How To Take Metformin As A Weight-loss Pill
Metformin, or glucophage, is an oral diabetes medication that is commonly prescribed to control blood sugar levels. This medication makes it easier for your body to absorb available glucose in the bloodstream. Metformin is generally a safe medication; however, some patients may experience lactic acidosis, which results in muscle pain, difficulty breathing, slow or uneven heart rate, weakness, dizziness and stomach pain. In addition, metformin may cause weight loss as a side effect, which can be beneficial if you are trying to lose weight. Video of the Day Schedule and appointment with your physician to determine is metformin is an appropriate medication for control of diabetes and weight loss. Be sure to let your doctor know of other medications you are taking, in particular the medications related to diabetes. Bring in at least a week's worth of before and after-meal blood sugar recordings. Take metformin with a meal, whether it is prescribed once per day or twice per day. Avoid eating high-calorie, fatty foods while taking metformin. Focus on consuming more fruits, vegetables, whole grains and nuts. Check your blood sugar levels after eating. Drink a full glass of water each time you take metformin. It will also make you feel full and reduce your cravings to eat. Continue reading >>
Will Metformin Help Me Lose Weight?
Weight loss is an integral aspect of improving Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, or PCOS, in women who are overweight. Carrying extra weight can cause the condition’s symptoms to become more severe, and can even increase the level of Insulin Resistance (IR) that a woman experiences.1 IR occurs when the body’s cells become desensitized to insulin, preventing the hormone from turning glucose into energy. This results in high blood sugar and, in some cases, diabetes. For this reason, Metformin, a popular diabetes medication, is often prescribed for PCOS. Aside from regulating blood sugar levels, this pharmaceutical, also known as Glucophage, is thought to contribute to weight loss. How Metformin Encourages PCOS Weight Loss Insulin is a hormone that triggers both hunger and the production of fat cells. Therefore, by reducing insulin, women can reduce the amount of food they eat as well as the amount of fat cells that their bodies produce.2 Metformin’s primary function is to reduce insulin, so it is only natural that this medication contributes to weight loss. How Much Medication Is Necessary? Dosage is determined by several factors; healthcare professionals consider medical history, body type, and severity of symptoms when coming to the proper dosage. Metformin comes in three different sized pills: 500 mg, 850 mg, and 1,000 mg.2 Generally, individuals are prescribed between 850 and 1,000 mg two times per day, with 850 mg three times per day being the maximum amount of the medication safe to consume.2 Typically, doctors will prescribe a low dose to gauge the body’s reaction to the medication.2 If the body needs more, physicians will alter the dosage until the right amount is achieved. Because so many factors contribute to the proper dosage, many women who are prescribed d Continue reading >>
How To Lose Weight With Pcos
Lisa lost 125lbs. despite having PCOS The Facts: Insulin resistance is the main reason why its more challenging for you to lose weight with PCOS. About 80% of the women with PCOS have insulin resistance but if you're overweight chances are you already have an insulin resistance. It's tougher for you to lose weight with PCOS because the insulin resistance increases your hunger & cravings making you eat too much so… The Best Way to Lose Weight with PCOS is to… Get rid of or lower your insulin resistance so you can lose weight normally just like everyone else and there's 8 simple ways you can get rid of insulin resistance… 1. Eat Right Eat more weight loss foods while avoiding the sugary, salty & fatty foods you love as much as possible. Eat more protein by making at least 30% of your diet protein while making carbs less than 50% of your diet. Use this tool to determine the right amount of protein, carbs & fats in your diet. Tip: Eat more foods high in resistant starch like Navy beans, bananas & potatoes because resistant starch lowered insulin resistance or improved insulin sensitivity in overweight people by over 50% when taking only 15 grams of resistant starch per day! 2. Exercise Follow these 10 rules to lose weight faster while exercising. Beginners: Do low-to-moderate activities like walking or swimming for 30-to-90 minutes per day. Exercise has been shown to lower or get rid of insulin resistance. The more overweight you are = the more likely you are to be insulin resistant whether you have PCOS or not. You can get rid of insulin resistance by going on any of these weight loss plans to lose weight by eating right & exercising. Losing just 5% of your bodyweight (which is only 5-to-20 pounds depending on how much you weigh) will help lower your insulin resistan Continue reading >>
Metformin And Weight Loss - Weight Loss Alternatives - Medhelp - Page 3
