It’s no overstatement to say that diabetes is one of the greatest health crises afflicting Americans today. When at least one in every eight middle-aged adults and over one in four seniors suffers from the disease, management and control reach become top priorities.
Two drugs have become major juggernauts in the field of diabetes management: Jardiance and Metformin. Between these two titans, which is the best choice for managing your diabetes? Here’s what you need to know.
The Case for Metformin
Metformin, sometimes known by the name Glucophage, lowers blood glucose by reducing how much sugar your liver releases into your bloodstream. However, since it is known to cause issues with digestion when taken on an empty stomach, it’s recommended that you take Metformin with a meal.
What Does Metformin Cost?
Metformin is a fairly cost-effective medication, available in monthly doses for about sixty dollars, even without insurance. With insurance coverage, this cost drops to zero or single-digit dollar amounts.
Does Metformin Have Side Effects?
Metformin is, unfortunately, well-known for its side effects. While it avoids causing weight gain, you can experience severe stomach cramping, diarrhea, and other digestive issues. It’s also not a viable option if you struggle with kidney health.
The Case for Jardiance
Unlike Metformin, which targets the liver, Jardiance (Empagliflozin) works on how your kidneys process sugar. This lets you pass more sugar through your urine, preventing it from building up in your blood.
It’s also known to help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease and other diabetes comorbidities. This makes it a godsend for many doctors’ diabetes management plans, as finding the right mix of drugs to treat all the conditions a diabetic has can be difficult.
What Does Jardiance Cost?
As of now, there is no known Jardiance generic. As such, it can be quite expensive.
Without insurance, you could easily see monthly costs exceeding five hundred dollars. However, there are a host of coupons and other programs designed to increase the accessibility of this life-saving prescription.
Does Jardiance Have Side Effects?
Jardiance is also unfortunate in that its side effects are infamous. Common Jardiance side effects can include low blood sugar, a higher rate of yeast infections in women, and an increase in risk for urinary tract infections. We’re not sure why this drug has such a potent weakening effect on the immune system.
Which One Is Better for Me?
Jardiance is strictly speaking the better drug as it has a wider range of applications and conditions treated than Metformin. However, from a financial perspective, Metformin is the more accessible choice. Regardless, the two often get prescribed in tandem to better manage diabetes, as they don’t seem to contraindicate one another.
Need More Help Finding the Right Medicine?
Treating your diabetes has never been easier or more personalized with options like Metformin, Jardiance, and many others on the market. However, if you need more help finding the right choice to treat your diabetes, then don’t hesitate to check out our blog. We update each day with more helpful and informative articles like this one.
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