• Guest - w'd love to know what you think about the forum! Take the 2025 Survey »

When can I stop taking Metformin

T

taipuha

Member
Messages
9
Location
New Zealand
Type of diabetes
Prediabetes
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Having reduced my Hbac1 to 41 from 49 and lost weight(more to lose yet), when should I stop taking metformin. Am I able to use diet and exercise alone to reduce my HBAC1 further. I take 500mg twice a day. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
 
That's something you need to discuss with your doctor or GP. Members here are not able to make medication decisions for you.
 
taipuha said:
Having reduced my Hbac1 to 41 from 49 and lost weight(more to lose yet), when should I stop taking metformin.
Click to expand...
Hi taipuha, That is really a question you should put to your GP or DN, but personally I wouldn't be in a hurry til my Hba1c was stable and well below 41. Mine is 41 too, and I'm in no hurry, so unless you have bad side effects ...? 41 is just borderline pre diabetic.

taipuha said:
Am I able to use diet and exercise alone to reduce my HBAC1 further.
Click to expand...
Eating LCHF or even keto lots of people in here are, but how our bodies react is very individual, and depend on so many different things.

taipuha said:
Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
If you have questions do ask away :)
 
Tagging @Rachox because I think I remember her saying she chose to stay with metformin due to additional health benefits.
Sorry, Rachel if I imagined this.
 
taipuha said:
Having reduced my Hbac1 to 41 from 49 and lost weight(more to lose yet), when should I stop taking metformin. Am I able to use diet and exercise alone to reduce my HBAC1 further. I take 500mg twice a day. Any input would be greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...

Having experienced the very offhand view doctors have for prescribing metformin.

If you have a meter and test regularly I would suggest reducing it yourself. In conjunction with a lchf diet.

Again not a doctor so I'm only basing this ON MY EXPERIENCE. I started with a 1c of 47. I brought that down to 31 in 3 months with diet and exercise alone.

I was told that if my 1c did not drop then I would be on the same drug you are. Thankfully I never even made it to official diagnosis. My surgery was very interested in my progress, as was the nurse. Then I posted a 31.

Nobody interested. Snubbed like the odd one in a girl school.
 
Thanks for the tag @helensaramay .
I started on Metformin on diagnosis, 500mg x 3 per day. I initially had some stomach problems on it but this soon passed. Whilst taking it and reducing my carb intake I got my HbA1c down from 70 to 36 in four months and lost a shed load of weight too. After a year maintaining my HbA1cs in the mid 30s and continuing to lose weight I decided with my GP’s blessing to reduce down to 500mg x 2 per day. Whilst maintaining the same carb intake (under 50g/day) my blood sugars went up by an average of 0.5mmol/l approximately and my HbA1c went up from 34 to 35, but my weight loss stalled. After three months I reviewed the situation with my GP and again with his blessing I went back up to 3 x 500mg/day. My blood sugars have returned to their previous lower level and my weight began to drop again. Once I have lost all the weight I need to, that is another stone, (I have lost 6 1/2 stone so far :happy:) I will again consider reducing back down to 2 x 500mg/day. As helensaramay says I intend to stay on it so long as I don’t develop any unwanted side effects. Here’s an article about it’s other benefits too:
https://www.lifeextension.com/magazine/2001/9/report_metformin/Page-01
 
Spl@ said:
Having experienced the very offhand view doctors have for prescribing metformin.

If you have a meter and test regularly I would suggest reducing it yourself. In conjunction with a lchf diet.

Again not a doctor so I'm only basing this ON MY EXPERIENCE. I started with a 1c of 47. I brought that down to 31 in 3 months with diet and exercise alone.

I was told that if my 1c did not drop then I would be on the same drug you are. Thankfully I never even made it to official diagnosis. My surgery was very interested in my progress, as was the nurse. Then I posted a 31.

Nobody interested. Snubbed like the odd one in a girl school.
Click to expand...
No longer a customer..
 
We can't tell you when you should stop the metformin that is between you and your doctor.. I wonder what did you doctor or nurse say about it did they say you could come off it at some time. Many people never come off of it as is said to be beneficial for other reasons like protecting the organs
 
If you still have a shed load of weight to lose, Metformin could be beneficial because it is an appetite suppressant and is more beneficial for those with a lot of weight to lose than those who do not.
 
My view is different. There are more views above to give balance. If you have a condition other than diabetes for which your Doctor prescribed metformin, I agree with the advice to consult first. If your GP is a low carb GP, I would also consult first. If you are like me and hate drugs you can make your own mind up. I have not seen on this sight or read anywhere in 4 years that coming off of Metformin has caused harm - I did this, as have many others on this site; I realised going through the days that I was self regulating, when I didn't take the pill(s).

When I got off Metformin fully, my HbA1c went down, but this may have been dietary improvements / exercise as well.
 
Last edited:
taipuha said:
when should I stop taking metformin.
Click to expand...

Whenever you choose, or never.

Metformin won't make a huge difference to your longer term BG control, but it is reputed to have other advantages and is unlikely to do you any harm, so if you tolerate it and have no significant side effects, and your GP continues to prescribe it for you there is no reason to stop taking it.
 
Thanks for your input. I have no noticeable side effects of Metformin, however while taking Metformin, B12 and Serum folate levels are reduced considerably. Not good. Having to take folic acid.
 
Back
Top