Metformin experiences and side effects

quietpilot87 said:My insulin came back at an 8 (ref. 2.6-30). Sugar is 5.1. Doesn't seem high to me. What are yours looking like?
Man, I wish they'd just hand me something to speed things up and get my life back on track, but I've got a feeling that's not happening anytime soon. 😁

Ugh, I don't have my recent labs on me, but it’s always stayed under 5.

Here’s how it goes for me—once the issues started, I just started packing on the pounds even though I hadn't changed a single thing about what I eat or how much I work out. Then, when I went on this super strict diet and cranked up the gym sessions, the weight finally stabilized (well, at least it stopped climbing).

With the Glucophage, a strict diabetic diet, and hitting the gym, the weight actually drops... it’s pretty slow going, but it moves. But if I slip up even once, that progress just hits a wall. And by slipping up, I mean maybe having a diabetic-friendly sweet here and there (as long as I track it within my carb limit) or just skipping a workout...

For me, seeing actual transformations takes about 3-6 months, SF... 😬

And don't even get me started on how I was absolutely starving at the start of treatment, even though the diet isn't actually that brutal and the portions aren't tiny. Plus, my blood sugar kept dipping and I’d get these dizzy spells and hot flashes all the time... 🙂

It’s all about that sugar-to-insulin ratio—like, if your blood sugar is sitting at 4 but your insulin is hitting 15, you've got way too much insulin for that amount of sugar. You probably already feel that happening.
Doesn't look too bad on my end, though honestly, I wouldn't mind if it were worse—it might mean getting slapped with a small dose of meds. Combined with how I live my life, that little nudge is exactly what I'd need. 🎉
Haven't hit up the endocrinologist for the final word yet, so we'll see what they have to say.

Glad you're feeling better 👍
About the diabetic diet—just remember, you want that blood sugar low, which means keeping the insulin low, too.
Pretty sure no sweets are allowed, even the "diabetic-friendly" kind.
Just throwing out some hints here—maybe a low-carb approach could help speed things up for you. 🙂

quietpilot87 said:It’s all about that sugar-to-insulin ratio—like, if your blood sugar is sitting at 4 but your insulin is hitting 15, you've got way too much insulin for that amount of sugar. You probably already feel that happening.
Doesn't look too bad on my end, though honestly, I wouldn't mind if it were worse—it might mean getting slapped with a small dose of meds. Combined with how I live my life, that little nudge is exactly what I'd need. 🎉
Haven't hit up the endocrinologist for the final word yet, so we'll see what they have to say.

Glad you're feeling better 👍
About the diabetic diet—just remember, you want that blood sugar low, which means keeping the insulin low, too.
Pretty sure no sweets are allowed, even the "diabetic-friendly" kind.
Just throwing out some hints here—maybe a low-carb approach could help speed things up for you. 🙂

Jacob Sullivan91 and quietpilot87, if someone is dealing with irregular insulin or blood sugar levels, or perhaps metabolic syndrome, is it strictly forbidden to eat any kind of sweets if the goal is to avoid weight gain?

Ever since I started taking Seroquel, I’ve developed this intense craving for chocolate, which is quite strange because I never used to care for sweets at all before this.
However, I did read somewhere that dark chocolate—specifically varieties with more than 75% cocoa, since it's high in antioxidants, lower in sugar, and feels much more natural—is actually acceptable. Apparently, it should only be eaten in the morning, which happens to be when I usually indulge. And, naturally, in very modest amounts. I've seen quite a few places online suggesting that dark chocolate can even assist with weight loss. This might be due to its nutritional profile, but I also suspect it's because completely depriving oneself of treats can be counterproductive; sometimes, allowing yourself a small, controlled indulgence prevents the mental strain that leads to a total relapse or falling into a binge eating cycle.

