Getting fat on Metformin

[ZiggyMoon]

Morning everyone,
I'm a newbie, diagnosed with type 2 a few months ago and put on Metformin. I was already losing weight with Slimming World and was feeling really good about it, had stopped falling asleep after eating and seeing an improvement in my previously non-existent fitness.

I'm struggling now though because since being put on Metformin, my weight loss has plateaued and then crept up again week on week, no matter what I do.

I was going to 3 dance classes and 2 aqua fit classes every week and following the SW plan and still my weight kept going up. I also had the return of the death sleep after eating and felt tired most if not all of the time.

So I stopped taking it.

I've since started to feel better, less tired, losing weight again and feeling generally better.
Has anyone else felt worse rather than better when they've started taking Metformin??

Thanks very much!
Zig

 

[ianf0ster]

Hi @ZiggyMoon and welcome to the forum.
Quite a few feel worse on Metformin, but that is usually because of its side effects on the digestive tract.
It is supposed to reduce the appetite somewhat, but its main effect is to discourage the liver from producing extra glucose which it does particularly first thing in the morning (to help us go and hunt/gather breakfast like a cave dweller).

Although some people manage to both lose weight and control their blood glucose with a SW plan, others find that SW allows too many carbohydrates for good BG control. Are you on a high carb version of SW, or a Low Carb one?
The Low Carb one would be best in my opinion since although losing weight will probably lower you insulin resistance, eating too many carbs is (probably) how you gained weight and Type 2 in the first place. So reducing the carbs (and increasing Protein and Fat - so you still have energy) is the obvious way to deal with T2D.

 

[Deleted member 21371]

Morning everyone,
I'm a newbie, diagnosed with type 2 a few months ago and put on Metformin. I was already losing weight with Slimming World and was feeling really good about it, had stopped falling asleep after eating and seeing an improvement in my previously non-existent fitness.

I'm struggling now though because since being put on Metformin, my weight loss has plateaued and then crept up again week on week, no matter what I do.

I was going to 3 dance classes and 2 aqua fit classes every week and following the SW plan and still my weight kept going up. I also had the return of the death sleep after eating and felt tired most if not all of the time.

So I stopped taking it.

I've since started to feel better, less tired, losing weight again and feeling generally better.
Has anyone else felt worse rather than better when they've started taking Metformin??

Thanks very much!
Zig

I reversed my diabetes by a low fat diet, then an eight week shake diet, weight loss and exercise as well.
I did take Metformin originally, but was eventually taken off it.
It didn't make any difference to my weight or eating habits that I noticed.
Nowadays I eat a fairly healthy Mediterranean diet.
If you stick to what you are doing, pre Metformin, exercise, SW, weight loss, and everything looks like it's going in the right direction, personally I'd carry on doing what works for you, and see what your next Hba1c comes in as, then decide if you need to make any changes.
But if you do decide to come off Metformin, you need to discuss it with your doctor first, as there may be alternatives that could be prescribed instead.

 

[harbottle]

I don't think Metformin is causing those side effects. (I have read that they suspect one of the the main mechanism of the drug may be to prevent absorption of carbs in the intestine along with its other effects.)

When I started to go low carb after diagnosis and lost weight quickly I felt a bit rough at times, and quite tired during the day, but that passed and I hardly feel tired at all. My weight also stopped for a while then started again.

 

[everydayupsanddowns]

Welcome to the forum @ZiggyMoon

Weight gain isn’t something I’ve seen other newcomers noticing with Metformin.

I’d suggest discussing your concerns and decision with your GP, so that they are fully up to speed with what you are doing.

Congrats on the continuing weight loss, and great to hear that you are feeling more energised and can continue with your exercise and activity.