BEFORE COMMENCING A PATIENT ON METFORMIN, WHICH OF THE FOLLOWING WOULD NOT BE A CRUCIAL CONSIDERATION

• A. Hepatic impairment
• B. Alcohol intake
• C. Renal failure
• D. Cardiac failure
• E. Risk of hypoglycaemia ✓

The risk of hypoglycemia would NOT be a crucial consideration before commencing a patient on metformin. When starting a patient on metformin, crucial considerations typically include assessing hepatic impairment, alcohol intake, renal failure, and cardiac failure due to the potential impact of metformin on these conditions. However, the risk of hypoglycemia is not directly related to the initiation of metformin therapy but rather is a concern associated with other diabetes medications like insulin or sulfonylureas.