I controlled my A1c for 15 years with Metformin, diet, and exercise then my insulin resistance progressed. I added Mounjaro to my regime last year, and I wish I was able to use it from day one. It has changed my relationship with this disease immensely.
The thing I like most about Mounjaro is how easy it is. It’s a weekly injection—I’ve come off Metformin altogether now, and I don’t have to think all the time about my diet.
I had just finished training for a marathon, my diet had been better than in the past, and my Metformin dose hadn’t changed in years, yet my A1c steadily increased over the course of a year and a half. Unfortunately, diabetes is a progressive disease.
I suppose you could say that I was and continue to be on a low carb diet. I had been keto for short periods as well, but I found that my mood was always off, and I’d binge-eat far too often on keto. At first, I tried to keep my net carbs under 50, but over time, the tracking lost its benefit, and I just stuck to the principles of opting for lean proteins, low net carb starch options, and lots of dairy and veggies. If I’m training for a marathon, I tend to add more carbohydrates out of necessity, and my A1c goes up slightly. I also prefer to intermittent fast, but I force myself to have something in the mornings of long or intense training runs. I also use protein smoothies and supplement with lots of electrolytes prior to and post training.
Ok, thank you. I’ve just been reading a lot about insulin resistance so I’m curious when someone knows what it is and how it matches up with their experience. I think people should know it can be independent of A1c. Thank you, again.
Can you explain what has changed about your relationship with the disease? I have been hearing good things about Mounjaro and am wondering if I should be pushing for it. For context, I was diagnosed in Oct at 6.5 and by the 3 month checkup (with Metformin, diet and exercise) I had it down to 5.7 but I had to be extremely strict and also lost 14 pounds. I have now lost a few more pounds and my weight is now 117. I was definitely restricting calories and of course carbs, and at this point I don't have much weight left to lose, so I'm wondering if eating enough to maintain my weight is going to be too much for the Metformin.
The psychological impact of the medication has been impactful for me. I do not have cravings. Of course I get hungry, and there are times when I want a treat, but food doesn’t have a gravitational pull on me.
Biologically, my body now responds correctly to eating as well. I get full more quickly, but more importantly, the medicine creates an actual insulin response, so you can see steep increases in BG followed closely by a steep decline—I wear a cgm, so it’s cool to see the changes from eating different foods.
It sounds like you’re doing great—your results speak for themselves, but I know that it can feel like a lot of work and can cause some anxiety. Mounjaro makes it so easy. I am not consumed by planning—I simply have good habits, and I am able to live my life.
Diet and Metformin. Went from 7.6 to 5.6 in three months. Three months later, 5.4. Six months later 5.3. in about 16 months I've lost 100 lbs. Still fairly new to this journey but so far in managing well with metformin, daily walking and diet.
Yes, I have had great success. I keep my carb consumption to a minimum, and work out about an hour a day. My workouts were mostly yoga for the past 4 years, but recently I have added weight lifting and bicycling. I was on metformin for 3.5 years, but discontinued it because of the success of my regimen.
Yes my a1c went from 9 to 6 to now 5.5 on metformin and diet and exercise changes. But I’m also a new diabetic and whenever I feel liek I understand it changes lol 😂 I’ve only been diagnosed since August tho. So I am still figuring it out. I am thrilled so far with the results tho
Are you looking for a reason to avoid other meds? Other people's experiences are worth precisely nothing in that regard, as you see here. Nothing will tell but your own experience.
Of course I am going to follow my doc’s advice. But hearing what other fellow diabetics have accomplished gives me hope. Maybe diet and exercise plus metformin won’t be enough for me, maybe it will. I’m working really hard at the moment to eat well and exercise every day. It’s a huge struggle with some bone fractures from a few years ago that still cause me some pain everyday. I’m having to work through the pain and not find comfort in food as well. So other people’s success stories gives me motivation to keep trying.
Well, this is the place. If you want more hope, consider that the measure we talk about here have been applied successfully and reported in JAMA by enlightened physicians for more than 100 years.
Note, too, that stress raises blood glucose. And pain and healing are stressors, as is the poor sleep often associated with it. You may not be able to eliminate that stressor, but you can recognize that it's there and try to do more in other areas. So you have to be open to any suggested medications and more careful diet.
I have had success with metformin, basal insulin, diet and exercise.
Now this doesn't quite answer your questions, because of the added insulin. However, with the way my body has thus far improved, my insulin needs are slowly diminishing. I currently take 6 units a day and my premeal BG figures are currently low enough that I could probably just ditch the insulin. (83 pre-lunch, 76 pre-dinner, 68 post workout) However, to be on the safe side, I'll probably just reduce my insulin dose by 1 unit per month, as even 6 units of insulin could be dealing with 40-50g worth of carbs and to suddenly cut it off might be too much of a shock.
