Patient was educated on precautions to be exercised while taking Metformin as follows:
- If the blood sugars are getting too low with metformin use, despite compliance with recommended calorie intake, your dose of metformin may need to be revised or change of plan considered. Notify your physician regarding any overly corrected blood sugars with metformin use, resulting in episodes of hypoglycemia with extremely low blood sugars.
- Metformin is usually not metabolized in the body and for the significant part is excreted unchanged by the kidneys. Individuals with compromised renal function cannot excrete the drug properly. So, metformin can stay active in circulation for longer time in such patients and can be toxic. While taking metformin, periodical labs could be ordered for evaluation of kidney functions. So, maintain compliance with follow-up physician appointments and lab draws ordered to evaluate kidney function. Be accommodative to the plan of dose changes to achieve an optimum blood sugar control response and prevent development of any undesired side-effects.
- Take weight reading regularly, every week, and maintain a log of every reading for comparative feedback. Maintain an ideal weight for your height, as striking this balance is key for blood sugar control. Both overweight and underweight conditions can disturb this balance and result in poor blood sugar control.
- Discuss with your physician regarding suggestions for exercise and calorie expenditure, based on parameters such as, weight, blood sugar regulation, average daily calorie intake, endurance, recommendations for weight loss, and so on. Observe compliance with any exercise scheduled prescribed by your doctor. Try not to underdo or overdo on your recommended exercise schedule, as it can contribute to poor blood sugar control. Underperforming on recommendations for exercise schedule can lead to poor calorie expenditure, weight gain, and poor blood sugar control with higher blood sugars than the desired. Overperforming on recommendations for exercise schedule can lead to excess calorie expenditure, excess weight loss than planned, and overly corrected blood sugars with lower numbers than the desired.
