Metformin has found itself as the medicine of option when it comes to the first - linetreatment of type 2 diabetes . In addition to lowering blood sugar , the medication mayextend life , lowerheart risks , lower eminent rip pressure , and provide other health benefits .
Now researchers have also observed that Glucophage ( which issold under brand name such asGlucophage , Glumetza , and Fortamet ) may also decrease the likeliness of years - relatedmacular degeneraton ( AMD ) — a precede cause of visual sensation release among hoi polloi age 50 and older . The consideration , which people with diabetes areat a greater risk for , affects about 2.1 million people nationally , harmonize tothe National Institutes of Health .
A Closer Look at the Study on Metformin and AMD
In a write up present October 28 at theAnnual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology , research worker from Taiwan dissect the health data of 45,524 hoi polloi with diabetes who were taking Glucophage compared with 22,681 patients who were not taking the medication . All participants had new onset character 2 diabetes . The retrospective study unfold from January 2001 to December 2013 .
The scientist incur that metformin users had about a 50 percent downhearted risk of exposure of get AMD compared with those not accept the medicine .
" Our study is the first to reveal the protective effect of metformin on the development of AMD , " the lead researcher , Yu - Yen Chen , MD , from Taichung Veterans General Hospital in Taiwan , said in a financial statement . " While more study is required to find out just how metformin protects against the development of AMD , this is an exciting maturation for patients at risk of infection . " Dr. Chen was not available for unmediated gossip .
Mark Fromer , MD , an ophthalmologist at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City , who was not involved in the study , says he has find out ten-spot of thousands of patients with diabetes and K of macular degeneracy patients . Because of the scope of health issues that can result from high blood sugar , individual who are order Glucophage tend to have several preexisting health issues . However , Dr. Fromer articulate , “ What you do n’t often see in a lot of metformin patients is macular degeneration — so these research worker may be on to something . ”
Fromer cautions that this is a retrospective study . While the investigating involved large number over a long stop , he say a controlled study with current patient is need so scientists can look at other factors , including smoke , obesity , diet , and the controlled utilization of the drug as well .
Why Might Metformin Help With AMD?
ignition and oxidative tenseness have long been live to play a primal role in the development of both diabetes and AMD , the investigator say . Oxidative stress is a disturbance in the remainder between the production of damaging gratuitous root and the body ’s power to detoxify them .
“ Since Glucophage is found to have the holding of anti - inflammation and anti - oxidation , it is relevant to propose that metformin may bring down the natural event of AMD , ” the study authors drop a line .
How Diabetes May Play a Role
When a person has diabetes , blood sugar ca n’t reach the cells for the glucose to be used as DOE . The loot that build up in the profligate is destructive to blood vessels that deliver blood to vital organs . This increases the risk of many wellness problems , include centre attack and virgule . Available as a tab or liquid , metformin helps shorten the amount of carbohydrate your liver releases into the blood , and it improve how your body care insulin , which regulates the amount of glucose in the origin .
People with diabetes may have a higher risk of blindness because increased pedigree sugar level can damage the eyes , according to theMacular Degeneration Association . Macular Degeneration is the No . 1 movement of vision expiration , feign more than 10 million Americans , notes the American Macular Degeneration Foundation . That ’s more than cataracts and glaucoma combined .
How Macular Degeneration Affects Sight
Macular degeneraton damage a specific portion in the retina called the macula . The macula captures the figure of speech we see and transmits those visuals through the optic nerve to the psyche . TheNational Eye Institutedescribes the macula as the part of the eye needed for sharp , key vision , which lets us see objects that are straight in advance . As the macula break down , visual modality becomes blurry or wavy , and may lead to total going of imagination . There is no known cure for macular degeneration .
AMD occurs more often in those over age 55 , harmonise tothe American Macular Degeneration Foundation . The authors note that the risk for AMD was much higher in patient role aged than 70 compared with those young than 50 .
“ Every tenner of lifetime , your chances of developing macular degeneration increase , ” says Fromer . “ Each 10 of your life your retinal social function decreases . ”
AMD is one of the two most uncouth retinal degenerative diseases , according to a study inClinical Ophthalmology . The other vulgar heart - related job for those withuncontrolled diabetesis diabetic retinopathy , which harm the parentage vessels of the retina and results in patches of vision loss . TheAmerican Diabetes Associationpoints out that more than 60 percent of mass with type 2 diabeteshave some degree of retinopathy .
Chen ’s team notes that participants with hypertension , hyperlipidemia , coronary artery disease , obesity , and diabetic retinopathy also had a importantly higher peril of developing AMD .
While metformin may avail cut down AMD risk , the American Macular Degeneration Foundation also recommend modus vivendi variety such as dieting , exercise , avoid smoking , and protect your eye from ultraviolet light .
Don Rauf has been a self-employed health author for over 12 years and his writing has been sport in HealthDay , CBS News , WebMD , U.S. News & World Report , Mental Floss , United Press International ( UPI),Health , and MedicineNet . He was antecedently a reporter for DailyRx.com where he covered story related to cardiology , diabetes , lung cancer , prostate gland cancer , erectile disfunction , menopause , and allergy . He has interviewed Doctor of the Church and pharmaceutical representatives in the U.S. and abroad .
He is a prolific author and has written more than 50 al-Qur’an , includingLost America : Vanished Civilizations , Abandoned Towns , andRoadside Attractions . Rauf lives in Seattle , Washington .
Macular decadency
What to Eat to Minimize Your Geographic Atrophy Risk if You Have Wet AMD
Diagnosed With Wet Macular Degeneration — What Should I Do Now?
Diabetic Macular Edema
7 Ways to Slow the Progression of Diabetic Macular Edema
4 Ways to Stay Positive When You Have Wet Macular Degeneration
Nutrition for Healthy Eyes: What to Eat — and Avoid — if You Have Dry or Wet AMD
New Directions: What’s Coming Down the Pike in Wet AMD Treatments?
‘Do I Belong Here?’ Being Young With DME
The Right Care Can Make All the Difference in Preserving Your Vision
What You Need to Know About Early Onset Diabetic Macular Edema
How Latino Communities Can Get Better DME Care
