Glucophage Question

[Believer55]

Hi! I have a question for you all, I hope you can help me. I was diagnosed with diabetes/insulin resistance a couple weeks ago and I was started on Glucophage. I was told this would help me lose weight and help with the diabetes. I have not yet to lose any weight. Actually it seems that I have gained a couple pounds. Should I be concerned? I thought I would lose at least a little bit. Thanks for any help you can give me. Claudia

 

[scraparcs]

I don't think I lost one ounce on Glucophage/Metformin. But, ask your doctor.

 

[RN4CHRIST]

Theoretically it is possible to lose weight with Glucophage, but highly unlikely. The best way to deal with Type 2 Non-Insulin Dependant Diabetes is with diet change and exercise. These will help with weight loss. Medications like Glucophage are added in combination with these to assist in keeping the Blood Glucose in a safer range. Regular check up's with your doctor/nurse practioner and regular blood glucose testing are also very important in preventing the additional health problems that can come with Diabetes. Here are a couple of helpful links
http://www.diabetes.org/home.jsp
http://www.diabetes.com/
http://www.drugs.com/glucophage.html

 

[Col303]

Like the others I did not lose weight from the Glucophage. One of the first things I did when I was diagnosed was to eliminate all white flour from my diet. I went to all whole wheat products like pasta and bread. Just that change made a huge difference and I was able to lose weight.

The links that RN4CHRIST listed are excellent places to get information. Information is one of the weapons we have to keep this disease from taking total control of our lives. The one book that helped me was "Diabetes for Dummies", it has lots of practical information without being too medical in nature.

Please don't hesitate to ask any questions that may come up as you begin to learn more about Diabetes, we are all in this together.

colleen

 

[sk8Joyful]

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[Rut]

Hi! I have a question for you all, I hope you can help me. I was diagnosed with diabetes/insulin resistance a couple weeks ago and I was started on Glucophage. I was told this would help me lose weight and help with the diabetes. I have not yet to lose any weight. Actually it seems that I have gained a couple pounds. Should I be concerned? I thought I would lose at least a little bit. Thanks for any help you can give me. Claudia

I don`t think you shall be councerd.How is your bloodsuger? Is it still hight? That can do it that you don`t lose weight? It take time to lose weight that was it for me.Even if you have tried to change your lifestyle with little more healthy food and exersice the stress can make you not to lose weight.If you eat food with low GI - index then you can lose weight and that is good for us diabetics.Lemon and nuts can help you to get lower bloodsuger.I coming back little later and tell you more if you want

 

[Believer55]

I don`t think you shall be councerd.How is your bloodsuger? Is it still hight? That can do it that you don`t lose weight? It take time to lose weight that was it for me.Even if you have tried to change your lifestyle with little more healthy food and exersice the stress can make you not to lose weight.If you eat food with low GI - index then you can lose weight and that is good for us diabetics.Lemon and nuts can help you to get lower bloodsuger.I coming back little later and tell you more if you want

Thanks to everyone for their responses! My blood sugar right now is all across the board. It is high then low then average. I go to the dr this week and I will see what she plans to do. I am taking 500 mg of Glucophage 2 times per day. I am really really exhausted. I have to take at least 2 naps a day which is very unusual for me. I took off work for a couple weeks to get my blood sugars under control. Any other info you have would be great!!! I am learning more everyday!!!! Claudia

 

[GritsnGrace]

I haen't lost weight with glucophage/metformin, but it has really helped in lowering my blood sugar.

 

[notreligus]

Like the others I did not lose weight from the Glucophage. One of the first things I did when I was diagnosed was to eliminate all white flour from my diet. I went to all whole wheat products like pasta and bread. Just that change made a huge difference and I was able to lose weight.

The links that RN4CHRIST listed are excellent places to get information. Information is one of the weapons we have to keep this disease from taking total control of our lives. The one book that helped me was "Diabetes for Dummies", it has lots of practical information without being too medical in nature.

Please don't hesitate to ask any questions that may come up as you begin to learn more about Diabetes, we are all in this together.

colleen

I agree with the comments that Glucophage/Metformin will generally not cause a person to lose weight; the opposite may happen.

I am surprised to read your comment about wheat bread and pastas. Even those these are not heavily processed grains, like white bread, if I ate alot of that stuff I'd be the size of an elephant in no time. Most diabetics are highly carbohydrate intolerant. When you eat alot of wheat products, you're still eating alot of carbs. I do agree, however, that some carbs are better than others.

For those who like whole grain wheat products, look for Ezekial Bread in the frozen foods section of your health food store or the health food section of your supermarket. Kroger supermarkets in my area carry Ezekial bread. It is made from whole grains that have not been processed like most wheat products, and have a very low, almost nil, sugar content.

 

[GritsnGrace]

Notreligus, it isn't that wheat breads and pastas make us lose weight, but in my case, it doesn't spike my blood sugar like the white bread and regular pastas do. Also, brown rice is also better that way. I'll have to look for the Ezekial bread, I work at Kroger, and if we don't carry it, I'll ask the grocery manager to see if we can get it.

 

[notreligus]

Notreligus, it isn't that wheat breads and pastas make us lose weight, but in my case, it doesn't spike my blood sugar like the white bread and regular pastas do. Also, brown rice is also better that way. I'll have to look for the Ezekial bread, I work at Kroger, and if we don't carry it, I'll ask the grocery manager to see if we can get it.

I understand your point.

When I first learned I was diabetic, I monitored my blood very frequently to determine that very thing: which foods cause my blood sugar levels to jump the most. This does vary with the individual.

 

[HumbleMan]

Another reason Glucophage (or any DM medicine) may not cause you to lose weight, especially at the initial diagnosis, is because continual high blood sugars will cause weight loss. Once you start taking medication for your diabetes, your body stops that and you gain weight.

Both my wife and I are diabetic, and the best way we lost weight was a modified weight watchers diet and exercise.

Limit your carb intake, but don't cut them out altogether. And I've found that a lot of diet soda really isn't good for you. Aspartame is not the healthiest sugar substitute.

But the best thing you can do is exercise for 30 minutes a day. You can vary what you do, just keep your heart rate elevated for that amount of time.

 

[sistakrista]

I know I'm a bit "late," on this one - but I did lose weight on Glucophage. Granted, it IS a miserable drug with horrible side effects! I lost @ least 30 lbs, in about 6 months. My sugars were a lot better, from the Gluc? the weight loss? I hope your system accepts it better than mine did! I'll be praying for your ongoing battle with this STUPID disease!