Many diabetics take the name brand drug known as Glucophage. There is also a generic form of this called metformin. Glucophage is used to treat both insulin-dependent and non-insulin dependent, type II diabetes. However, it is not used to treat type I diabetes. This diabetes drug is in the category of a biguanide which means it works by reducing the amount of sugar that is produced by the liver.
Anaerobic Exercise and Diabetes
There is exercise beyond your average aerobic workout that affects blood sugar levels. In fact, weightlifting, which is an anaerobic exercise, has an impact on lowering blood sugar levels. Weightlifting has the power to lower your A1C by 1 percent. If you are diabetic, your A1C level is taken at least twice per year and is a measure of your glycated hemoglobin. According to the American Diabetes Association, both anaerobic and aerobic exercise have the capability of lowering your blood sugar levels significantly. In addition, metformin is known to cause weight gain, and weightlifting can reduce one's body fat.
Weightlifting and Diabetes Medication
Strength training makes a diabetic more sensitive to insulin. The American Diabetes Association states that when an obese child participates in resistance exercise, it reduces his total amount of body fat. In return, his insulin resistance is improved. In addition, weightlifting and other forms of resistance training build muscle, which burns glucose. Weightlifting also causes an increase in insulin sensitivity while decreasing insulin resistance. Ultimately, this can lead to your diabetes being more controlled.
Glucophage and Exercise Study
Susan D. Driscoll and colleagues, as published in the 2004 "Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism," conducted a study on the use of Glucophage on patients that were HIV positive and had fat redistribution along with insulin resistance. This study concluded that the patients who were on metformin and did weight resistance exercise had a decrease in muscle adiposity. Generally, this means that there was a reduction in the fatty tissue around the muscles. Ultimately, this study concluded that weightlifting and metformin together have a more significant impact on diabetes and insulin resistance than metformin alone.
Warnings
When taking Glucophage or metformin, watch for side effects such as muscle weakness. If your physician prescribes this medication, see how you react to this pill before weightlifting. This tablet also may cause tiredness, dizziness or light-headedness, so it is important to see how your body reacts to this pill prior to weightlifting. Glucophage also has the potential to cause lactic acidosis. Weightlifting can also cause lactic acidosis. Lactic acidosis is the buildup of lactic acid in the blood stream. When this occurs, it causes nausea and weakness.
References
- Drugs.com: Glucophage.
- ParentingToday; Exercise in Boys Improve Insulin Resistance and Body Fat, Desmond Lew, MD; June 27, 2010
- "USA Today"; Exercise Aids Blood Sugar Levels; Nancy Hellmich; Sept. 18, 2007
- Diabetes Self-Management; Increasing Insulin Sensitivity; Sheri R. Colberg, Ph.D; Dec. 3, 2008
- "The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism"; Differential Effects of Metformin and Exercise on Muscle Adiposity and Metabolic Indices in Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Infected Patients; Susan D. Driscoll, Gary E. Meininger, Karin Ljungquist, et al; 2004
- MedlinePlus; Lactic Acidosis, Oct. 28, 2010
