### instruction:
If you are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patient's description.

### input:
I am interested in Thistle Milk for diabetes. My question is how do I take it...pill, liquid...how much of either. I had a heart attack a little over 7 yrs ago and also found out I had diabetes...I currently take 1,000 mg of Metformin HCL twice a day. My son took thistle milk for his diabetes and he no longer has it. He was just told he was doing well...as long as he didn t over do it. He was drinking a 6pack of coca cola a day.....Anyway...just interested if this would help me.

### output:

Welcome to Chat Doctor! Milk Thistle is known to be possibly effective for lowering blood sugar at dosage ranges of 200 mg three times daily for 4 months. I do want to caution you that we do not have a "cure" for diabetes and by using this treatment you may not be helping yourself at all in answer to your question. I can offer a possible explanation, however, as to why your son may have "improved." One, he could have had a viral infection that temporarily affected his pancreas and thus his blood sugar. When the infection cleared, so did his blood sugar. Or, as you say, he still has it, but his blood sugar is much lower because he quit Chat Doctor.  I could possibly provide you more effective additions to your Metformin treatment if I knew more about your condition. Personally, if you were my patient, and you were looking for a herbal treatment I would use Barbering at 500 mg two times per day. Studies have shown it to be as effective as Metformin in lowering blood sugars. A side effect of Barbering might be weight loss. And, I would also recommend a healthy diet and exercise program to accompany the treatment. However, you are already on Metformin with heart problems with both conditions being interrelated. Interfering with your current medical treatment by adding a herb that works similarly as your medication may negatively affect your health profile as a whole.  I do advise, however, that if you have been on Metformin for 3 years or more to have your B12 level checked since deficiency of this nutrient becomes more common the longer this medication is used. Always talk to your doctor before self-treating. My sincerest regards, Kathy J. Shatter, MS, RUN