Table 2.
Self-reported Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS) and Bristol Stool Form Scale scores before and after taking metformin.
| Total | Baseline | After 2 Weeks | After 4 Weeks | p-Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hemoglobin A1c (mmol/mol) | 55.4 ± 7.9 | - | 52.5 ± 6.6 | 0.0003 |
| Hemoglobin A1c (%) | 7.2 ± 0.7 | - | 7.0 ± 0.6 | |
| Total score | 20.3 ± 5.8 | 21.0 ± 5.4 | 22.8 ± 7.1 | 0.04 |
| Subscale | ||||
| Abdominal pain | 3.6 ± 1.2 | 3.9 ± 1.7 | 3.9 ± 1.6 | 0.24 |
| Regurgitation | 2.7 ± 1.6 | 2.8 ± 1.5 | 2.8 ± 1.7 | 0.69 |
| Dyspepsia | 6.0 ± 2.1 | 6.0 ± 1.9 | 6.8 ± 2.7 | 0.04 |
| Diarrhea | 2.9 ± 1.3 | 3.2 ± 1.4 | 3.3 ± 1.7 | 0.34 |
| Constipation | 5.0 ± 2.2 | 5.5 ± 2.5 | 5.9 ± 2.2 | 0.05 |
| Bristol Stool Form Scale | 3.7 ± 0.9 | 3.9 ± 1.0 | 3.9 ± 1.4 | 0.44 |
| Subgroup | Baseline | After 2 Weeks | After 4 Weeks | p-Value |
| Hemoglobin A1c (mmol/mol) | 53.7 ± 6.1 | - | 52.3 ± 6.4 | 0.0005 |
| Hemoglobin A1c (%) | 7.1 ± 0.6 | - | 6.9 ± 0.6 | |
| Total score | 20.0 ± 6.0 | 20.3 ± 4.6 | 22.6 ± 7.7 | 0.12 |
| Subscale | ||||
| Abdominal pain | 3.5 ± 1.1 | 3.7 ± 1.3 | 3.8 ± 1.7 | 0.34 |
| Regurgitation | 2.7 ± 1.7 | 2.8 ± 1.6 | 2.9 ± 2.0 | 0.45 |
| Dyspepsia | 5.9 ± 2.0 | 5.9 ± 1.9 | 6.7 ± 2.9 | 0.16 |
| Diarrhea | 3.1 ± 1.4 | 3.2 ± 1.4 | 3.3 ± 1.7 | 0.83 |
| Constipation | 4.7 ± 1.9 | 5.2 ± 2.1 | 5.9 ± 2.3 | 0.03 |
| Bristol Stool Form Scale | 3.7 ± 0.9 | 3.9 ± 1.0 | 3.9 ± 1.4 | 0.12 |
A paired t-test between the baseline and after 4 weeks of medication was performed. Subgroup: subjects that were not using an H2 blocker, a proton pump inhibitor, an α-glucosidase inhibitor, and a DPP4 inhibitor; H2 blocker: histamine H2-receptor blocker; DPP4: dipeptidyl peptidase IV.