Find out which high-sugar and high-fat foods to avoid on metformin for optimal diabetes care. A pharmacist’s insights guide your diet plan. Easy-to-read patient tips for metformin covering how it works, benefits, risks, and best practices. Metformin should be taken with meals to help reduce stomach or bowel side effects that may occur during the first few weeks of treatment. Swallow the tablet or extended-release tablet whole with a full glass of water. Starting metformin? Learn about typical doses, how to ease common side effects, and what to watch for during long-term use. Starting metformin for type 2 diabetes or prediabetes? Learn why it’s prescribed, how to start safely, what side effects to expect, and how it fits into long-term diabetes care. Metformin will usually start lowering your blood sugar (glucose) levels in the first week of treatment, but it may take 2 to 3 months to see its full effect. Metformin is a preferred initial oral treatment for people with type 2 diabetes, and is usually taken on a long-term basis. Learn about side effects, how it's taken, and more of metformin. It's a generic prescription drug that's used to help manage blood sugar levels in adults and some children with type 2 diabetes. NHS medicines information on dosage for metformin, how to take it and what to do if you miss a dose or take too much. Overview: Metformin is medicine you take to help keep your blood sugar from getting too high. Common side effects may include stomach problems, such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain. Metformin is a common treatment for diabetes. But it can cause digestive problems and other side effects. Learn more about the uses and side effects here.