I was prescribed Metformin when I was diagnosed with PCOS.It made me deathly ill... it doesn't effect everyone that way but I know quite a few that it does.I took it with food, before food, after food, with bread, with Tums AND food and on and on.LOLI am now going to try the hcg injection for weight loss as well as the fact that I've read it helps with the PCOS symptoms, excessive facial hair etc. I know one friend that had great luck with losing weight on Metformin.She agreed that the first couple weeks she lost weight because she lived in the bathroom but after that she continued to lose.She accredits a lot of that also to the fact that after her body regulated to the Metformin she felt better and was better able to get some exercise and it helped with the emotional eating she'd done because she began to physically feel better. From my understanding Metformin is not prescribed as a weight loss drug, that is just a positive effect some people see.Metformin is used for the treatment of diabetes and severe PCOS only--just from what I've been told.I would be a little concerned about someone giving you a drug that effects your insulin levels purely to lose weight. However... if it works YIPPEE SKIPPY. If it works and doesn't have any negative side efffects WOOHOO.This coming from a woman who's been thin all her 39 years then had two major shoulder surgeries, "got" PCOS and arthritis within a year and woke up in a FAT SUIT with the zipper stuck on it!!!:-)~ Continue reading >>
Metformin Hypoglycemia And Weightloss
Metformin has been an absolute God-send to me. I've been taking it for nearly 5 years. Like someone else said, I lost a great deal of weight at first (around 20 pounds). The side effects were bad at first, and I switched to Glucophage but after a while I went back to metformin and had no trouble. The weight-loss is secondary, though. The best part of taking metformin has been the way I feel. I don't carb-crave like I used to, and I don't get the shakes after I eat. My periods used to be sporadic at best, whereas now you can set your watch by them. I highly recommend that you stay in regular contact with your endo, and be patient with the process. "What the mind believes, the body will achieve." metformin didn't really help me lose weight either (sometimes the side effects did though-but that was NOT pleasant!) I'm now on Byetta as well, and I'm losing but VERY slowly, I feel like with PCOS it is just determination and good choices that'll do anything, even when coupled with these drugs.(apparently byetta helps diabetics lose loads of weight) I've gained weight since starting metformin. It could be in part to the bcp they started at the same time but I've been off the pill for over a month now and my weight has just stayed at where I gained to. Metformin is not a miracle weight loss drug for everyone. 8/9/09 - 20k 2:23:08 [strained my thigh muscle] I just started metaformin friday night and I was wondering how long it took any of you to feel better or start losing weight? Also did it seem to make the weight loss easier? I can workout and eat good for a week and the scale won't move an inch! Thanks! I am still losing weight, of course not as quickly but we will see at the end of the week. It definitely makes you aware of what you are eating, because you don't want to hav Continue reading >>
Metformin To Lose Weight? - Circle Of Moms
S - posted on 05/14/2010 ( 11 moms have responded ) I am on metformin ER twice a day to lose weight. My cycles regulated on its own although I still have problems with excess hair. Is there anyone else out there who is NOT losing weight on metformin? I will admit that I don't always take the full dosage. Between being a full time mom, student and working I don't always have time to eat and usually don't eat until around 2 in the afternoon. These pills make me REALLY sick if i don't eat first so usually I take one pill at night after dinner. Am I not losing weight because i'm not taing taking the full dose? I see other women saying they've lost 40lbs etc. I lose and gain back the same 5 lbs for the past 6 months. I take 500mg of metformin 3 times a day to regulate my periods. I took with clomid 4 years ago to conceive my twin boys. We are trying again but it isn't regulating my period this time like it did before. I always lose like 20lbs. when I start taking it and then it just stays the same no matter what I do. Then I got Hashimoto's Thyroid Disease and my life literally fell apart...not kidding. I went from 260 pounds to 373 in a matter of about 6 months...thus starting a nightmare that has lasted me at least 10 years Part of the problem was my Doctor put me on synthetic thyroid and I can not take it... I also was severly depressed...because my thyroid was so bad...and they put me on anti-depressants...thus the weight gain. I found out about armour thyroid...a natural thyroid and once on that my weight slowly...very slowly started coming down. I was at 310 pounds when I was diagnosed with Sugar Diabetes...my Doctor put me on Metformin and low and behold I started losing weight. I must say that I also researched diet and discovered that low carb is the best for Diabe Continue reading >>
'can I Take Metformin If I Want To Lose Weight?'
