modert

I have no experience with glucophage, I was put on Amaryl (glimepiride) when first diagnosed earlier this year. My understanding is that glucophage blocks the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream. Amaryl works differently - its a pancreas/insulin stimulator. I had TERRIBLE reactions to the Amaryl - I felt poisoned and was sick for about 7 weeks - 4 of which were after I had stopped the meds. My doctors had the same response - "it coudn't be the meds" or "this has never happened to anyone else" or "you have anxiety disorder" AACCCKKKKK!!!! I was sooooo furious.

Anyway, I have been researching and studying A LOT in the past few months to learn about diabetes and gain control of my health, simply because I cannot rely on the drs for reliable or accurate or thorough information.

This may not answer your question... but perhaps provide some insight... Muscles burn glucose when excercised... Regardless of how your meds work, if the amount of available glucose changes, your muscles could be effected in one way or another, it is not necessarily lactic acidosis. These oral medications are POWERFUL drugs - they alter your body chemistry in dramatic ways and this can effect SO MANY things, your metabolism, adrenal function, muscle function, kidney and liver function, really everything! And of course everybody's body is different, so what you experience likely be different for you than anyone else.

On the other hand, lactic acidosis can occur with any diabetic that has impaired liver or kidney function. I believe that diabetics should have kidney and liver tests MORE OFTEN than annually. Not only medications, but diet and hydration play a major role in the health of these organs, and these are the organs that keep your body clean and free of toxins (including the natural toxins that your own body produces). If you are consuming more protein than recommended (like on an Atkins-type diet) you are at even greater risk because your kidneys are already overworked. If you are not drinking enough water (WATER, not diet sodapop!) your kidney function is impaired. Diabetics need more water than anyone else for a variety of reasons.

Doctors have a tendency to be quite nonchalant about the dispensing of meds, without providing much guidance to their patients. You cannot really blame them though - its how they were taught and its all they know. I believe that much of what they know about a drug (any drug) is what the pharm rep told them in a 15 minute meeting. My GP carries around a PDA and when I asked him about side effects he turned to the PDA and read to me what it said. It was EXACTLY the same information I had read on the web myself!

I realize you have been a diabetic for 17 years - have you always been on oral meds? Are you new to Metformin? Have you been able to control without?

I have not been diabetic that long and already have kidney problems. I have a full renal panel done monthly and liver function tests done quarterly.