The American College of Physicians recently came out with new medicine guidelines for those living with Type 2 diabetes and encourages physicians to prescribe Metformin.
The American Academy of Family Physicians has endorsed the guideline.
Diabetes is a leading cause for death in the U.S. and affects 90-95 percent of all people, and about 29.1 million Americans. Diabetes can be brought on by obesity.
"The escalating rates of obesity in the U.S. are increasing the incidence and prevalence of diabetes substantially. Metformin has the added benefit of being associated with weight loss," Nitin S. Damle, MD, MS, MACP, president, American College of Physicians said.
Recent FDA approvals of several new medications and new studies evaluating Type 2 diabetes medications led to the American College of Physicians updating its 2012 guideline on the comparative effectiveness and safety of oral Type 2 medications.
The new guideline was based on a systematic review of randomized controlled trials and observational studies.
One Central Texas doctor said although diabetes is a common disease, there are many misconceptions circling it.
"Well, the biggest misconception about diabetes is that if it's not bothering you, it's not dangerous. The problem with diabetes is it's a silent killer. You can feel perfectly fine but still develop kidney disease, eye disease, nerve damage and more importantly heart attacks," said Keith Cryar, MD, Baylor Scott and White Endocrinologist.
Kelson Hombs, a Central Texan, has been living with Type 2 diabetes for about 10 years now.
"It effects my daily life by having to watch what foods I intake, having to eat at certain times or not eat at certain times of the day," Hombs said.
Hombs is currently prescribed Metformin and believes it is a great medication for Type 2 diabetics to start with.
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