Hi Pat,
When I was on just Metformin I never saw a weight loss. To be honest with you, I never knew that was a side effect of the drug. But I do understand what you are going through. My doctor added Byetta to go with the metformin and that also is supposed to have a side effect of weight loss. Like you, I don’t eat sweets or potatoes, rice, bread or pasta. I have seen little weight loss in almost 3 months but I have seen my bs drop down almost to normal range. I’m going to hang in there. I’m doing everything I possibly can to help myself including walking ALOT. My body has just decided it is too stubborn to lose any weight at this time. I think it will happen sooner or later so I keep plugging away. I do remember something I learned in weight watchers years ago. If you don’t eat enough food then your body won’t lose the weight as fast either. With me, I think my metabalism has changed from what it used to be because of my age. (almost 50). I guess what I’m trying to tell you is, keep doing what you’re doing, be patient. It will pay off in the long run. (by the way, I thought my diabetic nutritionist told me to eat too many carbs as well).
Hi Pat
First, I have been on Met 1000 1x per day. I leveled off when I first started taking it, then when I got off caffeine completely I started losing weight again. Keep in mind weight loss is different for men and women, but try getting and staying off caffeine and see if that helps. It can’t hurt.
Second, sometimes it takes time for the meds to build up in your body enough to begin having an effect. This is true of many drugs.
Third, don’t give up on carbs completely. just start looking at what you are doing around when you are eating them. For eample, I started walking immediately after eating lunch. I will have a low carb power shake and a yogurt with fruit, then go for a walk through downtown. When I get back, my post lunch test is usually pretty low.
Fourth, start working out. It doesn’t have to be an official workout, but do something. For example, I bus to work, but I get off several blocks before my stop so I can walk the rest of the way. I also walk or bike to the ball field instead of driving. Even though this is a short distance, the hills make it a pretty good walk/ride.
I am down four pounds since I went back on Met and stopped caffeine.
Good luck!
jax
Great explanation! As you mention, insulin is not stored as fat.
What gets stored as fat are any calories (from any source, not just carbs) that you consume that you don’t need to power your body and its daily activities.
When someone is eating too many calories and has uncontrolled type 2 diabetes (body can’t use its insulin as well and the pancreas may be producing less insulin), the ineffectivness/lack of insulin means the glucose from the “extra” calories is basically circulating in the blood and not going into the cells to power them. The body gets rid of a lot of that excess glucose through urination–which means that not all of the excess glucose is stored as fat. But the high glucose levels in the blood are very bad for our blood vessels and organs!
Once glucose-lowering meds are started, those insulin “keys” mentioned above start letting more of the glucose into the cells–and so if there are too many calories being consumed, some of that glucose is stored as unwanted fat.
Studies have repeatedly shown that the bottom line for weight loss is cutting calories–not just certain types of calories. A registered dietitan can help you calculate how many calories you should eat per day and how to balance food groups among those calories for good nutrition. The other big key is exercise. Common recommendations are 30 minutes a day just for general fitness. The number is 60 minutes a day for weight loss. Of course, knowing all this and doing it are two different things. Good luck, and let us know how you’re doing. One other key component of weight loss is having support. And our online friends here are very good at that!
Andy, I so admire your motivation. It would be wonderful if we could all be as passionate about exercising as you are! I have retrieved my exercise bicycle from the basement and I’ve used it twice this week, will use it tonight, but I’m nowhere close to your time. The first night I only did 10 minutes. But I haven’t exercised in many years, so I feel like I must take it slow. I do feel a little better motivated because I went to the doctor yesterday and I had lost 5 pounds in 4 weeks, and have actually lost 14 pounds since the beginning of the year. It’s slow, but that’s encouraging. Thanks for keeping in touch!
Pat, you may want to consider watching everything… carbs, fat (type and amount), calories and fiber. This may seem a bit excessive right now, but you won’t have to do it for very long and you may see some trends that might help you figure out what is happening… especially if you keep a food diary and track all the carbs, fat, calories and fiber. You may find you are eating low carbs and calories and sabotaging the weight loss with high fat.
Regarding red meat…pre D, I would eat a whole steak, now I eat 1/3 of my husband’'s. It is very difficult to lose weight if red meat is proment in your diet. Try to have fish three or four times per week (I cook it on the grill). When I buy the fish, I make sure it is large enough to have some left over. It is great the next day made into a salad. Additionally, I know what a pain it can be to cook, however, the less processed food you eat, the quicker your weight should drop.
