Metformin is a diabetes drug that can promote weight loss. The drug works by lowering the amount of glucose your liver can make and the amount your body can absorb. It also helps make your cells more sensitive to insulin. Regulating glucose and insulin production will stabilize blood sugar and help you avoid food cravings and overeating. Consuming fewer calories should lead to weight loss. Metformin should only be taken under a doctor's supervision.
Metformin
Metformin is sold as Glucophage, Fortamet and Riomet, and was designed for Type 2 diabetics as a way to help control blood sugar. Keeping glucose levels low can help people with diabetes avoid serious health problems; chronic high glucose levels are associated with nerve damage, heart disease, kidney failure and blindness, because high levels of glucose in your bloodstream can damage and weaken smaller blood vessels. Keeping glucose and insulin levels low will also prevent hunger, allowing you to wait longer between meals, while avoiding cravings and overeating.
Metformin and Weight Loss
It's important not to dramatically change your diet without your doctor's knowledge while taking metformin. Your dose of the drug will be based on your diet and exercise routine. Increasing your physical activity or decreasing your food intake significantly can cause low blood sugar -- hypoglycemia. Although metformin can help you lose weight, greater results are achieved through behavior modification -- including eating a healthy balanced diet and exercising regularly -- than through use of drugs, according to the Diabetes Prevention Program.
Diet
Follow your regular diabetes diet while taking metformin. Metformin does not interact with any foods, although there are interactions with some prescription and over-the-counter drugs. The American Diabetes Association recommends eating a variety of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, legumes and lean protein. Choose nonfat dairy products and leaner cuts of meat, and eat fish two to three times weekly. Cut back on foods high in calories and added sugars such as cakes, cookies and chips. Practice portion control to avoid overeating -- even too much healthy food can lead to weight gain.
Weight Loss
Metformin may help control your appetite, but losing weight requires a commitment to lifestyle changes that include creating new healthy eating habits and increasing your physical activity. Set realistic weight loss goals of no more than 1 to 2 lbs. per week. You must cut 3,500 calories from your diet to lose 1 lb. -- that's 500 calories every day to lose 1 lb. each week. Although you may be tempted to try a fad diet that promises more rapid results, unhealthy diets that eliminate entire food groups may not be nutritionally safe.
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