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Weight Loss in T2 without drastic dieting

carophie04

carophie04

Well-Known Member
Messages
51
Location
West Sussex
Type of diabetes
Treatment type
Insulin
I was diagnosed Type 2 last August and am on 2 x 500mg Metformin daily. I am getting worried since I have lost nearly 2 stone in that time although, apart from cutting out cakes, swapped bread for Ryvita, I have not drastically altered my diet. My morning fasting reading is around 7 - 8 and it returns to that around 2 hours after eating. I dont feel I should have lost such a large amount of weight in such a short time. Has anyone else experienced this since I am getting paranoid that I might have cancer somewhere as obviously losing weight is a prime symptom of that. HELP! I
 
Hi carophie04.

The weight loss will be the Metformin. It happens because the action of them make your insulin work better, reducing the amount of insulin then needed.
Insulin is a hormone and with alot of T2s on diagnosis we're producing too much, as it is trying to compensate for not working properly. Once the metformin kicks in you start to lose weight. I lost about 2 and a half stone.

Helena
 
I wasn't overweight when diagnosed, wasn't on metformin, but STILL lost nearly 2 stone. Mainly from cutting out the chocolate and pastry. I now "graze" on nuts to try and keep my weight up to a reasonable level. Seems to work; BMI now steady at 22. Wouldn't worry unless it keeps plummeting, but see doctor if you are.
 
Anyway, carophie04, because you're NOT on a low carb diet at the moment and you found the weight loss worrying, don't. It is the metformin.

Helena
 
You may just being more careful about your eating and perhqaps not snacking and reducing your total intake without thinking about it. Metformin can be involvedd in weight loss too as can High blood sugar linked to low insulin levels.
 
Hi. I've been on 3 x 500 metformin since mid December and have lost 15 Lbs. Some of that is the Metformin, and some is down to a change of eating habits and a daily run.

Even a small cake is deceptively high in calories. Also, 2 stone since August works out at roughly 28 Lbs in 24 weeks, only 1Lb per week which is a nice healthy rate to lose weight. To lose 1Lb you need to take in 3500 calories less - one large slice of cake and a couple of slices of bread daily will easily add up to this over a week, and if you've cut out a couple of biscuits or whatever with a cup of tea, this will mount up very quickly too. E.G. a Penguin bar has 130 calories, 2 finger kitkat 107 calories, Mars bar 280 calories. Even a humble Digestive biscuit (how I miss them) has 70 calories, and if you're anything like me, you cant eat just 1, it would be 4 or 5.

Overall I wouldnt worry, just accept the fact that you are probably eating more healthily overall and your body is adjusting itself to suit. Just start saving for new wardrobe!!
 
Thank you all for your advice - you have put my mind at rest that it is the Metformin and the slight change in eating pattern. I was just concerned as I have never found it easy to lose weight in the past so to lose almost two stone in 6 months was a bit frightening. Have just had three months HBA1C so shall see what that shows me! Thanks again all of you for replying.
 
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