Do you happen to know if that's true, or should I be avoiding dark chocolate as well? I attempted to go a full week without it, but I found it nearly impossible to stick to. I'm willing to try again, of course, primarily for the sake of my health.

quietpilot87 said:It’s all about that sugar-to-insulin ratio—like, if your blood sugar is sitting at 4 but your insulin is hitting 15, you've got way too much insulin for that amount of sugar. You probably already feel that happening.
Doesn't look too bad on my end, though honestly, I wouldn't mind if it were worse—it might mean getting slapped with a small dose of meds. Combined with how I live my life, that little nudge is exactly what I'd need. 🎉
Haven't hit up the endocrinologist for the final word yet, so we'll see what they have to say.

Glad you're feeling better 👍
About the diabetic diet—just remember, you want that blood sugar low, which means keeping the insulin low, too.
Pretty sure no sweets are allowed, even the "diabetic-friendly" kind.
Just throwing out some hints here—maybe a low-carb approach could help speed things up for you. 🙂

Nah, low carb just doesn't work for me. Tried it. I have to keep my blood sugar levels up somehow.

It has to stay within a certain range. If your sugar drops too low, it's bad news... the symptoms are absolutely brutal.

Honestly, I feel like a whole new person since I started therapy and the diabetic diet. I have my first checkup in five months, so I'll see if my insulin has finally stabilized, but physically... I feel so much, so much better.

granitemason55 said:Jacob Sullivan91 and quietpilot87, if someone is dealing with irregular insulin or blood sugar levels, or perhaps metabolic syndrome, is it strictly forbidden to eat any kind of sweets if the goal is to avoid weight gain?

Ever since I started taking Seroquel, I’ve developed this intense craving for chocolate, which is quite strange because I never used to care for sweets at all before this.
However, I did read somewhere that dark chocolate—specifically varieties with more than 75% cocoa, since it's high in antioxidants, lower in sugar, and feels much more natural—is actually acceptable. Apparently, it should only be eaten in the morning, which happens to be when I usually indulge. And, naturally, in very modest amounts. I've seen quite a few places online suggesting that dark chocolate can even assist with weight loss. This might be due to its nutritional profile, but I also suspect it's because completely depriving oneself of treats can be counterproductive; sometimes, allowing yourself a small, controlled indulgence prevents the mental strain that leads to a total relapse or falling into a binge eating cycle.

Do you happen to know if that's true, or should I be avoiding dark chocolate as well? I attempted to go a full week without it, but I found it nearly impossible to stick to. I'm willing to try again, of course, primarily for the sake of my health.

Avoid sugar, yeah, but it's not like you're gonna drop dead if you eat something sweet. A diabetic isn't going to die on the spot from a little treat.

I don't touch sweets because I'm honestly terrified of diabetes. Maybe once every two weeks I'll have something specifically made for diabetics that won't spike my sugar or insulin. I just can't live without sweets, and since they make stuff with stevia and other sweeteners now, I don't want to be stuck constantly starving for a fix.

My endocrinologist basically told me if I’m gonna go ahead and indulge in something sweet, I better make sure I hit the gym right after... like, earn those calories or whatever.

The thing is, it's not just about the sugar spike with chocolate... it's the fat content and the whole net carb situation too. Gotta be careful with that stuff.

P.S. Quick question for anyone currently on metformin—or even better, people juggling both metformin and thyroid meds—are there any weird contraindications with birth control pills? I've been digging through info online and my hormone levels look totally fine, but I'm thinking about starting the pill just for contraception. I'll definitely run it by my OBGYN, but I'm still waiting on my next appointment so I figured I'd check here first...

Taking metformin alongside Synthroid isn't exactly a weird combo; most people seem to handle the mix pretty smoothly.

Now, birth control pills can be a bit of a wildcard—they can mess with your liver function, throw your lipid metabolism out of whack, and if you’ve already got a predisposition toward blood clotting issues (like some kind of thrombophilia), things can get scary fast, potentially leading to stuff like deep vein thrombosis or even a stroke.
That’s especially true if you’re also dealing with acne and smoking 😱

If you’re following a specific diet that’s heavy on fats—something like an LCHF approach—you really need to sit down with a whole team of specialists. You need a solid, multidisciplinary game plan to monitor your vitals and make sure you aren't accidentally cruising toward some serious health complications.

