Metformin - yes or no?

(Joey) #21

Rather didactic, no? Of course the results are debatable. Pharma does not list dangerous side effects and contraindications voluntarily.

No apology needed. I quite happily waltzed. :dancer::man_dancing:

(icky) #22

Well, 4 months later, I’m trying the Metformin… Been on it a week now, no noticeable side-effects so far…

Still confused about how it works or what results I should be expecting and when…

(Bob M) #23

That’s the problem I have a lot – I can’t tell a benefit.

(icky) #24

Are you taking Metformin?

I guess I’ll take it for a while and then see whether my Dr thinks my bloodwork has improved at all and whether I’ve lost some of the belly fat I can’t seem to shake…

(Bob M) #25

What about your blood work would improve? HbA1c?

No, I have not take metformin. I did take berberine, which supposedly has some cross-over with metformin in terms of action. I HATED berberine.

For the belly fat, I doubt metformin would help with that, but I’ve been known to be wrong (a lot).

(icky) #26

I’m not sure to be honest… I guess I’ll ask the Dr what it was supposed to be improving…?

(Peter - Don't Fear the Fat ) #27

Can’t see any reason to take unnecessary drugs. If you need them to remain or gain health then OK but if your HbA1C is under control with good food alone why risk it?
The folk I trust say ALL drugs have possible side effects, just how possible is anyones guess. Again, why risk it?

(icky) #28

Day 10 Update: One thing I’m finding it helpful with is that I feel less hungry and so I’m eating less and that seems to be helping with some weightloss around my belly area.

For the last 4 years, I’ve been struggling with a combination of menopausal weightgain and insulin resistance and had hoped Keto would be the magic bullet and fix that, but it hasn’t. That’s why I’m now at the point where I’ve decided to try the combination of Keto and Metformin. So far I’m quite happy with the result, but obviously it’s still very early days.

(Bob M) #29

That’s good news.

#30

I am not an expert but have read that Metformin is supposed to help a lot of areas. I consider that and Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) to be the Windex of supplements and medications in our world. Nod to My big Fat Greek Weddings and its sequels. I am not sure I believe everything I read about either of those products but it is worth exploring. I take Berberine when I know I am going to cheat and have dinner. I find that while I still can eat a substantial amount in appetizers, I usually do not have room for dessert which I consider a good. As for weight loss, what has helped me the most is to stop eating by 5 or 6 at the latest except on semi special occasions, about once every two weeks

Here is an example

People in the longevity space got very excited when a study was done comparing diabetics on metformin to non diabetics and the studies claim that the diabetics on metformin lived longer than the controls in some cases

Data from multiple studies indicate that patients with T2DM who are prescribed metformin have improved survival rates when compared to non-diabetic controls

This is being investigated in the TAME study by Nir Barzili as a longevity application

(Tracy) #31

Hi @sugar-addict, reading this with interest. I was prescribed Metformin in August and basically told the consultant to **** off. Quick update, had surgery and had a stroke during it. Discharged with statins, blood thinners and blood pressure tablets. 6 week check up he tells me my Hba1c is high and they are adding Metformin as my risk of getting diabetes is high. Of course it is I replied as you’ve given me statins and are now counteracting them with metaformin.
Anyway, haven’t taken it, went on a keto diet. I’ve been monitoring my blood sugars and while they aren’t great they aren’t too bad either. My goal is to reduce/remove the statins and see how I am. I drink (when I remember) mulberry leaf tea, I must look into Berberine. And it is interesting to see that if keto I would fail the OGGT. The consultant tried to explain that when I eat sugar my blood glucose will get too high, I replied with IF I eat sugar not WHEN. I just felt by taking Metaformin I would be classified as a type two diabetic and for all sorts of reasons didn’t want that. I’m not saying never to i but for now it’s a no thanks.
Will be interested to see how you get on and if it helps you with your weight loss.

(Tracy) #32

Just adding that some people mention it helps reduce hunger or at least they seem to eat less. Since starting a keto approach I haven’t actually been hungry at all, I eat one proper meal a day and not a big portion by any means. I have a snack in the evening and that is purely to rid myself of the taste of medication and would be a slice of ham or piece of cheese. I had planned on it being 125ml greek yogurt with cinnamon but after two spoons I was full.

(KM) #33

Metformin reduces blood glucose, which can have advantages all over the body, not just diabetes management or insulin sensitivity. By proxy I’d say a low carb / keto diet should have very similar effects and benefits.

#34

One of the Two Keto Dudes (who created this forum) @Richard had been on Metformin when he went keto. He did a couple of podcasts talking about going off Metformin and seeing what happens. I believe his fasting insulin levels when he was off Metformin increased and after a while he went back on Metformin. You can see his response in this old thread
It's Time for Metformin :(. I believe it is the 28th post

We cannot measure fasting insulin at home so fasting glucose is a proxy however both elevated fasting insulin and elevated fasting glucose are an issue

(icky) #35

I found my appetite didn’t decrease at all with Keto… I was still over-eating… Granted, it’s better to be over-eating Keto than over-eating carbs, but at the end of the day, it was still over-eating…

This is a really well written (easy to read) explanation of how Metformin works and why it helps suppress hunger in a way that’s similar but different to the famed Ozempic…

#36

Interesting. I found that my appetite decreased most of the day, except between 6PM and bedtime. It is not so much actual hunger as cravings, especially after dinner. Which is still a large amount of time. Also, if I was fasting, it usually was not very strong and I often was not hungry.

In my first keto year 2017, I remember being at a meeting that started at 10:30 and around 1 the person I was meeting with had to call it because she had to eat. I was not hungry and wanted to finish our business instead.

In the last 1.25 years I now eat from 12-6 and I am rarely uncontrollably hungry. One problem I have is I am usually not too hungry before 6 so I eat less. I always worry that I will be hungry later but it does not happen and whatever nighttime hunger I have is controllable

(Hansel) #37

Jumping in here, wanted to add that Bryan Johnson takes 1,500 mg of Metformin per day as part of his Blueprint Protocol. For a guy as knowledgeable as him, with unlimited access to the best anti-aging doctors in the world, I think it’s pretty convincing that Metformin is doing something right for Bryan and many others.

(icky) #38

Well, I’m off the Metformin again… I did fine on it initially and then after about one month, I suddenly got really bad diarrhea that ended up lasting 3 weeks… So strange… I didn’t think I had a tummy bug and the Dr’s couldn’t work out what was going on and so naturally everyone kept saying “But what about the Metformin?” I couldn’t refute it, and was starting to get quite worried cos 3 weeks seemed like a concern… So I stopped the Metformin… The diarrhea eventually stopped and now I’m confused about whether or not to take the Metformin again or not. At the moment I’m thinking “no” because after my back surgery and all the meds I had to take in conjunction with that, I’ve got elevated liver values for the first time in my life, so now I’m trying to avoid as many meds as possible, to give my poor liver a rest…

(Peter - Don't Fear the Fat ) #39

So we all react differently to meds and diet too for that matter but my whole reason for going keto (now carnivore) was after getting T2 diagnosis I was desparate to maintain my drug free exsistence.
OK so if you need something to keep you alive then you’ve got no choice… though 2 years ago the doctor told me I needed meds for T2, high blood pressure and high cholesterol and another one I’ve erased from memory.
Still drug free and feel better than ever. Powerful stuff those Ketones.

(Bob M) #40

The longevity folks are all over metformin + rapamycin for longevity.