By Duane Osterhoudt


Metformin, sometimes called by its generic name Glucophage, was originally promoted to help with rapid weight loss in Type II Diabetics. Type II Diabetes and obesity often occur at the same time in the same people. Although Metformin was intended to help diabetics lose weight, it can also help non-diabetics lose weight too, particularly when combined with regular exercise and a healthy diet. Needless to say, weight lose begins with physical activity and a diet rich in fruits and vegetables whether Metformin is also used or not.

Metformin regulates the level of sugar in the blood. Metformin works by slowing the speed sugar is absorbed into the tissues. It also reduces the production of sugar by the liver. In addition Metformin increases the tissues sensitivity to insulin so naturally occurring insulin can do its job better.

Metformin has been used for years to address mental health issues as well. When someone has gained significant weight because of taking an antidepressant, Metformin is very successful in helping them lose this added weight. The periodical Redbook printed the results of a study that showed the vast majority of the participants lost ten percent of their weight while taking Metformin. Other studies are more specific and report that study participants lost as much as thirty pounds as a result of Metformin.

Insulin is the mechanism that causes someone to gain weight. After a meal, blood sugar level rises which prompts the pancreas to secrete insulin. Insulin then triggers a hunger response in the brain and we eat. If this cycle continues out of balance, we tend to eat too much and too often and we gain weight.

Avoiding foods laden with refined sugars and carbohydrates, like breads and sweets, is an early step in preventing weight gain and obesity. It's also the first step in losing weight. Processed carbohydrates are trigger foods that cause the blood sugar to quickly spike and fall.

To look at the process more closely, it is vital to understand what happens when we eat. A meal is broken down in the intestines where the sugars from the meal pass into the blood. From our blood, sugars then enter the liver. The liver, in turn, releases glucose into the circulatory system. This then triggers the pancreas to produce insulin to prevent the glucose in the blood from rising too fast and causing damage.

But when insulin lowers the blood sugar we think we are hungry so we eat. And the cycle starts over. We eat more and the liver coverts these extra calories into fat. When blood sugar remains high over time, it can lead to nerve damage, heart attacks, strokes and kidney damage. Metformin regulates the sugar dumped from the liver and prevents the sugar level from becoming too high. This stops the pancreas from producing too much insulin so we don't get as hungry and don't eat as much.

When using medication such as Metformin to lose weight, it is essential that the benefits are balanced with the risks. Obesity and Diabetes certainly have their health risks and losing weight can quickly improve both. However, medications should only be used as a last resort after exercise, diet and lifestyle changes have been thoroughly attempted.




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