metformin and weight control

[butterfly74]

Hi I'm hoping to hear other experiences of weight loss and metformin. I've just been put on it for weight control linked to PCOS. I took it during recent pregnancy for gestational diabetes (DS now 12 weeks) and lost lots of weight during the pregnancy. Since having DS I've put loads on again (very depressing and frustrating) so Dr trying me on Metformin to see if it helps. Has anyone had any experience of weight loss on Metformin and how successful was it? Would love to hear. Thanx x

Metformin regulates blood glucose levels and this can reduce appetite. To sustain and maintain weight-loss, however, you will need to combine this effect with a reduced-calorie diet and increased exercise. I'd also strongly recommend (if you don't already) that you start eating like a Type II diabetic and controlling your blood-sugars and insulin production through a Low GI diet.

An excellent book on the subject is 'The Low GI Guide to Managing PCOS' by Jennie Brand-Miller.

have you tried the verity forum

by itself it won't do anything (unless you get the side effects ), but combined with a low GI diet and moderate regular excercise, it should help, if it worked before. Doesn't work for everyone though, and is definately not a wonder drug for pCOS. Experts are divided as to it's use - a few hand it out routinely, but the top guys are now saying no for weight loss, but possibly for fertility combined with clomid.

Thanks. There seems to be a lot of conflicting advice and information about Metformin and PCOS. Each article I read seems to say something slightly different, so it is really useful to read your comments.
I am generally following the GI diet I did during pregnancy so hope that alongside the Metformin the combined effects will start to work. I don't plan on having any more children so the fertility side is not a concern (3 DS's is enough ). I just want to get all the symptoms of PCOS under control. Thanks again for the tips.