Type 2 Diabetes Drugs Weight Loss – Are you struggling to lose weight? Metformin can do more than improve blood sugar control — it may even help you lose stubborn pounds. Here’s what you need to know about metformin and weight loss.
Although Metformin can help with weight loss, a healthy diet and exercise are still important if you want to lose weight.Darren Lehane/Alamy
Type 2 Diabetes Drugs Weight Loss
If you are managing type 2 diabetes with Glucophage (metformin), you are well aware of the side effects of this medication – namely, upset stomach, diarrhea, muscle pain, and sleepiness. These can be painful and very painful, but you may welcome a side of metformin with open arms, especially if you have been struggling to lose weight.
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Metformin was not designed as a weight loss drug, but researchers have found a link between the drug and weight loss. Previous studies have concluded that the drug can work as a treatment for body weight, although more research is needed.
Metformin is a type 2 diabetes medication approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat high blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, in people with type 2 diabetes.
“[Metformin] has been considered a first-line drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, and it mainly works by reducing the amount of glucose released by the liver,” said Minisha Sood, MD, is a board-certified endocrinologist in New York. City. “It also helps the hormone called insulin to work better by helping the muscles to use sugar better. If the insulin works better – the insulin sensitivity – a person’s insulin levels are lower than others.”
There is no cure for type 2 diabetes, but the right combination of medication and lifestyle can stabilize blood sugar levels, according to the Mayo Clinic, and in some cases type 2 diabetes can lead to remission, according to a study published in Nutrients in April 2019. In fact, this is the ultimate goal of any diabetes treatment.
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Since the drug helps your body to lower all blood sugar levels and restore your ability to respond to insulin, you will not only feel better, but may also reduce the risk of diabetes complications. high blood sugar, such as heart disease, kidney disease. , nerve damage or diabetic neuropathy, and eye damage (called retinopathy), the Cleveland Clinic reports.
For example, metformin may affect hunger symptoms. In a small study, 12 women with severe disease and type 2 diabetes who did not take insulin were randomly assigned two levels of metformin – 850 milligrams (mg) or 1,700 mg – or placebo three times a day for three days, with each participant attending the study three times so they received each dose and placebo. Participants were given an eating test every third day and rated their hunger levels before eating. The researchers found that hunger levels were significantly lower in the metformin group, especially with the 1,700 mg dose compared to the lower dose of metformin or placebo.
Another study, published in May 2020 in the journal Diabetes Care, found that when participants increased their metformin dosage by 1,000 mg or more, they gained more weight than those who did not change their metformin dose or reduced their dose. Studies appearing in journals including Current Obesity Reports suggest that Metformin may cause weight loss due to changes in the brain’s appetite centers, changes in gut microbiome, and the reversal of metabolic changes that occur most of the time.
So the effects of the drug may affect your diet. “Some people taking metformin may experience gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea and diarrhea,” said Rahaf Al Bochi, RDN, a Baltimore-based spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Dietetics and owner of Olive Tree Nutrition.
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According to a study published in the April–June 2017 Journal of Research in Pharmacy Practice, gastrointestinal side effects are the number one complaint from those receiving metformin tablets in their original formulation. The most common symptoms are vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea, which affect anywhere from 2 to 63 percent of those treated. The pain is so bad that you may not want to eat much, and you may end up eating less. Long-release forms of metformin have fewer documented side effects, according to a previous review.
Although Metformin may cause weight loss, the amount of weight loss may be less than you think. On average, weight loss after one year on the drug is only six pounds, according to previous studies.
So, although metformin is often given to people with high levels of insulin who have difficulty losing weight, it is not a solution for weight loss, says Dr. In other words, don’t expect a big change in weight if you eat and stay sedentary. You need to follow a weight loss plan with a healthy diet and exercise to see significant changes in weight.
“If a person is not following a healthy lifestyle, taking Metformin will not cause weight loss,” he says. “It’s important to have a healthy diet low in refined sugars and carbohydrates if [you’re] prone to high insulin levels to get the most out of the medication.”
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Remember that even if the number on the scale goes down while you are taking this medicine, this weight loss is temporary. You can restore balance when you stop taking the drug and your appetite will return — hence the importance of staying healthy.
However, one study, published in May 2019 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, found that people in a diabetes prevention program lost at least 5 percent of their body weight after age makes it easier to maintain long-term weight loss. in the Metformin group when they were given a placebo or a lifestyle intervention.
What if you don’t have type 2 diabetes? Can you take metformin for weight loss? This is a good question, and the short answer is yes.
Sood explained that Metformin has been used off-label, or outside of its FDA-approved purpose, for weight control in people without type 2 diabetes.
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Some evidence suggests that metformin may be effective in these people: A 2018 review examines the effectiveness of metformin for weight loss in overweight and obese people A diabetes study determined that the drug significantly reduced body mass index (BMI) in both adolescents and adults.
But remember that this medication is only available by prescription and is not approved by the FDA for people without type 2 diabetes. Your doctor will first prescribe some of these traditional strategies for weight loss:
If you do not have type 2 diabetes, your doctor may prescribe this medication if you are obese and have difficulty losing weight. But again, Metformin is not a substitute for a healthy diet and regular exercise, which are essential to weight loss. These methods also encourage weight loss if you have type 2 diabetes but cannot take metformin.
“Some people may not respond to metformin, so it’s important to discuss options with your healthcare provider – medication is one tool to help control blood sugar, but diet and lifestyle changes should be discussed first. , because the blood sugar will drop significantly,” said Al Pochi.
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What dietary and lifestyle changes should you consider? “Dietary changes include being mindful of your carbohydrate intake, eating more protein and fat in foods, choosing high-fiber foods, and reducing consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages,” said Al Bochi. She also recommends seeing a registered dietitian for healthy eating recommendations. “Incorporating some form of movement, such as walking, weight training or yoga on most days is also important for blood sugar control,” Al Bochi said.
All things considered, in some people with diabetes and without diabetes, metformin can reduce weight. However, scientists are still researching what the effect of the drug is. A number of factors – including decreased appetite due to the side effects of the drug – may be at play.
Ultimately, metformin is not a silver bullet. The most important thing you can do to lose weight, whether to manage type 2 diabetes or for other purposes, is to change your diet and lifestyle. Think of Metformin as the catalyst for these actions.
Also keep in mind that the FDA has approved metformin so far for some people with type 2 diabetes, not for those without the disease. If you are taking medication to lower your blood sugar for diabetes, remember that metformin comes with side effects that you need to discuss and manage with your healthcare team.
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