Metformin counsel
He came to pick up his metformin prescription. I didnt’ know what he did for a living but by his physical appearance, I’d bet it didn’t involve dress shirts and ties. By all appearances he was a recent diagnosis, as his profile had no previous diabetic meds or supplies. I went about my standard counseling: Take exactly as directed, don’t skip doses, take at meal times, test your blood sugar if the dr directs, avoid alcohol–His head shot up.
“What happens if I drink?” he asked, adding “I rarely drink however”. “Great, then you won’t have anything to worry about”. I told him about the metabolic condition lactic acidosis that can occur with alcohol. “so, will I die if I have a beer?” . We went back and forth, me discouraging the use of alcohol in his diabetic state, and he asking me the same question in about 6 different ways. I had enough. I folded my arms across my chest and said “If you are trying to get me to tell you its ok to drink, its not going to happen. What you decide to do is your business, but professionally I am going to tell you that alcohol use is to be discouraged 1) because you are diabetic and 2) you are on metformin. OK?”
I rarely drink…yea right.
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