A new mechanism for treating insulin resistance discovered
The traditional mechanisms for treating insulin resistance have the side effect of also making fat cells insulin sensitive and of other unwanted side effects.
In the current study, the researchers looked for a way to partially inhibit FOXO1 so that glucose levels declined but lipid levels were unaffected. "What we needed to understand is how the two FOXO1-mediated mechanisms differ, so that we could identify selective inhibitors," said co-author Daniel Lindén, a scientist with AstraZeneca's Innovative Medicines and Early Development biotech Unit in Gothenburg, Sweden.
FOXO1 inhibitors are now being improved so as to limit the side effects. This could lead to a new approach for treating insulin resistance and diabetes. Whether or not this will be used to treat prediabetes is up for debate as many doctors do not think it is medically necessary and this drug will have risks which may make it not worth it. At the same time I think Metformin is under utilized by doctors and could benefit many more people yet is restricted only for people who are very old with type 2 diabetes.
Metformin is being studied as an anti-aging drug and while I don't think it specifically slows aging it probably does slow the rate that beta cells or other cells in the body are damaged by post meal high blood sugar spikes which effect prediabetics. In fact, prediabetes is so common in the American and Asian population that it may make sense to give Metformin over the counter as if so many people do have prediabetes maybe Metforming could reduce the amount that go on to develop type 2 diabetes by preventing the beta cells from exhausting. Thoughts?
References
Columbia University Medical Center. (2017, October 24). Diabetes: New insulin sensitizers discovered: Potential drug lowered blood sugar without triggering fat storage in mice. ScienceDaily. Retrieved November 6, 2017 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/10/171024105653.htm
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I am one of those older people you mentioned, lol and have been a diabetic for about 35 years now. Years ago, I took metformin and it did not help me enough. My doctor took me off it and we went to insulin and more recently some of the newer medications. When I was young, I had no problem take metformin. We recently tried to get me back on it and my stomach can no longer handle it. A lot of people have fairly severe stomach problems while taking it. Most get use to it after a week or two, but some don't . So whether it would help or not I doubt it will become over the counter. Most people really need a doctor to monitor them during the early stages of taking it.
Besides stomach problems which is quite a vague description, is there any life threatening risk besides that? Such as changes to liver enzymes? Because if it's only stomach problems, just taking NSAIDs are known to cause stomach bleeding (blood thinning) and intestinal disturbance yet it is over the counter.
Now as far as the risk of blood sugar crashes and doctor monitoring, is this only if there is an over dose? The main issue is if it's not over the counter then many young people who could probably benefit most from it (preventative) cannot access it. On the other hand if people are older and fully diabetic then it might be only good enough to reduce the complications of diabetes.
We also know in some countries Metformin already is sold over the counter.
Stomach problems in my case and many other peoples, involve the entire digestive track and includes vomiting, diarrhea, indigestion severe enough to be classified as acid re-flux and severe abdominal cramping. I was attempting to be sensitive to other people sensitivities by not going into detail. There is also a difference in the amounts needed to be taken and the number of people who have these problems that must be taken into consideration when attempting to compare two completely different medications side affects. There is a difference in the number of people who experience severe problems. Most who take NSAID's only experience mild symptoms unless they take large quantities over an extended period of time. Most people who have problems with Metformin tend to have it with within 24 hours of their first dose. For many it gets better within a few weeks, but for some, it only gets worse.
I appreciate your candor and enjoyed reading your experience.
Thanks For Your Good Information.