Personally, I’d definitely look into exploring some other contraceptive options.

The endocrinologist's advice about hitting the gym after eating "forbidden fruits" is actually pretty solid, particularly since there's metformin in the mix.
In this situation, getting under a barbell with some resistance training is basically the gold standard, mostly because of how metformin actually works in the body 🙂

velvetmoose9 said:Taking metformin alongside Synthroid isn't exactly a weird combo; most people seem to handle the mix pretty smoothly.

Now, birth control pills can be a bit of a wildcard—they can mess with your liver function, throw your lipid metabolism out of whack, and if you’ve already got a predisposition toward blood clotting issues (like some kind of thrombophilia), things can get scary fast, potentially leading to stuff like deep vein thrombosis or even a stroke.
That’s especially true if you’re also dealing with acne and smoking 😱

If you’re following a specific diet that’s heavy on fats—something like an LCHF approach—you really need to sit down with a whole team of specialists. You need a solid, multidisciplinary game plan to monitor your vitals and make sure you aren't accidentally cruising toward some serious health complications.

Personally, I’d definitely look into exploring some other contraceptive options.

The endocrinologist's advice about hitting the gym after eating "forbidden fruits" is actually pretty solid, particularly since there's metformin in the mix.
In this situation, getting under a barbell with some resistance training is basically the gold standard, mostly because of how metformin actually works in the body 🙂

I get my heart checked out every year and everything always comes back normal, except for low blood sugar. But I guess there are specific tests for thrombophilia?

Does that apply to everyone, or is my risk higher because of the meds I'm on? I'll have to run it by my endocrinologist.

Besides, fat doesn't sit well with me at all, so those kinds of diets aren't even an option.

What velvetmoose9 is getting at—in my experience, just grinding out cardio doesn't move the needle much on weight loss. But the second I started picking up weights, things actually started moving. 👍
(Even if I’m not being super strict with my diet, which isn't really an issue with cardio anyway.)

I had phases where it was nothing but lifting—zero cardio—and those were the times I hit my lowest weight.

As for food, I personally feel way better on low carb. Beans and grains just mess with my gut and leave me feeling wiped out. That said, I’ll still treat myself to a chocolate bar or a sandwich while I'm out hiking.

velvetmoose9—do you know much about how metformin actually works to drop blood sugar?
Because if I’m basically exhausting my muscles with weight training, does that mean I won't need the metformin anymore? Or am I wrong?

quietpilot87 said:What velvetmoose9 is getting at—in my experience, just grinding out cardio doesn't move the needle much on weight loss. But the second I started picking up weights, things actually started moving. 👍
(Even if I’m not being super strict with my diet, which isn't really an issue with cardio anyway.)

I had phases where it was nothing but lifting—zero cardio—and those were the times I hit my lowest weight.

As for food, I personally feel way better on low carb. Beans and grains just mess with my gut and leave me feeling wiped out. That said, I’ll still treat myself to a chocolate bar or a sandwich while I'm out hiking.

velvetmoose9—do you know much about how metformin actually works to drop blood sugar?
Because if I’m basically exhausting my muscles with weight training, does that mean I won't need the metformin anymore? Or am I wrong?

I mean, personally? I can handle UH like a total pro... but fats? Man, fats absolutely wreck me.

Man, lifting weights without the metformin just wasn't hitting the same... like, I was putting in the work but the results were totally MIA compared to when I was actually on the meds. But honestly? My insulin finally decided to stop playing games and actually started cooperating... finally... 😬

velvetmoose9 said:Taking metformin alongside Synthroid isn't exactly a weird combo; most people seem to handle the mix pretty smoothly.

