Learning to manage blood glucose with Metformin

I have been a Type 2 diabetic for some time now and up until recently I managed my blood glucose with diet and exercise. Recently my blood sugars have gotten out of control (mostly due to complacency on my part) and I have been put on Metformin.

Initially I was put on Metformin HCL ER, and after a few weeks of gradual dosing up from 500 mg to 1500 mg with split dosages I became very ill with extreme GI upset and fatigue. From both my research and my doctor's knowledge of Metformin this we contrary to expected behavior.

Normally the Extended Release (ER) form of Metformin is easier on the gastrointestinal system than the original formulation.

I had read on some online forums that others had similar experience with both forms of Metformin and they found that cracking or crushing the tablets helped with the symptoms. I decided to try cracking the tablets before swallowing and found some relief, but not enough to fully mitigate the symptoms.

My doctor switched my prescription to the original form of Metformin and it did help with both the GI upset and the fatigue, and I found that cracking the tablets even more helped to reduce my fatigue to where it was no longer a problem, and to where the GI upset was a minor inconvenience.

My thoughts are one of the buffering or binding agents of the capsule was causing the fatigue and extreme GI upset. I did some research and found this interesting article comparing the use of Metformin in capsule form as opposed to tablet:

Severity of Gastrointestinal Side Effects of Metformin Tablet Compared to Metformin Capsule in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Patients - https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5463552/

The study shows there was an improvement in both reducing GI upset and glucose management - "Capsular form of metformin may result in decrement of GI side effects and intolerability in diabetic patients and may be an option for those that metformin is an appropriate medication for them but cannot tolerate it due to the mentioned side effects."

Unfortunately Metformin is not readily available, and most insurance companies will not pay for compound pharmacies providing Metformin in capsule form.

I will continue to research this subject and either add links to this article or post a new article. Feel free to comment on your experiences with Metformin.

Here is an interesting video I thought I would include from the Pharmacist Tips Youtube channel titled Metformin 500 mg and Side Effects

Seasteading 101: How to Build the World’s First Society-at-Sea | Marc Collins

From the Big Think YouTube channel - Published on Sep 29, 2017

Seasteading began as a thought experiment: imagine a sovereign Libertarian utopia in international waters, far from the reach of any government. Over the last decade, this dream has inched closer and closer to reality. But establishing a completely independent floating city in the ocean isn't simple--or cheap. The Seasteading Institute compromised a little on its independence and instead sought a partnership with an established nation that could support their project while having a very light hand on regulations. The idea grew out of and caused a stir in Silicon Valley, was widely reported in the media, and Marc Collins, a former government minister in French Polynesia, saw an opportunity for symbiosis. The Seasteading Institute needs internet connectivity, energy solutions, food, and government permission to establish themselves in the South Pacific Ocean, while Polynesians are very interested in the technology needed to build floating cities—a concern at the front of their minds as sea levels rise—and in economic growth. And so Collins co-founded Blue Frontiers, a world-first company that builds societies on the sea. But who will live on the this brand-new floating nation in the South Pacific—and how? Marc Collins explains the feats of engineering that are making this vision a reality.

Read more at BigThink.com: https://bigthink.com/videos/marc-collins-seasteading-101-how-to-build-the-worlds-first-floating-nation

OceanX - Our Underwater States of America

From the OceanX YouTube channel - Published on Dec 6, 2018

"Some of our greatest natural treasures lie just off our doorstep. Located only 130 miles from Boston, the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts have been known for their dizzying abundance of marine life for decades (they are even nicknamed "the Serengeti of the Atlantic") and yet very little of them have been explored. Because it's not just life at the surface that thrives: deep below, within chasms deeper and vaster than the Grand Canyon, are corals that are hundreds, even thousands, of years old. On the second anniversary of the Canyons' designation as a Marine National Monument, OceanX's research vessel the Alucia took a voyage to observe them up-close and in person for the very first time. While remotely operated vehicles have ventured into the Canyons before, this was the first time humans have actually dived into the Canyons, from OceanX's submersible. What we saw were incredible deepwater corals, very different to the kinds that live in warm, shallow waters, and species specially acclimatized to living hundreds of meters under the water. This was the first mission from the partnership between OceanX and Bloomberg Philanthropies to dedicate 185 million to the protection and exploration of our oceans over the next four years. With thanks to Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution for their support."

Follow OceanX on these social channels:

http://www.instagram.com/oceanx
http://www.Facebook.com/oceanxorg
http://www.twitter.com/oceanx
https://www.linkedin.com/company/oceanxorg

Ocean Cleanup Project: System 001 in Action - First Results

From the Ocean Cleanup YouTube channel - Published on Nov 20, 2018

"It has been four weeks since we deployed System 001 in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. In this time, we have observed that plastic is exiting the system once it is collected, so we are currently working on causes and solutions to remedy this. Because this is our beta system, and this is the first deployment of any ocean cleanup system, we have been preparing ourselves for surprises."

Read more in our latest update:
https://www.theoceancleanup.com/updates/

Follow The Ocean Cleanup:
https://www.facebook.com/theoceancleanup
https://www.twitter.com/theoceancleanup
https://www.instagram.com/theoceancleanup/