent sense of thirst. Those in the age group of 44 to 64 years are more vulnerable than others. The incidence rate almost doubles up among those aged above 66 years. On the other hand, children leading a sedentary lifestyle may also be prone to this condition. Risk factors among children include obesity as well as lack of workouts.
Diabetes is likely to cause a few other ailments such as cardiac disorders. This may show up in the form of high blood pressure level or as heart failure and cardiac arrests. Timely clinical support can help prevent such near-fatal or fatal outcomes. Your treating doctor is most likely to prescribe a few drugs and changes to your diet plan as well as habits. Among the medicines prescribed for treating type 2 diabetes, metformin is a commonly used drug.
What is metformin and how does it work?
This drug is used along with a regimented workout and diet plan to control high blood sugar level in blood. Among people living with diabetes, this drug helps minimize damage of renal function, incidence of strokes, cardiac arrests, a few nerve related problems and sexual health conditions. The key ingredients of metformin enable better response to insulin which your body naturally produces. The active chemicals of this drug also help reduce the quantum of sugars your liver produces.
This med is not an over the counter drug. Hence, it is taken under the guidance and supervision of a qualified medical practitioner. It is taken orally and is consumed along with a meal. The number of dosages per day depends on the severity of your medical condition, age, body weight and how well your body responds to initial doses of this drug. Those who are taking other drugs to treat diabetes (especially, type 2) must keep their doctor aware of intake of such drugs; it is most likely that your doctor may tell you to stop taking the earlier drugs prior to starting the intake of metformin.
It is equally important to watch over your blood glucose level periodically. The readings of blood sugar may also need to be shared with your caregiving team. This practice helps alter the dosage levels accordingly.
Can you take alcohol while taking metformin?
Those who have drinking habits may need to take added precautions. Intake of alcohol while consuming metformin may trigger risks of lactic acidosis. If left unattended, this may lead to low level of blood sugar. Lactic acidosis is caused when there is a build-up of lactic acids in your blood. Such build-up can occur quite rapidly, that your system may find limited time to burn it into energies. When oxygen supply is limited at this stage, it tends to result in lactic acidosis. The same condition is triggered when you mix alcohol along with metformin.
Intake of alcoholic drinks with metformin may also cause a drop in blood sugar level. This low sugar condition is often characterized by acute levels of dizziness, migraines, headaches as well as a confused state of mind. In such instances, it is a safe practice to stop taking alcohol as soon as possible. You may also need to eat sugar based foods that can quickly boost your blood glucose level. It is a good practice to keep glucose pills in order to handle a low sugar condition. Severe episodes of drop in blood sugar are marked by loss of coordination as well as passing out.
Upon encountering an acute decrease in blood sugar level, it is important to take medical help on an emergency basis. Those living in the US can call 911 or reach out to the helpline of the food and drug administration (FDA). FDA has its own helplines to gather inputs on adverse reactions the drugs it has cleared trigger and to provide needful medical support in all such instances. Those who are residents of any of the Canadian provinces can quickly establish contact with Health Canada or rush to a poison control center functioning closer to your home.
Other side effects of lactic acidosis
If you are witnessing spells of dizziness, respiratory problems, erratic heartbeats or faster pulse rates, your treating doctor needs to be made aware of such reactions. Also, remember that the side effects associated with lactic acidosis should be treated in a proper healthcare setting such as a hospital or a clinic. So, always have the contact details of a local hospital or an emergency room; it is highly recommended to establish contact with such a healthcare facility upon experiencing one or more of these side effects.
In sum, metformin is used for the control of high blood sugar level. It helps by minimizing damages of kidneys, incidence of heart problems, strokes and impairment of sexual health. This med enables a better response to insulin and also helps reduce sugars your liver makes. If you are taking any other drugs to treat diabetes, your caregiver must be updated of all such meds. Consumption of alcohol together with metformin can cause lactic acidosis and may drastically lower your blood sugar levels. You may experience discomforts such as severe levels of drowsiness, being dizzy, headaches, confusion and migraines. It is a safe practice to discontinue the intake of alcohol immediately. Also, talk to your caregiver about the precautions needed for the safe intake of metformin.