Metformin is a drug designed to treat patients with Type 2 diabetes, but it comes with an interesting side effect: weight loss. And Reddit is filled with stories from people who have lost weight on the drug. “Was trying to lose weight for a long time with no success,” one person wrote of being prescribed metformin. “I’m on 1000 mg a day and am down 10 pounds.” “I saw weight loss at first with 500 mg twice per day,” another wrote. “The difference was almost immediate.” While some people say the drug didn’t do much for them, others swear by it—even those that don’t have Type 2 diabetes, says Fatima Cody Stanford, M.D., an instructor of medicine and pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and obesity medicine physician at Massachusetts General Hospital. In fact, Cody Stanford says that she often prescribes the medication to overweight or obese people who don't have Type 2 diabetes. Here’s what you need to know about the drug. (Hit the reset button—and burn fat like crazy with The Body Clock Diet!) How It Works Metformin causes a decrease in the release of glucose from a person’s liver. This helps to lower a person’s blood sugar when it’s too high and restore the way someone uses food to make energy, according to the Mayo Clinic. "Weight loss can occur because it decreases appetite in some people who take it," says women's health expert Jennifer Wider, M.D. In order for the prescription to work effectively, the amount of metformin you take must be balanced against your diet and exercise because it helps level out your blood sugar, the clinic says. For that reason, if you change your diet or exercise, you doctor may need to change the amount of metformin you take. Check out these moves that can help you light those calories up! Can It Help You Continue reading >>
Metformin (glucophage) For Weight Loss
After you eat, sugar goes from your intestines into your bloodstream, and then immediately into your liver. Then your liver releases sugar back into your bloodstream to cause your blood sugar level to rise. To keep blood sugar levels from rising too high, your pancreas release insulin into your bloodstream. Insulin makes you hungry all the time and causes your liver to convert extra calories to fat and it constricts arteries to cause heart attacks. You need insulin to keep blood sugar levels from rising too high to cause diabetes, nerve damage, heart attacks, strokes and kidney damage. Glucophage reduces sugar release from your liver to prevents blood sugar levels from rising too high, so your body doesn't need to produce as much insulin that makes you hungry and causes your liver to make fat (3,13,14). Glucophage lowers insulin levels (4), prevents many of the side effects of diabetes and can be used by people who want to lose weight. However, Glucophage is not effective when your blood is acidic from excess lactic acid and recent research shows that exercise, which raises lactic acid, does not cause blood acid levels to rise enough to reduce Glucophage's benefits (5). Glucophage, itself, does not raise blood lactate levels and is therefore considerably safer than doctors originally thought. Since Glucophage lowers insulin, diabetics should be placed on Glucophage to lower their requirements for all other medications used to treat diabetes (6). A common cause of obesity in women is called polycystic ovary syndrome, which is caused by having high blood levels of insulin. Glucophage helps these women to lose weight (7-12). See the report on Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) in the Women's Health section. Glucophage is a safe medication that prevents blood sugar levels fro Continue reading >>
Not Losing Weight And Metformin
Diabetes Forum The Global Diabetes Community Find support, ask questions and share your experiences. Join the community I'm hoping that someone might be able to advise me or explain to me why; 1. when I am trying to do the 5:2 fasting eating programme , I test my blood sugar and it will still be 8 !! even though I've eaten nothing all day ?? 2. Why do I find the low carb thing SO difficult, I just get such sugar cravings or cravings for cereal (porridge, Dorset cereal ) and then I cave in and eat that stuff. I really DO want to do the Low Carb but at the moment I am yo-yoing between 5:2 and Low Carb doing neither of them properly , so depressing :-( We could probably do with a bit more info on what you are in fact eating? And obviously eating carbs won't help your readings go down... but you know that already. Hi. I can't comment on the 5:2 program as I've never done it but personally I would just go for simple low-carbing. In general if you have enough proteins and fats to make up for the lower carbs you will feel full for longer and your sweet tooth will recede. Let us know some typical meals you have. Ref blood sugar all day, the liver continuously pushes out glycogen (glucose) all day. When you are diabetic the body may not be able to use it properly hence the blood sugar rise. It's why those on insulin usually have a 24 hour insulin as well as a meal-time one. Why have you started this thread ,you have been a forum member long enough,you now the answers I'm hoping that someone might be able to advise me or explain to me why; 1. when I am trying to do the 5:2 fasting eating programme , I test my blood sugar and it will still be 8 !! even though I've eaten nothing all day ?? 2. Why do I find the low carb thing SO difficult, I just get such sugar cravings or cravings Continue reading >>
Metformin Weight Loss – Does It Work?