Now, birth control pills can be a bit of a wildcard—they can mess with your liver function, throw your lipid metabolism out of whack, and if you’ve already got a predisposition toward blood clotting issues (like some kind of thrombophilia), things can get scary fast, potentially leading to stuff like deep vein thrombosis or even a stroke.
That’s especially true if you’re also dealing with acne and smoking 😱

If you’re following a specific diet that’s heavy on fats—something like an LCHF approach—you really need to sit down with a whole team of specialists. You need a solid, multidisciplinary game plan to monitor your vitals and make sure you aren't accidentally cruising toward some serious health complications.

Personally, I’d definitely look into exploring some other contraceptive options.

The endocrinologist's advice about hitting the gym after eating "forbidden fruits" is actually pretty solid, particularly since there's metformin in the mix.
In this situation, getting under a barbell with some resistance training is basically the gold standard, mostly because of how metformin actually works in the body 🙂

can you dive a little deeper into that, please?

I’m going to try to break down how metformin actually manages your blood sugar, keeping it as simple and stripped-back as possible here.

This drug is about 60 years old now.
So, basically, it's in its prime.
We know a ton about what it does, but the exact "how"—well, we’re still scratching our heads over some of the finer details (like its recent effects on the gut microbiome or its potential impact on certain types of cancer).

Most researchers seem to agree that its main gig happens in the liver, where it essentially puts the brakes on the production of "new" glucose molecules from your existing reserves.

There’s a second mechanism—which is way less clear-cut—that involves the muscles. To put it very, very simply, metformin helps your body actually utilize the glucose that's already circulating.
It cuts down insulin resistance (and look, I might be getting a bit tangled up here, since this is still a huge topic of debate and new research is popping up constantly), which basically means you need less insulin, whether it's the stuff your body makes naturally or the stuff you inject.

Now, here’s the part we actually care about (again, keeping this super simplified).
In the real world, we often see a massive effect in people who take metformin for diabetes but also hit the gym for resistance training—think heavy lifting. Their blood sugar regulation gets significantly better, sometimes even allowing them to drop their doses of both insulin and metformin. I recently saw a case involving a younger guy, a bit on the heavier side, who was diagnosed with diabetes. He started out needing maybe 22 to 28 units of insulin a day, but after committing to some hardcore weightlifting, he dropped down to just 4 to 6 units a day while maintaining an absolutely stellar HbA1c—basically a total outlier in terms of long-term control.
Don't get me wrong, any kind of movement is good for you.

There’s even a trend of people misusing metformin as a weight-loss shortcut, but I really don't want to go there :no no:

Bottom line: if you don't have any contraindications, feel free to keep up with your workouts while taking metformin.
Keep an eye on your blood sugar and your HbA1c, and enjoy seeing those numbers improve. 🙂

Thanks 👍

One more thing—if this stuff hits the liver, is there any chance it causes issues there? (Or even just early warning signs?)

And second, how much sense does it actually make for someone with just mild insulin resistance? (Like, not a full-blown diabetic, which is what you mentioned in your example)

Jacob Sullivan91 said:I mean, personally? I can handle UH like a total pro... but fats? Man, fats absolutely wreck me.

Man, lifting weights without the metformin just wasn't hitting the same... like, I was putting in the work but the results were totally MIA compared to when I was actually on the meds. But honestly? My insulin finally decided to stop playing games and actually started cooperating... finally... 😬

Yeah, we're all wired differently, clearly.
👍
And honestly, I'm not sure about people with really high insulin levels—maybe a higher carb intake actually makes sense for them in that case. Either way, glad you figured out a routine that works.
👍

basically, 🙏

Me, again... 😬

So, I went in for bloodwork today and my results popped up just a few hours later. My glucose was fine—like 4.4 on the first draw and 4.2 two hours after eating. But they didn't give me anything for insulin.

I can't quite remember what the doctor wrote on my referral, but my sugar levels during my OGTT were totally normal and have never spiked before. I mean, if the whole point of this treatment is to make my cells more sensitive to insulin, wouldn't it make sense for them to actually check my insulin levels too? 🤷

My doctor was pretty adamant about it—she said if we're actually looking into insulin resistance, they really need to run that two-hour insulin test. It sounds like they skipped over that part for you.

