Type 2 metformin weight loss

loopy 2

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
snobs, liars.
I have been on metformin for over a year and I am starting to get worried about my weight loss I have lost 1 & half stone, this seems excessive to me, has anybody else lost this much weight ? :(
 

Rachox

Oracle
Retired Moderator
Messages
15,899
Type of diabetes
I reversed my Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
I have been on Metformin and a low carb diet for eight months and lost 5 stone. My GP is happy, so am I! Unless your becoming too thin I don’t see that a stone and a half in a year is excessive.
 

Guzzler

Master
Messages
10,577
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
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Poor grammar, bullying and drunks.
Hello and welcome to the forum.

Metformin is, among other things, a mild appetite suppressant. If you have altered your diet as well as taking Metformin this could explain your weight loss. Are you on any other meds for Diabetes? And do you use a glucometer to monitor your blood glucose?
I shall tag @daisy1 for the welcome pack offered to all newcomers. In it you will find information and helpful links to better understand the condition. If you have any other questions please do not hesitate to ask.
 

bangkokdiabetic

Well-Known Member
Messages
409
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
If you have not changed your Diet and are taking metformin then I would see you Doctor if as I suspect you are taking Metformin and Dieting and possibly Exercising then don blame the metformin it probably your healthier lifestyle and yes many of us have lost more EG read the thread on here about Tom Kerridge
https://www.diabetes.co.uk/forum/threads/tom-kerrige.132557/#post-1673303
 

daisy1

Legend
Messages
26,457
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Cruelty towards animals.
@loopy 2

Hello Loopy and welcome to the Forum :) Here is the Basic Information we give to new members and I hope you will find it useful. Ask as many questions as you like and someone will be able to help.


BASIC INFORMATION FOR NEW MEMBERS

Diabetes is the general term to describe people who have blood that is sweeter than normal. A number of different types of diabetes exist.

A diagnosis of diabetes tends to be a big shock for most of us. It’s far from the end of the world though and on this forum you'll find well over 235,000 people who are demonstrating this.

On the forum we have found that with the number of new people being diagnosed with diabetes each day, sometimes the NHS is not being able to give all the advice it would perhaps like to deliver - particularly with regards to people with type 2 diabetes.

The role of carbohydrate

Carbohydrates are a factor in diabetes because they ultimately break down into sugar (glucose) within our blood. We then need enough insulin to either convert the blood sugar into energy for our body, or to store the blood sugar as body fat.

If the amount of carbohydrate we take in is more than our body’s own (or injected) insulin can cope with, then our blood sugar will rise.

The bad news

Research indicates that raised blood sugar levels over a period of years can lead to organ damage, commonly referred to as diabetic complications.

The good news

People on the forum here have shown that there is plenty of opportunity to keep blood sugar levels from going too high. It’s a daily task but it’s within our reach and it’s well worth the effort.

Controlling your carbs

The info below is primarily aimed at people with type 2 diabetes, however, it may also be of benefit for other types of diabetes as well.

There are two approaches to controlling your carbs:
  • Reduce your carbohydrate intake
  • Choose ‘better’ carbohydrates
Reduce your carbohydrates

A large number of people on this forum have chosen to reduce the amount of carbohydrates they eat as they have found this to be an effective way of improving (lowering) their blood sugar levels.

The carbohydrates which tend to have the most pronounced effect on blood sugar levels tend to be starchy carbohydrates such as rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and similar root vegetables, flour based products (pastry, cakes, biscuits, battered food etc) and certain fruits.

Choosing better carbohydrates

The low glycaemic index diet is often favoured by healthcare professionals but some people with diabetes find that low GI does not help their blood sugar enough and may wish to cut out these foods altogether.

Read more on carbohydrates and diabetes.

Over 145,000 people have taken part in the Low Carb Program - a 10 week structured education course that is helping people lose weight and reduce medication dependency by explaining the science behind carbs, insulin and GI.

Eating what works for you

Different people respond differently to different types of food. What works for one person may not work so well for another. The best way to see which foods are working for you is to test your blood sugar with a glucose meter.

To be able to see what effect a particular type of food or meal has on your blood sugar is to do a test before the meal and then test after the meal. A test 2 hours after the meal gives a good idea of how your body has reacted to the meal.

The blood sugar ranges recommended by NICE are as follows:

Blood glucose ranges for type 2 diabetes
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 8.5 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (adults)
  • Before meals: 4 to 7 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 9 mmol/l
Blood glucose ranges for type 1 diabetes (children)
  • Before meals: 4 to 8 mmol/l
  • 2 hours after meals: under 10 mmol/l
However, those that are able to, may wish to keep blood sugar levels below the NICE after meal targets.

Access to blood glucose test strips

The NICE guidelines suggest that people newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes should be offered:
  • structured education to every person and/or their carer at and around the time of diagnosis, with annual reinforcement and review
  • self-monitoring of plasma glucose to a person newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes only as an integral part of his or her self-management education

Therefore both structured education and self-monitoring of blood glucose should be offered to people with type 2 diabetes. Read more on getting access to blood glucose testing supplies.

You may also be interested to read questions to ask at a diabetic clinic.

Note: This post has been edited from Sue/Ken's post to include up to date information.
Take part in Diabetes.co.uk digital education programs and improve your understanding. Most of these are free.

  • Low Carb Program - it's made front-page news of the New Scientist and The Times. Developed with 20,000 people with type 2 diabetes; 96% of people who take part recommend it... find out why

  • Hypo Program - improve your understanding of hypos. There's a version for people with diabetes, parents/guardians of children with type 1, children with type 1 diabetes, teachers and HCPs.
 
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loopy 2

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
snobs, liars.
I have been on Metformin and a low carb diet for eight months and lost 5 stone. My GP is happy, so am I! Unless your becoming too thin I don’t see that a stone and a half in a year is excessive.
Hi ty for your reply, I have not been on any diet but i know i have to sort my diet out now because it has been bad.
 

loopy 2

Newbie
Messages
4
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
snobs, liars.

JohnEGreen

Master
Messages
13,240
Type of diabetes
Other
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Tripe and Onions
with me my starting weight was about 117.5 Kg over a period 12 to 18 months I went down to at my lowest approximately 62 Kg but am now about 67 Kg which is where I feel most comfortable all while taking metformin the weight loss was more to do with diet than metformin though metformin helped.
 

Guzzler

Master
Messages
10,577
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Diet only
Dislikes
Poor grammar, bullying and drunks.
In what space of time did you lose the stone and a half? Was it over the whole year you have been on Metformin?
 

Chocomin

Member
Messages
20
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Loopy do you have PCOS? (Sorry if you're a chap) I do & met meant I had radical changes in weight and body size once I wasn't a walking pile of androgen. Eating even very normally meant I lost weight at first.