Does metformin prevent nerve damage?

See the reply "Metformin Preserves Peripheral Nerve Damage with Comparable Effects to Alpha Lipoic Acid in Streptozotocin/High-Fat Diet Induced Diabetic Rats (Diabetes Metab J 2020;44:842-53)" in volume 45 on page 127.

Does metformin help nerve damage?

Taken together, metformin is capable of promoting nerve regeneration after sciatic nerve injuries in diabetes mellitus, highlighting its therapeutic values for peripheral nerve injury repair in diabetes mellitus.

Does metformin prevent neuropathy?

Increasingly, it appears that metformin may paradoxically increase the risk of neuropathy in the patient with diabetes. Therefore, when you see a patient with diabetes who is taking metformin, greater surveillance may be necessary for the presence of sensory, autonomic and motor neuropathy.

How do you prevent diabetic nerve damage?

Can metformin cause nerve issues?

Taking the popular type 2 diabetes drug metformin for a prolonged period, and at higher doses, was linked to a higher risk for severe and painful diabetic peripheral neuropathy in a new study published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Metformin Side Effects (

Should I take B12 while on metformin?

Should you take a supplement? Messer says taking a supplement can treat the deficiency and prevent further nerve damage while still taking metformin as prescribed. A normal B12 level is considered anywhere between 190 and 900 nanograms per milliliter (ng/mL), but Messer suggests treating any level below 300 ng/mL.

What does metformin do to your feet?

A lack of this B vitamin can happen to anyone, but the risk is higher on metformin, especially over time. When you don't get enough, it can cause peripheral neuropathy, the numbness or tingling in your feet and legs that's already a risk with diabetes.

Can diabetic nerve damage reversed?

Nerve damage from diabetes can't be reversed. This is because the body can't naturally repair nerve tissues that have been damaged. However, researchers are investigating methods to treat nerve damage caused by diabetes.

Can diabetic nerve damage be stopped?

There is no cure for diabetic neuropathy. You can manage diabetic nerve pain with medication, exercise and proper nutrition.

How long before diabetes causes nerve damage?

Significant nerve problems (clinical neuropathy) can develop within the first 10 years after a diabetes diagnosis. The risk of developing neuropathy increases the longer you have diabetes. About half of people with diabetes have some form of neuropathy.

Can metformin cause B12 deficiency?

Metformin can cause serum vitamin B12 deficiency, but studies on the influence of its duration and dose are lacking. We investigated vitamin B12 deficiency in patients with type 2 diabetes using metformin, in conjunction with other related factors.

What can I take instead of metformin?

Does B12 help neuropathy?

B Vitamins

Vitamins B-1, B-6, and B-12 have been found to be especially beneficial for treating neuropathy. Vitamin B-1, also known as thiamine, helps to reduce pain and inflammation and vitamin B-6 preserves the covering on nerve endings.

What vitamin should I take with metformin?

Metformin therapy has been shown to deplete vitamin B12, and sometimes, but not always, folic acid as well. People taking metformin should supplement vitamin B12 and folic acid or ask their doctor to monitor folic acid and vitamin B12 levels.

How do you know if metformin is working?

Metformin does not instantly reduce blood sugar levels. The effects are usually noticeable within 48 hours of taking the medication, and the most significant effects take 4–5 days to occur.

Does metformin help with muscle pain?

Metformin may have a protective effect for musculoskeletal pain, which appears to be stronger among women than men.

Is walking good for diabetic neuropathy?

Aims/hypothesis: Walking is recommended as an adjunct therapy to diet and medication in diabetic patients, with the aim of improving physical fitness, glycaemic control and body weight reduction.

How do you repair nerve damage naturally?

Walk it off. Exercise releases natural painkillers called endorphins. Exercise also promotes blood flow to the nerves in the legs and feet. Researchers believe that regular exercise may create a long-lasting expansion in blood vessels in the feet, nourishing damaged nerves back to health.

How can I reverse neuropathy naturally?

Can Type 2 diabetes neuropathy be reversed?

There is currently no way to reverse diabetic neuropathy, although scientists are working on future treatments. For now, the best approach is to manage blood sugar levels through medication and lifestyle changes. Keeping glucose within target levels can reduce the risk of developing neuropathy and its complications.

What vitamin is good for diabetic neuropathy?

B vitamins are useful in treating neuropathy since they support healthy nervous system function. Peripheral neuropathy is sometimes caused by a vitamin B deficiency. Supplementation should include vitamin B1 (thiamine and benfotiamine), B6, and B12.

How long do damaged nerves take to heal?

If your nerve is bruised or traumatized but is not cut, it should recover over 6-12 weeks. A nerve that is cut will grow at 1mm per day, after about a 4 week period of 'rest' following your injury. Some people notice continued improvement over many months.

How long can you stay on metformin?

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) also recommends metformin for some patients with prediabetes. Generally, if you are prescribed metformin, you will be on it long term. That could be many decades, unless you experience complications or changes to your health that require you to stop taking it.

Can metformin cause carpal tunnel?

Over time, neuropathy creates a hypersensitivity of the nerve, and this can result in carpal tunnel syndrome and/or can make it more difficult to manage. It has also been reported that the use of insulin, metformin, as well as sulphonylureas, and thyroxine are associated with increased CTS management challenges.

What is the most common side effect of metformin?

Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are some of the most common side effects people have when they first start taking metformin. These problems usually go away over time. You can reduce these effects by taking metformin with a meal.