Just had my yearly full blood tests

 

GRF is 30  so my CKD is getting  worse

last 3 months feel and am very bloated

 

yet another new Dr,this time, not a lot of help only to get more tests and see a Kidney Dr in Sept..........

 

did a search   Metformin isn’t the best choice for everyone. Eg Bloating + Worsening CKD over time'

 

Taken Metformin for 34 years,  

Could this be the reason ? is there a better alternative ? ....  

 

1991 - 2015 used to take 4x 500mg Metformin + 2x 80mg Glipizide  - changed in 2015 to 2x 850 Metformin + Insulin, prescription still the same till Sept 2025

 

 

On 6/25/2025 at 9:56 AM, ignis said:

Just had my yearly full blood tests

 

GRF is 30  so my CKD is getting  worse

last 3 months feel and am very bloated

 

yet another new Dr,this time, not a lot of help only to get more tests and see a Kidney Dr in Sept..........

 

did a search   Metformin isn’t the best choice for everyone. Eg Bloating + Worsening CKD over time'

 

Taken Metformin for 34 years,  

Could this be the reason ? is there a better alternative ? ....  

 

1991 - 2015 used to take 4x 500mg Metformin + 2x 80mg Glipizide  - changed in 2015 to 2x 850 Metformin + Insulin, prescription still the same till Sept 2025

 

 

Don’t know if any help but ….After Covid I found out that I was Pre …Dr gave me Jardiance. He said that it would also help my heart and kidney.

 

I take ACV if I will have carbs in the meal.  Also whenever possible eat in the order.  Veg…protein…carbs. Have cut out all the things that make life extra pleasant …ice cream and cakes ….etc

 

ACV is obviously diluted ..about a tablespoon in a glass of water and drink through a straw if I remember …

1 hour ago, JAS21 said:

Don’t know if any help but ….After Covid I found out that I was Pre …Dr gave me Jardiance. He said that it would also help my heart and kidney.

 

I take ACV if I will have carbs in the meal.  Also whenever possible eat in the order.  Veg…protein…carbs. Have cut out all the things that make life extra pleasant …ice cream and cakes ….etc

 

ACV is obviously diluted ..about a tablespoon in a glass of water and drink through a straw if I remember …

Many thanks

Notice there is options    Jardiance    25 mg  or 12.5//500 mg. 

 

Is difficult to know as different websites and Countries advice differently,, even Drs at the same hospital have different ideas

 

Appear most agree Long term Metformin is not good for the elderly with Kidney problems [CKD]  

 

As for AVC did try it for a year no help at all, but that was 9 years ago.

3 hours ago, ignis said:

Many thanks

Notice there is options    Jardiance    25 mg  or 12.5//500 mg. 

 

Is difficult to know as different websites and Countries advice differently,, even Drs at the same hospital have different ideas

 

Appear most agree Long term Metformin is not good for the elderly with Kidney problems [CKD]  

 

As for AVC did try it for a year no help at all, but that was 9 years ago.

I’m on 10mg. They are helping I think. My a1c was 6.5 but a month ago it was down to 5.9 and I hope lower next test. My fingers are getting sore, I probably will get a cgm as I need to get more info on what’s causing spikes and how long, not just the two hour value. Maybe I shouldn’t worry too much as I’m eighty now. 
 

There are many on the internet advising what to do to reverse etc …some just there for the clicks. Seems boiling the red onion whatever is good in an emergency.

 

Out of interest, have always had the yearly health check, but only did fasting which had crept up to 100. But no one ever said we need to look into this. Fasting is easy to fiddle but obviously I never ate a lot of sweet things the day before.

 

Whatever good luck.

 

 

 

Whatever good luck

I have no idea what GRF and CKD is.

 

Forxiga (dapagliflozin) is better for the kidneys; however, it is expensive. I am on 2 x 500 mg Metformin and 1 x 10 mg forxiga a day, works fine for me.

1 hour ago, farang51 said:

I have no idea what GRF and CKD is.

 

Forxiga (dapagliflozin) is better for the kidneys; however, it is expensive. I am on 2 x 500 mg Metformin and 1 x 10 mg forxiga a day, works fine for me.

GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate)  Kidneys

ideal reading would be 100, normal for a 75 year old is 70+  mine at 30 is way to low

 

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is diagnosed through a combination of blood and urine tests

 

2015 was Stage 5, Hospital said would have to follow a diet.. No Salt, Red Meat, gassed drinks [Diet Cola] drink just plain water, even if I got it [GFR] higher  normal people have to have Dialysis /transplant within 3 years..........   So far so good and just over 10 without   Dialysis /transplant

36 minutes ago, ignis said:

GFR (Glomerular Filtration Rate)  Kidneys

ideal reading would be 100, normal for a 75 year old is 70+  mine at 30 is way to low

 

I am in the middle 40's with eGFR and has been there for +10 years. Read up on forxiga and speak with your doctor about it, hopefully it will help you not getting any lower on your GFR.

Every medication we take is an extra burden on the kidneys.

 

I was on 5 different medications. With diet and exercise, I have reduced that to one, for BPH.

 

My eGFR got as low as 58, my latest reading is 75.

 

Stevia is a naturally occurring glycoside, derived from a South American plant. It is anywhere between 30 and 300 times sweeter than sugar, so one-tenth of a teaspoon works better than a heaped teaspoon of sugar.

 

Available on Lazada. My HBa1C is 5.2

24 minutes ago, farang51 said:

 

I am in the middle 40's with eGFR and has been there for +10 years. Read up on forxiga and speak with your doctor about it, hopefully it will help you not getting any lower on your GFR.

Yes a;ready got the question for next Dr Visit

Options:  ?

Dapagliflozin / Farxiga ?

Glipizide     - used to take until 2015 80mg  2x day  with 500mg Metformin 2x day !

Jardiance ??   25 mg  or12.5//500 mg.  Or  12.5/1000 mg.

Berberine could (maybe, perhaps, possibly --- do your own research) potentially be a safer alternative to meformin.

 

Berberine may also help prevent other illnesses as well. 

 

It's available off the shelf (iHerb). Not by prescription.

 

Your doctor is unlikely to know what it is or recommend it. 

 

If you decide to get off metformin and try berberine, always need to research if it interacts with any other medications you are taking.

 

Perhaps you can hire an online Naturopath for guidance if you want to go down that road. 

 

https://warnerorthopedics.com/is-berberine-a-safe-alternative-to-metformin/

 

11 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

Every medication we take is an extra burden on the kidneys.

 

I was on 5 different medications. With diet and exercise, I have reduced that to one, for BPH.

 

My eGFR got as low as 58, my latest reading is 75.

 

Stevia is a naturally occurring glycoside, derived from a South American plant. It is anywhere between 30 and 300 times sweeter than sugar, so one-tenth of a teaspoon works better than a heaped teaspoon of sugar.

 

Available on Lazada. My HBa1C is 5.2

Not had sugar in or on anything for years

 

HBa1C is 5.2    is very good,  mine is OK at 6,2

10 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Berberine could (maybe, perhaps, possibly --- do your own research) potentially be a safer alternative to meformin.

 

Berberine may also help prevent other illnesses as well. 

 

It's available off the shelf (iHerb). Not by prescription.

 

Your doctor is unlikely to know what it is or recommend it. 

 

If you decide to get off metformin and try berberine, always need to research if it interacts with any other medications you are taking.

 

Perhaps you can hire an online Naturopath for guidance if you want to go down that road. 

 

https://warnerorthopedics.com/is-berberine-a-safe-alternative-to-metformin/

 

Thanks

added to list for Dr

 

Thai friend has been given this week Utmos 30mg with 1 x 500mg Metformin a day, he was on 3 x 500mg Metformin per day. to early to tell if they work

11 hours ago, ignis said:

Thanks

added to list for Dr

 

Conventional doctors may not know much about it and dis-recommend it.

 

I believe Berberine has been used in Chinese Traditional Medicine and only recently become popular in the West. There may be some TCM doctors in Thailand? Not sure ... 

 

Best of luck . 

 

From what I read Berberine is worth a try.

 

I had a CT scan with ‘contrast fluid’ in early June. Even though I opted for the fluid that would least affect my organs, a week later my bloods had been quite adversely affected.

 

Due to taking Jardiance, as mentioned previously, and a prostrate problem, I do pee a lot at night so in early morning I’m a bit dehydrated.

 

I have continued to be careful with my diet …as previously mentioned…so my bloods last week were a lot better … but still worse than before my CT Scan…that was for suspected hernia near the groin …apparently there was not one.

 

Anyway doctor said your bloods are ok for your age, I also feel that Jardiance is helping my heart along with my blood sugar. Now 5.7 down from 6.4 a few months ago.

 

I talked to a dietician recently, she suggested to stop eating raw vegetables, but to cook them which will reduce their potassium content and then stir fry with olive oil which will increase absorption of vitamins …so will give it a go.