Insulin Resistance and PCOS.

When I was thirteen I was diagnosed with POCS and Insulin Resistance. My grandmother, who had diabetes, was put on Metformin and when we inquired about it, and my endocrinologist claimed it wouldn't help and that I was would be pretty much helpless when it came to the way my body performed unless I cut out carbohydrates completely.

I recently just switched to a new personal doctor considering I'm over 18 and no longer able to see my pediatrician due to her being strictly children. He recently ran the manditory new patient blood tests and despite my being 212 pounds at the moment (which was a shock to me, because I wear a size 10 at 5'3".. and I do not look it at all), everything was in check - blood sugar, cholesterol, thyroid, everything. My insulin was of course out of whack.

He prescribed me metformin and I've taken it for almost 3 weeks now. Everything is going well despite the fact that I'm not losing any weight even though I'm eating well and exercizing. I've had a few side effects but I noticed they only occur when I eat something high in sugar and fat, which isn't often so I'm not that worried about it.

I was just wondering, if you're on metformin for the same conditions (mostly insulin resistance, because my POCS has been under control by birth control for years now) what kind of side effects you had, and how much weight you eventually lost along with how long it took to notice it was working?

I was given metformin for the same reason, but in the end it all came down to losing weight. I really didn't see any changes in my weight loss rate..If I exercised and ate well, I'd lose, but if I didn't, I'd win.

I know this will sound kind of harsh, but in all honestly, metformin is not magic... It helps keeping insulin and sugar levels in order, and it could, eventually, maybe help with weight loss, but it all depends on you. I took it for...a year, more or less, and with some changes in my diet and exercise, I lost 8kg (like...16 lbs) and just then, my exams sans metformin came normal (: And I'm out of it now..but my dr said that if I gained it all back, the Insulin Resistance will be back, so it all depends on us...:D

Just keep eating well and exercisings and you'll see results soon (:

Good luck!

ETA: It takes a while for the body to get used to the new thing you're taking, I remember I had weird feelings when I just started and I ate sugary things...But then it all went OK (:

Eat it with food or an upset belly will come and it's extremely unpleasant. I sometimes get heartburn. As far as I know, the side effects were go away eventually. I've only been on it for 3 weeks (I think...) now.

Apparently I'm going to have to exercise more than I do - which is actually a lot. I do about an hour of cardio 6 days a week, and I'm totally active when I'm not doing a set exercise. I'm always going here and there and most of the time I walk. I'm just completely confused.

As for diet, it's all lean meats proportioned and whole grains - and sparse on the grains because of the insulin spikes.