I am 36 yrs. old and was diagnosed w/type 2 three years ago. I have been on Metformin ever since, but have lost 60 lbs. I am now at a healthy weight for my height for the first time since college. My A1C is usually 5.4 - 5.7. My endocrinologist has left it up to me as to whether or not I want to come off the medicine or not. I’ve thought about it, but I’m afraid to. Anyone out there who has been on the Metformin but has been able to come off of it and still maintain a healthy A1C??
I would first ask if you can gradually reduce your dose. It might mean you have to cut the pills down, I don’t know dosages on Met. But I am on 850 mg 3 x a day. I know that we cut down one dose, and it’s been great. Maybe rather than going cold turkey, you’ll gradually go off it, and see how things work out for you…Good for you on the weight loss, and the A1C…WOW here’s hoping for good things for you!
Congrats on getting into a healthy range, I’ve been on Met since 2003 but was put on insulin in 2008 my numbers are now in the good range (6 to 7) but when I go off the insulin things spike up again so for me the met doesn’t do enough on its own to keep me stable, so going off of it atm isn’t going to happen.
However, that being said my mom was never on met or insulin and is a type 2, but is 100% diet controled and has been from the start, her A1Cs for the past 5 years plus have been “normal”
Thanks! I take 500 mg ER once a day, so I think that is the lowest dosage. I just don’t know if I should be on it if I don’t have to be. But my mom had type 2 for many years and was insulin dependent, I just don’t want to end up like her down the road. I guess that’s a discussion I need to have with my doctor at my next visit. Congrats to you on being able to cut down on one dose!
Thanks for the info, maybe some day I will work up the courage to try coming off the metformin. I just don’t want to see my numbers go up when I worked so hard to keep them controlled. That’s great your numbers are in a good range now, congrats to you too! It really is a challenge every day!
If I were to go off Metformin I would not only keep an eye on my A1c but also my post prandial blood glucose readings. Also note that Metformin has anti-cancer properties.
I have also thought of going off Met, my numbers are not as good as yours, but I did drop 30 lbs. I have been warned that there may be some weight gain and I am not willing to sacrifice that. I have also heard there are other benefits to taking it. Take a look at a discussion from my page when I was wondering if Met was losing its affect. I would also be interested in any body who has had positive results. Thanks for the query and again nice job on your results.
I’ve been off metformin for about seven years now, though based on numbers and all, I may end up having to add it back in. My A1c has been as low as 4.5 (when I was down at a weight that was healthy for my height) and as high as about 6.0, 6.2 without the metformin. Last was 5.8 about 4 months ago (quarterly doctor visit’s been delayed due to COBRA issues). I’ve been noticing fasting numbers creeping up since the summer…
Hi Michelle. Congrats on your excellent self-care. ;0)
As others have mentioned, it’s not just the A1C but also the post-prandials you need to watch.
If you test before you eat, at one hour and at two hours after breakfast one day, lunch the next, dinner the next (three controlled tests each day over a three-day period) when you’re eating fairly normal meals with a known amount of carbs (not little bird salads unless little bird salads is normal for you) and getting fairly normal exercise (not a day or two post-marathon!) then you’ll have a better idea of where your post-meal spikes are taking you.
If your one-hour is over 140 or your two-hour is over 120, you can use that information to make a better-informed decision.
Insulin resistance is progressive. If you’re exercising most days and keeping your weight down, you might not need the Metformin. Then again, it might be prolonging the period of time when you won’t need insulin by years.
If you can tolerate Metformin well, count yourself very lucky. I had to quit after two years of trying.
Thank you so much for all the information. My mom had type 2 diabetes and had to take insulin for several years before she died at only 49. I want to stick around quite a bit longer and will do whatever it takes to keep my blood sugar under control. I never thought aout the Metformin prolonging the (hopefully not) inevitable insulin. I do tolerate the Metform fine ( I take 500 mg ER once daily), so I guess it doesn’t hurt to stay on it!
Yes, I have also heard that one of the benefits of Metformin can be increased metabolism, which is why I think I was able to lose so much weight. It’s definitely something to consider, since the lower your body weight, the lesser the amount of insulin needed to control blood sugar. Thanks and congrats on your results too!
I’m so sorry about your mom.
Not messing with what is working so very well might be wise. If you were diagnosed at only 33 and your mother (God rest her soul) was also type 2 and died so very young, then your family tree and personal history seems to me to be a strong indicator that your disease could progress more quickly without intervention.
I was 46 when I was diagnosed, but lots of people don’t get diagnosed until their 50’s or 60’s or beyond. The progression of the disease really varies based on genetics, not just on lifestyle and weight.
I agree, if something isn’t broken, don’t try to fix it! I know diabetes is a progressive disease, my mom probably had it for many years and didn’t know it. When I was first diagnosed, I was devastated. But now I’m glad I caught it while I’m young and there was no permanent damage done yet. I also think the metformin is what helped me to lost weight to begin with. Thanks again for your help!
Happy Birthday Michelle! How are you doing? Were you able to successfully stop the Metformin?
Hope you have a great day today. 
Joanne
Like you, after I lost some weight and changed my way of eating, I decided that I’d like to give just controlling with my food regimen and exercise alone. For a year, I worked at it, and managed to stay under 6.0 on my A1c. I went from taking 500mg twice a day to nothing, and had no immediate effect, because metormin took just as long to get out of my system as it did to become effective. It was a little harder to keep those good numbers without the metformin, but that’s not what ultimately put me back on the metformin. It was gaining back 10 pounds of the 60 I had worked so hard to lose. After a year of controlling with my eating and exercise, I chose to go back on metformin.
Having said that, I know several people who manage their disease with just the way that they eat and exercise and are very happy with that. So, it couldn’t hurt to give it a try – what’s the worst that can happen? You may find that it’s easier than you think or you may decide to go back to metformin. Either way, I don’t think you’re at any risk of doing yourself harm. It’s entirely your choice. Just watch those numbers.