Tyler James5 said:can you dive a little deeper into that, please?

It might be useful to look at this explanation I found:

Glucophage (metformin) is a medication that works by increasing tissue sensitivity to insulin.

To put it simply, the insulin molecules naturally produced by your body need to "sit down" on your tissue cells at a specific location—think of this seat as something called an insulin receptor.

Once they sit down, the insulin can actually perform its function, which is to allow glucose molecules to enter the cell (where the glucose can then be utilized, and so on).

If those insulin molecules aren't able to sit down quickly and easily—perhaps because the "seats" are warped or there aren't enough of them (which often occurs in cases of obesity)—then you run into the issue of insulin resistance. In that scenario, the glucose fails to enter the cells and instead remains in the bloodstream, leading to elevated blood sugar levels.
(This happens because, due to insufficient insulin receptors, the glucose cannot successfully migrate into the cells.)

Essentially, insulin resistance is a lack of insulin sensitivity, and it can be managed by taking medications such as Glucophage (metformin).

This process is also aided significantly by incorporating regular aerobic physical activity.

That isn't to say that going for a run is a direct substitute for medication, but it certainly contributes to the overall improvement.

The ultimate objective is to maintain healthy glycemic levels. As long as your blood sugar numbers are within a good range, things are moving in the right direction.

Regarding side effects from Glucophage, some individuals experience none at all. My recommendation would be to monitor your glucose levels closely (fasting, both before and after meals—though post-meal readings are particularly important in your case—and before bed) and maintain an open dialogue with your endocrinologist about everything.

Alright, got my results back—and turns out I definitely don't have insulin resistance (even with the PCOS!)

Glucose is 5.1, insulin is 7.9.

My insulin resistance index is sitting at 1.2. According to Google, that’s basically nothing... negligible, if you can even call it a thing.

So, for everyone out there assuming you need to jump straight onto metformin just because you have PCOS—think twice. Get your actual labs done first.

Susan Martin4 said:My doctor was pretty adamant about it—she said if we're actually looking into insulin resistance, they really need to run that two-hour insulin test. It sounds like they skipped over that part for you.

So, just finished my check-up. My endocrinologist basically told me she didn't even bother asking for specific insulin levels because my glucose readings tell the whole story anyway.

My fasting sugar is up, and then it spikes after I eat... which is a huge red flag that my insulin is still way too high 🤷

I also brought up birth control, and she said there aren't any issues there at all. Honestly, she even mentioned that taking Glucophage can actually help boost fertility 😲

There are actually several different tests used to check for insulin resistance. In my opinion, the five-hour OGTT is the gold standard. You just have to be admitted to the outpatient clinic for it.

Has anyone else dealt with feeling sick after taking metformin?

Jose Ramirez2 said:There are actually several different tests used to check for insulin resistance. In my opinion, the five-hour OGTT is the gold standard. You just have to be admitted to the outpatient clinic for it.

Has anyone else dealt with feeling sick after taking metformin?

Oh, for sure.

But honestly, you can usually get past a lot of those side effects from metformin if you give it enough time. 👍

velvetmoose9 said:Oh, for sure.

But honestly, you can usually get past a lot of those side effects from metformin if you give it enough time. 👍

It actually caught me off guard when my doctor asked how I was handling the Glucophage... like, I don't even feel it. Total stroke of luck on my end.

Something else is bugging me though. My fibrinogen levels are sitting above the normal range (upper limit is 3.5, mine hit 3.6, I think... can't remember exactly what unit). Everything else looks great—even my doctor was tripping over how low my cholesterol and triglycerides are.

Could that be tied to insulin resistance? My HOMA index was 3.6, which feels pretty high to me...

And can I actually bring that down with workouts, omega-3 supplements, and Vitamin C? 🙂