What diabetes medicine has lowest side effects and is cost effective?

Wait a few weeks on metformin to see if your GI tract gets used to it, it took me a couple months but now its like i dont even notice it at all, and it's super cheap and effective. Not everyone will acclimitize, but its normal for your GI to be upset for awhile.

Metformin

Metformin tends to be the most cost-effective, but outside of insulin, there are 0 type 2 oral medications that don't all have the potential for the exact same side effects (nausea, fatigue, weight loss, etc).

For some people, the side effects do eventually go away, but not for everyone; for some, the side effects don't, and they are forced off and onto other options until something is found that works and is covered.

That will pass when your body gets used to it :)

The cost depends a lot on your insurance. I don’t pay anything OOP for my diabetes meds, so they are all equally cost effective.  I take both Mounjaro and metformin and don’t have negative side effects.

I did not get on with regular metformin. After a month I was put on prolonged release (modified) metformin. Getting on much better but find I have to go for a wee soon after drinking fluid

Metformin is cheap.

Biggest side effect is diarrhea. But if that happens, you just need to take a probiotic at 100 billion units for a few days and it goes away.

I’ve been on it for years and every 6 mo hrs or so I take probiotics for a few days and then I’m good.

Are you taking it after your biggest meal? That certainly helped me.

Do you take it with food? I'm lucky I get zero side effects and take it on an empty stomach in the morning and once in the evening.

It may take time to get used to. It’s one of the best for me. Especially ER. I couldn’t handle the regular stuff.

Mounjaro has really helped me eliminate my excessive appetite and lose weight as well over the long term.

Metformin. It takes up to a month to stabilize your GI with it, it took me three days at each dose.

I stuck with it and was fine after about 8 days. Your body is adjusting to lower blood sugar, too.

I have been on it for a year, changed my eating, started gradually walking more, then cardio and weight training - currently down 35 lbs, HA1C went from 10 to 5.1, and I'm pretty much in remission. I've cut my dose in half the last few weeks - my doctor doesn't want me having lows.

Metformin Xr...

I don’t take insulin. I’m on only Mounjaro. With the card from the manufacturer I pay $25 a month. I have few side effects and my A1C was 5.7 last time I checked. I sometimes get constipated but I take fiber gummies.

I wasn’t willing to wait a month or more with explosive diarrhea on Metformin. I have to work. I’m not about to be crapping my pants 10 times a day at work.

Metformin

Insulin injections.

Keep up with 500mg metformin and work on your diet. Sugar is your enemy

Never got used to Metformin. My side effects were me sponsoring the bathroom and this was very much embarrassing. The we changed o Ozempic with no side effects.

I'm on Metformin 1000mg once a day and after a month of IBS Distress I no longer have side effects, they wanted to move me up to 1000mg 3 times a day but even 2 times a day gave me the same reaction as a bowel prep (Ipecac) so that was a no go, currently I'm on 1000mg of Metformin once a day AND 100mg of Sitagliptin once a day, it's helped and other than a bit of acid at the start I've managed it well, they still want me to triple my metformin but as I only eat 1 meal a day I just can't handle the side effects, currently they are just monitoring me for another 2 months. I do recommend Sitagliptin.

Did any of you have se£ related side effect on metformin? I hear metformin reduces testosterone and libido as result.