[Alicat]

Hi all,

My GP had me get bloodwork done for an a1C and it came back at 7.1%. He immediately referred me to an Endo, and I went to see her for the first time on Friday. I really like her - she spent about an hour with me, talking about my symptoms and getting to know me. She's proactive in her treatment methods - she went ahead and put me on Metformin, 500mg/1x day. She said it would help me get things under control.

Also, she requested that I have an antibody test done to ensure that we're dealing with type 2 and not type 1 - she said that since I'm only 34 and still within my weight range for my height, it would be better to do the test and be sure that we are treating correctly. See? Proactive is good.

So my question is this. I'm taking the metformin with dinner and have done very well with it so far - no side effects. One thing I've noticed though is a marked difference in my hunger levels. I'm just not as hungry as I usually am, so it doesn't take as much to fill me up. Does this stuff work as an appetite suppressant?? (Not that I'm complaining mind you...I need to lose a few pounds. )

[MamaCat]

It was probably your elevated blood sugar that was making you feel hungrier before. When you have glucose circulating in your bloodstream that can't get into your cells, your body thinks it's starving so you get those hunger pangs. The metformin probably is working for you.

It does sound like you've got a good endo., one who likes to get the answers and will educate you in the process... SO important!

Have you gotten a blood glucose meter? I would recommend one -- it's like having an extra pair of eyes to see what your blood sugars are doing throughout the day. It'll encourage you to see how the metformin is working for you, too. My mom was just diagnosed Type 2 in April so we went and just got her an inexpensive generic brand meter. She has been so good about checking her blood sugars before and then 2 hours after each meal/snack and logging what she has eaten. Because of that, she now knows what sends her blood sugars up and what doesn't. It helps her manage her glucose levels, and, so far, she has not had to go on medication.

I'm really glad for you that your GP was "on the ball" and referred you to a good specialist. Keep posting!

[Peter Lee]

Metformin is known to have appetite suppressing properties and some people actually use it to assist dieting for weight loss even though they don't need it for sugar level control.

I'm afraid I can't remember the source for this tit bit of information, so I am relying on my memory!