Metformin weight loss claims are something that are often talked about by health professionals to be one of the benefits of commencing metformin therapy, but are they true? At myheart.net we’ve helped millions of people through our articles and answers. Now our authors are keeping readers up to date with cutting edge heart disease information through twitter. Follow Dr Ahmed on Twitter @MustafaAhmedMD Metformin is possibly one of the most important treatments in Type II Diabetes, so the question of metformin weight loss is of the utmost importance, as if true it could provide a means to lose weight as well as control high sugar levels found in diabetes. What is Metformin? Metformin is an oral hypoglycemic medication – meaning it reduces levels of sugar, or more specifically glucose in the blood. It is so effective that the American Diabetes Association says that unless there is a strong reason not to, metformin should be commenced at the onset of Type II Diabetes. Metformin comes in tablet form and the dose is gradually increased until the maximum dose required is achieved. How Does Metformin Work & Why Would it Cause Weight Loss? Metformin works by three major mechanisms – each of which could explain the “metformin weight loss” claims. These are: Decrease sugar production by the liver – the liver can actually make sugars from other substances, but metformin inhibits an enzyme in the pathway resulting in less sugar being released into the blood. Increase in the amount of sugar utilization in the muscles and the liver – Given that the muscles are a major “sink” for excess sugar, by driving sugar into them metformin is able to reduce the amount of sugar in the blood. Preventing the breakdown of fats (lipolysis) – this in turn reduces the amount of fatt Continue reading >>
How One Man Stopped Metformin After Losing Weight
Exercise and weight loss lower blood sugar because they both reduce the body's insulin resistance, the key problem in people with type 2 diabetes. Therefore, increasing exercise or losing weight can sometimes lower or eliminate your need for diabetes medication. It's easier to keep your blood sugar in check without medication if your body is more sensitive to the insulin your body does make (most people with type 2 diabetes make at least some of the hormone). I was able to stop taking metformin, the drug I had been taking to lower my glucose—Louis Sarkes, Type 2 Diabetes Patient Louis Sarkes, 50, was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2006 after a routine blood test during his annual physical exam. "I was surprised, but motivated to do something right away," said Sarkes, who is a money manager based in Baltimore, Md. He went to an all-day session on weight loss at Johns Hopkins University (where his doctor is based). He listened to doctors, nutritionists, and other patients talk about weight loss and exercise strategies, setbacks and successes. More about diabetes and exercise "I chose a diet low in sugars and high in fruits, vegetables and whole grains, and kept carbohydrates at 30 to 35 grams per meal, or no more than 100 grams in a day," says Sarkes. He didnt count every calorie, but kept a general sense and tried to keep the daily limit of calories to 1,800. "To get as much information as I could, especially on tips for sticking with the diet, I met with the nutritionist on my own, and also read everything on the Internet I could find," he said. He followed the advice of his nutritionist and didn't feel guilty if he went over his carbohydrate or calorie limithe just started again as soon a possible. He found healthy snacks he liked and avoided high-fat, high calori Continue reading >>
Can Metformin Help With Weight Loss?
Metformin is a drug prescribed to manage blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. You may have heard that metformin can also help you lose weight. But is it true? The answer is a resounding maybe. Here’s what you should know about what metformin can do for weight loss, as well as why your doctor may prescribe it for you. According to research, metformin can help some people lose weight. However, it’s not clear why metformin may cause weight loss. One theory is that it may prompt you to eat less by reducing your appetite. It may also change the way your body uses and stores fat. Although studies have shown that metformin may help with weight loss, the drug is not a quick-fix solution. According to one long-term study, the weight loss from metformin tends to occur gradually over one to two years. The amount of weight lost also varies from person to person. In the study, the average amount of weight lost after two or more years was four to seven pounds. Taking the drug without following other healthy habits may not lead to weight loss. Individuals who follow a healthy diet and exercise while taking metformin tend to lose the most weight. This may be because metformin is thought to boost how many calories you burn during exercise. If you don’t exercise, you likely won’t have this benefit. In addition, any weight loss you have may only last as long as you take the medication. That means if you stop taking metformin, there’s a good chance you will return to your original weight. And even while you’re still taking the drug, you may slowly gain back any weight you’ve lost. In other words, metformin may not be the magic diet pill some people have been waiting for. It has been shown to reduce weight in some, but not others. One of the benefits of metformin Continue reading >>
Metformin Weight Loss – How It Works, Benefits, And Side Effects
