Diabetes

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Order Metformin For Diabetes Online

You can order metformin tablets online from our UK registered online pharmacy and doctor service. Our doctors at Simple Online Pharmacy can prescribe metformin for patients who have been diagnosed with diabetes and are currently prescribed it by their GP. This service is for people who are unable to obtain a prescription from their GP in certain circumstances and just need a temporary refill. It is still important that you get your diabetes medication from your GP regularly and have regular check-ups with your GP or nurse.  

Metformin is a common medicine used in the treatment of type-2 diabetes. You should take the dosage that has previously been determined by your regular doctor. Once you have completed the online doctor consultation, our doctor will review your assessment and prescribe metformin if it is safe. Our pharmacy will then dispense and dispatch your prescription to your door.

Diabetes

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Overview

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is a common, lifelong condition that can affect everyday life. Type 2 diabetes causes blood sugar (glucose) levels to increase too much. This can cause a number of symptoms such as:

  • Blurred vision
  • Fatigue
  • Being thirsty all the time
  • Needing to urinate often, especially at night
  • Repeatedly getting thrush 

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic diseases in the UK. About 3.5 million people are diagnosed with diabetes and estimates suggest that by 2025, there will be 5 million people with diabetes in the UK. Around 90% of adults with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is the other type of diabetes but it is less common and has different treatments.

A hormone called insulin is crucial in diabetes. Insulin is produced in the pancreas and it functions to signal glucose to move from the blood and into the cells of the body. In type 2 diabetes, there can be two problems with insulin. The first problem is that the pancreas does not produce enough insulin for the body. The second problem is called insulin resistance. This means the body does not respond well to insulin and insulin is less effective.

This causes less glucose to move into the cells and means higher levels of glucose are in the blood, increasing blood sugar levels.

The aim of treatment for diabetes is to control blood sugar levels so they are not too high or too low. High levels of blood sugar can cause serious complications over time. Poorly controlled diabetes increases the risk of heart disease and stroke. It can also cause problems with nerves. Diabetes is the most common cause of peripheral neuropathy (a type of nerve damage) in the UK.

It can also lead to kidney disease, loss of vision, and erectile dysfunction. The risk of developing these complications can be reduced by controlling blood glucose levels and having regular health check-ups. 

Diagnosis

Diagnosing type 2 diabetes usually involves a blood test called an HbA1c test or a blood glucose test. These tests show your doctor what your blood sugar levels are and can confirm a diagnosis. Type 2 diabetes might be suspected in someone with symptoms of diabetes and/or risk factors (such as obesity).

Causes

Type 2 diabetes is caused by a combination of insulin resistance and lower levels of insulin produced by the pancreas. 

There are various risk factors that can increase your risk of developing type 2 diabetes:

  • Ethnicity - South Asian, Black African, and African-Caribbean people are 2 - 4 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes than white people
  • Family history - the risk of developing type 2 diabetes is higher for people with a family history of diabetes than those without a family history of diabetes
  • Being overweight - obesity accounts for up to 85% of the overall risk of developing type 2 diabetes
  • Physical activity - being physically inactive increases your risk of type 2 diabetes
  • History of gestational diabetes
  • Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS)

Treatments

Lifestyle advice

Type 2 diabetes tends to worsen gradually over time and most people will need to take medicines to control their blood sugar levels. However, making certain lifestyle changes can help to control your blood sugar levels. 

Improving your diet and being more physically active can be useful for managing blood sugar levels. This can also help with weight loss and reduces your risk of other illnesses like high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Our online doctor service can provide weight-loss medicines to help people lose weight.

Try to eat a healthy, balanced diet. You should aim to reduce your consumption of sugary foods, eat plenty of fibre and eat low glycaemic carbohydrate sources

Increasing your physical exercise helps the body use insulin better, helps to improve your HbA1c, and has many general health benefits. People should aim to keep alcohol consumption within guideline limits and to stop smoking if they are smoking.

Metformin

Metformin is a very common medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes. Most people will start treatment on metformin soon after being diagnosed. It is a prescription-only medicine and it helps to reduce blood sugar levels.

Metformin reduces the amount of glucose produced by the liver and it might make your body more sensitive to insulin. By doing this, metformin causes blood sugar levels to lower and it lowers the risk of experiencing the complications of diabetes.

The most common side effects of taking metformin are stomach side effects like diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting. Some people find these side effects are too severe and have to stop taking metformin.

Other medicines

People with type 2 diabetes will often need to take other type 2 diabetes medications as their diabetes gradually worsens. If a patient’s blood sugar stays too high when taking metformin, doctors will often prescribe other medicines to take alongside it.
Other medicines used include sitagliptin, dapagliflozin, gliclazide, saxagliptin, and pioglitazone.

FAQ

What does type 2 diabetes mean?

Type 2 diabetes is the name for a long term medical condition. It causes raised blood sugar levels which can eventually lead to serious complications like heart disease, kidney problems, and nerve damage.

How do you get type 2 diabetes?

The hormone insulin plays an important role in diabetes. Insulin helps move glucose (sugar) into body cells from the blood. In type 2 diabetes, your body produces less insulin and your body has a weaker response to insulin. This causes blood sugar levels to rise. 

Factors that can increase your risk of getting type 2 diabetes include:

  • Obesity
  • Being physically inactive
  • Having a family history of diabetes
  • A history of gestational diabetes

Is type 2 diabetes serious?

Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong condition that can affect everyday life. If your blood sugar is not controlled, it can cause diabetic symptoms and can increase the risk of developing serious problems like stroke, vision loss, and heart disease.

How do you treat type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is treated with a combination of medication and lifestyle changes. Effective lifestyle changes can include losing weight and increasing physical activity. Metformin is usually the first medicine prescribed. Other medicines may be prescribed alone or in combination with metformin such as gliclazide.

Which is worse, type 1 or type 2 diabetes?

Both types of diabetes are serious and can cause severe complications if poorly controlled. Type 2 diabetes can be caused by an unhealthy lifestyle like being obese. Type 1 diabetes is not caused by lifestyle factors and the causes are not well known. It is commonly diagnosed in children and young people, whereas type 2 diabetes is more commonly diagnosed in adults. 

Can I order type 2 diabetes medicine online?

Our doctors at Simple Online Pharmacy are able to prescribe metformin online. This service is for people who are unable to obtain a prescription from their GP in certain circumstances and just need a temporary refill. It is still important that you get your diabetes medication from your GP regularly and have regular check-ups with your GP or nurse.

Content Reviewed: 05/11/2020

Metformin Tablets

Medication Simple Online Pharmacy
850mg x84 £21.99
850mg x56 £14.99
500mg x112 £23.99
500mg x84 £18.99
500mg x56 £15.99
500mg Slow Release x56 £18.99
500mg Slow Release x84 £22.99
500mg Slow Release x112 £27.99

Metformin

Medication Simple Online Pharmacy
500mg x56 £11.99
500mg x84 £13.99
500mg x112 £18.99
500mg x168 £27.99
850mg x56 £11.99
850mg x84 £13.99
850mg x112 £18.99
850mg x168 £27.99

Diabetes Treatment Comparison