[davef]

Hi,

I'm wondering if any has found that Metformin suppresses their appetite?

I started on Metformin about two weeks ago and have also been working to lose weight (7lbs down in 2 weeks ), the strange thing is even though I have dramatically changed my diet and I'm now exercising I haven't felt hungry at all. I'm eating a small breakfast (haven't done this in years), small lunch and then an evening meal. Sometimes at night I will have some fruit. Nighttime used to be my "bad" time for food and I reckon a lot was habit, as now when I want a nibble and have fruit, it's not because I hungry.

I'm not worried about this, as it's great not being hungry, I'm just curious.

[princesslinda]

Hi Dave: Metformin has a weight-loss side effect in some, and this generally stabilizes the longer you are on it.

I had a lot of hunger issues around the time of diagnosis. I never felt full, i'd eat, 1/2 hr later feel so hungry again, that gnawing hunger feeling. It was embarrassing...and disturbing to me.

Since metformin helps your body better utilize the insulin you are still producing, you're not as hungry. When we have insulin resistance, we eat, but our body doesn't properly utilize the insulin, so our cells aren't getting "fed" properly. The brain sends out hunger signals, we eat more, produce more insulin that we don't properly utilize, still feel hungry, eat more, and so on...a vicious cycle. I believe that's why many of us T2s are so overweight.

Congrats on all the positive changes you're making! Keep up the good work...and enjoy that break from hunger.

[Kubilee]

Originally Posted by princesslinda

Hi Dave: Metformin has a weight-loss side effect in some, and this generally stabilizes the longer you are on it.

I had a lot of hunger issues around the time of diagnosis. I never felt full, i'd eat, 1/2 hr later feel so hungry again, that gnawing hunger feeling. It was embarrassing...and disturbing to me.

I had the exact same problem and I didn't know what in the world to do about it. I am 43 yrs old and have never had hunger issues like that in my life. BEFORE my diagnosis, I'd ONLY eat when I was hungry and I'd only feel hungry MAYBE twice a day, but mostly I'd eat one meal a day..... just never have been very food motivated at ALL.... in fact, if I wasn't getting sick, I'd rarely even remember to eat period.

BUT, wow...... at first after being put on Metformin, I felt bad about being hungry all the time and was so worried about putting on more weight, since I had so much I needed to lose anyway...... I didn't know I could put on weight by NOT eating, so the extra weight was depressing.

But the Dr told me to eat more, my life literally depended on it and I'd lose weight, and to eat good, but to EAT and eat A LOT more than I was... so I followed what he told me and I ate but ate healthy and to my shock, I lost almost 20lbs in the first 3 months and after awhile the Metformin wasn't being so mean to me and making me want to eat all the stinking time. lol

But wow...... my first month or so, all I wanted to DO was eat and I felt horrible about it. Trying to adjust to a new diet and having that hunger thing all at once almost overwhelmed me!!

[davef]

Originally Posted by princesslinda

Hi Dave: Metformin has a weight-loss side effect in some, and this generally stabilizes the longer you are on it.

I had a lot of hunger issues around the time of diagnosis. I never felt full, i'd eat, 1/2 hr later feel so hungry again, that gnawing hunger feeling. It was embarrassing...and disturbing to me.

Since metformin helps your body better utilize the insulin you are still producing, you're not as hungry. When we have insulin resistance, we eat, but our body doesn't properly utilize the insulin, so our cells aren't getting "fed" properly. The brain sends out hunger signals, we eat more, produce more insulin that we don't properly utilize, still feel hungry, eat more, and so on...a vicious cycle. I believe that's why many of us T2s are so overweight.

Congrats on all the positive changes you're making! Keep up the good work...and enjoy that break from hunger.

I'm absolutely enjoying the break from hunger, may have to stop telling my wife how weird it is not to be hungry, she has great patience, but everyone has their limits

The weight loss and improving BG levels are a real boost and are keeping me motivated, I know from experience that I can't expect to continue to lose weight at this rate but I'm enjoying it while I can. I was even able to sit and watch friends enjoying an "Oreo Milkshake" yesterday without wanting to order one for myself

I've decided to look at the Diabetes as a blessing in disguise, I'm losing weight, walking more, feeling much better and the side effect is that the whole family are eating healthier.

[princesslinda]

Dave, the "blessing in disguise" is a very true statement. For me, I will probably live longer WITH diabetes than I would have if I hadn't been diagnosed, as it forces me to take better care of myself. You're still really early in the game...it will get easier to deal with as time passes....it does become just one more chapter in your life...on that takes a little effort, but its just something we have to deal with...and you're dealing with it quite well so far!

[moorejames]

Metformin absolutely killed my appetite, but it was more from the naseau and side effects than any sort of appetite suppressant.

Hard to want to eat when you know you'll be getting stomach cramps soon after.

Now that things have settled down, I would say that I very rarely have those days where I'm constantly hungry. Now, I get seem to get hungry when I should for the most part. Might be the metformin, or it might just be having consistent (lower) blood glucose levels.

It's nice to get off the insulin/BG roller coaster.

[shockme]

unfortuneately,it did not affect my appetite....wish something would! trish

[mg_2204]

Originally Posted by davef

Hi,

I'm wondering if any has found that Metformin suppresses their appetite?

At the very beginning only because I was always kneeling in front of the white porcelain...

Everything went back to normal as soon as the meds kicked in, roughly 6 weeks later.

[trowter]

My doctor increased my metformin dosage from 500 mg per day to 1500 mgs per day about 5 weeks ago.
I completely lost my appetite...not that that's a bad thing, but just very odd for me. It does seem to be getting better as time goes on though.

[Tiger Lily]

David

did you know that metformin was originally produced to be a diet med, but they discovered it had this marvellous side affect for diabetics............

[davef]

Originally Posted by Tiger Lily

David

did you know that metformin was originally produced to be a diet med, but they discovered it had this marvellous side affect for diabetics............

Well that explains things ...