Do you find it extremely difficult to refrain from eating all the time? Have you gained too much weight? Or did your doctor just tell you that you have polycystic ovaries? If you answered “yes” to any one of these questions, chances are your body is resistant to insulin. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, insulin resistance can lead to diabetes type 2, prediabetes, and infertility. This can take a toll on your physical and emotional health (1). To counteract these health problems, doctors often prescribe the drug Metformin. This drug has helped many to lose weight and improve insulin sensitivity, and it can definitely help you too. So, read on to find out how Metformin can help you lose weight, the dosage, side effects, and much more. What Is Metformin? Metformin is a drug that helps to control the blood glucose levels. It is a derivative of biguanide (a group of drugs that prevent the production of glucose by the liver) that helps to improve insulin sensitivity, thereby reducing the sugar levels in the blood and the risk of diabetes type 2. It also helps regulate the amount of sugar absorbed in the intestine. Metformin was first synthesized in the 1920s. But only in 1957, it was made available in the market as an effective antidiabetic drug. It is generally sold under the brand name Glucophage and is taken orally. It is taken by people who are obese and at the risk of developing diabetes type 2 and by women who have irregular periods and are at a risk of PCOs and infertility (2). So, how does Metformin aid weight loss? Find out next. Metformin And Weight Loss – How It Works ? In obese individuals, metformin acts by suppressing the production of sugar by the liver. It reduces the rate of gluconeogenesis and glycogeno Continue reading >>
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Frustrated By No Weight Loss | Diabetic Connect
By Tobiwan Latest Reply2012-03-17 17:01:54 -0500 Started2010-08-09 09:11:00 -0500 17 Likes I was diagnosed Type 2 a month ago and am on metformin and lantus. I am 6'4 and weigh 420lbs and know I have changed my diet and actually exercise but I am not losing any weight. Any ideas why? I have no doubt that I have cut my calories dramatically (you don't weight 420lbs by eating salads!) It's the most frustrating thing for me right now. Sugar is down and in an "almost there" range. I'm currently takiing metformin 1000 2x a day and 30unites Lantus nightly. Please help. I take Lantus and Met also. When I started taking Lantus, I was told by my endocrinologist that it would make weight gain a significant probability. I don't normally have a weight problem, but I did start to gain weight rapidly. I gained about 16 lbs in a matter of months. This is a common but unfortunate effect that insulin has on many. I spoke with my dietician and she altered my diet and included portion control. I have shed most of the extra weight very slowly. Proper diet as recommended by an expert with portion control worked for me. Metformin is known to curb the appetite of some, but in my case, the insulin countered that effect. Exercise, proper diet, and portion contol should definitely help. Assuming you have no thyroid problems etc, get the three items I mentioned done correctly, and you should shed some lbs. By the way, I have been a type 2 for about 18 years, been through the no med phase, then low med phase, then more med phase and now insulin + med phase. Two endocrinologists believe that my pancreas is running on reserve. I hope not. The better you manage your diabetes now, the more you slow the progression down. Good luck, I hope this helps. Hello Tobiwan ! I am a Type 2 Diabetic. I don't tak Continue reading >>
Metformin, Weight Loss & Pcos – Does It Actually Work?
Did you know that one of the main reasons you can't lose weight with PCOS is because of your hormones? It's true, and that's why many women (and physicians) turn to using Metformin to try and help with weight loss. But just because it works for some people doesn't mean it will necessarily work for YOU. Find out why metformin helps with weight loss, but more important what works better and how to finally lose weight if you have PCOS. Insulin & PCOS: Why It's so Important One of the most common medications prescribed for PCOS is metformin. But, PCOS is a hormonal condition which results in weight gain, hair growth on the face, infertility, acne and estrogen/progesterone imbalances. So why is metformin, a medication used to lower blood sugar and treat insulin resistance, used to treat estrogen/progesterone imbalances in women? The logic is quite simple: Most of the symptoms of PCOS (all those listed above) stem from insulin resistanc e! In fact many physicians recommend that ALL women with PCOS should be treated for insulin resistance regardless of what their fasting insulin and fasting blood sugar levels are. This means that the root cause of PCOS (at least the majority of it) is insulin resistance, and this is why metformin is so commonly used to treat. Insulin resistance causes a block of glucose uptake in your skeletal muscles which results in a lower metabolism (and weight gain), insulin also directly acts on your ovaries and adrenals increasing androgens like testosterone and DHEA. It's also the action of insulin on your pituitary that results in increased LH production which over stimulates your ovaries resulting in the characteristic "cysts" of PCOS. High levels of DHEA and testosterone lead to acne and hair growth (hirsutism). But one simple question r Continue reading >>