Finally, I have an exercise bike and hate it. I much prefer to walk or ride my real bike. If I have to ride the exercise bike, I’ll put music on (loud), read or watch TV while on it…makes it much more bearable. Now some people will tell you that you aren’t getting a great workout if you aren’t completely focused on the burn…don’t listen to them! Once you get a regular exercise routine going, I promise…you will become addicted and the intensity will naturally increase. You really want to squeeze in some exercise every day.
I don’t know if any of this will help…it has worked for me. I was dx on April 1st…had about 40 lbs to drop and I have already lost 20 .Don’t despair, it will get better. My thoughts are with you and I am cheering for you!
Let’s face facts! If you count your carbs 15g of carb = 1 carb. In general Women 3-4(45-60g of carb) Men 4-5(60-75g of carbs) per meal 3x daily and 2-3 snacks of 1-2 carbs(15-30g of carbs) most people will be able to lose weight this way. Also, it is a good idea to record what you eat daily and count the carbs and calories too. If you have the advantage of getting metformin most likely it will aid you to lose more than you would without it. I don’t know of anyone who has gained weight with metformin. but as with any medicine diet and exercise are part of the program. There are chair exercises, that can help people who have trouble walking or riding the exercise bike(like myself). There is a PBS show that teaches these exercises. If all you exercise is upperbody, that is better than no exercise. I have been thinking of trying my exercise videos and adapt them to a stationary sitting position. “Steady plodding leads to prosperity” Start small and stick with it and you will see results. And remember as long as your are not gaining you are winning the battle. If your insulin is too high you can’t lose weight, if your sugar is too high you can’t lose weight.
I have the bike set up in a small TV room, so I watch TV while I’m riding it. That absolutely helps pass the time. And I have a computer program called Nutribase that tracks everything…weight, intake, % fat, calories, protein, blood sugar, and it also tracks exercise. It’s very time consuming to keep it current, but it helps keep me focused.
Wow that is really good news.
Hi Patricia,
I was diagnosed in Nov. 2008, I was put on Metformin 500 mg 2x/day as well but it made me gained weight actually. I think it could have different effects on different people but don’t be discouraged!
Thanks for your reply. Since I posted this a couple of months ago, I’ve actually been able to lose 24 pounds! It was just very slow going at first, but then did finally start working.
Hey Patricia - I’m coming into this discussion late in the game, but I wanted to tell you that I experienced the same thing, plus my a1c didn’t budge.
I had become so insulin resistant from yo-yo dieting and getting off track in my management that I went on Byetta. My doc wanted to try me on that first before starting insulin because I am so highly insulin resistant.
It worked - and it worked wonders. I lived for so many years frustrated by the fact that I was doing everything right, and nothing was changing.
It’s difficult to lose weight when you are so insulin resistant. And you are so insulin resistant when you are so overweight - vicious circle.
I’ve lost 20 lbs since January 1 when I first began the Byetta.
It’s so individual that each person’s Diabetes reacts differently to some type of treatment.
But I know how you feel, and I know what you’re going through. I hope you have found relief or some treatment that works and makes you feel better!
Jill
I’ve never talked to my doctor about adding Byetta to my medications, but I doubt if she would, because my bg numbers are very well controlled now with just the 500 mg of Metformin two times a day. My A1C went from 7.4 in May at time of diagnosis, to 6.6 just about 6 weeks later, after I had lost some weight and was taking the Metformin. I’m pleased that at least I am losing weight. I’m not doing any type of exercise but am planning on adding some, hopefully that will help.
Your comment about each person’s Diabetes reacts differently to some type of treatment is so true. One thing I’ve learned for sure since my diagnosis is that all diabetics are so different. What works for one may not work for another. It’s such a learning experience!
Well said, Joseph. Also worth noting: For me, it was like the weight loss sort of accelerated. Very slow to start, and then as my body adjusted to eating very low carb (35-45/day), it sort of fell away. It was sheer delight. I lost 47 pounds overall and then steadied out, adding back in some treats and a few extra carbs where I would obviously need them–like first thing when I get up. It helps that when my husband retired and with pleasure took over cooking, he found new ways of developing lo-carb meals…Oh–I almost forgot–during this same period, I was going back to the Midwest for extended periods of time to trade off caretaking of my elderly Mom with a brother and sister. And That connection–My mom was an original contributor to the very first Betty Crocker Cookbook. So when I was there, I would sit her comfortably in a chair at the kitchen door and, one at a time, adapt old family recipes to be low carb. Using almond or other nut flours and sugar substitutes, for instance. In this way we developed fantastic recipes for Pumpkin bread and walnut bread, a couple of cookies, etc. If you have a sweet tooth that gives you trouble, finding lo-carb ways to satisfy it makes a huge difference in “sticking to the program!” Good luck to us all…Judith in Portland