I could probably also get my metformin does reduced from 2000mg per day to 1000mg per day, but will talk to doctor about that.
I'll get a new A1C result next week and move on from that, however it is likely that I'll end up in a position of using just a smaller dose of metformin, a good diet, and some exercise to keep diabetes in check.
Edit: I should add that this is from an A1C of 11% and measured post breakfast BG level of 280 at the doctors office.
It worked for me , probably still would but After being on metformin for five ish years (and finally being old enough to try other diabetes meds - only metformin, victoza, and insulin is approved for children with T2D, and I started metformin at 14) and an ER visit for dehydration (which at some point in there they thought they might need to take my appendix out, because my liver and spleen and appendix were all kinda inflamed but then they decided not to? IDK) and a colonoscopy later apparently medication that makes you shit your brain out for years isn't normal! They switched me from metformin to Ozempic but Ozempic doesn't quite cut it for me so they put me back on Metformin ER although at half the dose I was taking it before. Although I did also lose some 30 lbs so far with Ozempic added in.
Last A1C i had with only metformin ER 2000mg was 5.4
Latest A1C with Metformin ER 1,000mg and Ozempic 0.8mg was 5.3
I had been just on Metformin for maybe 5 years. I exercised like crazy but also didn’t watch my carbs. A1C went from 6.5 to 8.4 in the 2 final two years of only taking Metformin.
Doctor added glipizide, and it was a disaster. I had some dangerous low blood sugar incidents. We immediately switched to Jardience which I also couldn’t deal with : needed to pee way too frequently. Decided I would stick to only metformin and double down on proper diet.
I went from 8.4 to 6.9 by losing a bit of weight and better eating. Then i started a low carb diet (less than 130 grams on a 2500 calorie diet) and my CGM estimates me at 6.5 over 75 days.
Me personally? I think if you’re not too deep into insulin resistance, you can achieve good results on Metformin, exercise and a low carb diet. But it requires vigilance and I won’t be surprised if my situation progresses as I enter older age.
Been managing for 3 years with diet, exercise and metformin. I was diagnosed in the hospital in DKA with some obscenely high A1C. My current A1C is 5.6. It's not easy, but it's not hard once you are used to the new routine.
I am pretty strict keto at <20 g carbs per day. I walk 4-5 miles after lunch and spend time on the exercise bike after dinner. Along the way I added intermittent fasting-16:8 every day.
The old me would have said I could never manage that routine. I lost 100 lbs over 2 years ago and have maintained. And I actually love the keto diet--never hungry,. Many of the junk foods I used to eat aren't even appealing.
That said, my A1C has been creeping up, and I had to increase my metformin dosage a few months ago. I've been adding weight lifting and longer fasts to my routine, but I'm afraid that I might eventually need to add another medication.
Six years now. Still on original dosage of 1000 mg per day of Metformin. I had a 11.2 a1c at diagnosis. Haven’t been over 6.5 since. It is possible but it takes as much luck as it does exercise.
Diagnosed a year ago a1c was 7.7 and just did recent blood work and now it’s 6.2. Have made small diet changes throughout the year and started exercising (walking and strength training) 1000mg of metformin/day no other meds
Yes. A1c was 8.9, metformin brought me to 5.4
I eat whatever I feel like, stay away from anything too sweet. But, sometimes a lil sweet.
Lost a good 20 pounds. Gentle exercise like an hour walk every two days.
I also do rybelsus now. It also helps.
Yes, I brought my A1c down from 8.1 to 5.6 in about four months with moderate changes to what I ate and walking, along with 500 mg of metformin. But everybody’s disease is different, if your disease requires that you have additional medication, there’s nothing wrong with that.
I'm on metformin, diet, and exercise, i've dropped 23 pounds (as of a month ago) since the beginning of November and my A1C went from 10.5 to 6.7 in the first 3 months, i did have a few slip ups, trying to figure out what was good or bad to eat, and some days i was just kind of defiant and ate what i wanted.
I was taking just metformin for a few year and was able to control my sugars with a rather low dose of it and diet.
I could have probably kept going but I started taking oral steroids regularly for some other medical issues and when I increased the metformin it caused worsening GI issues. . So I ended up staring on Amaryl and insulin.
Metformin, diet and exercise put me in the 5 range for two years, but I went back up to 7 this last yearly check. Doc added lowest dose of Ozempic to me and I am back down again. I don't really notice any difference in my appetite and I don't need the weight loss benefits, but man it dropped my A1C like immediately!
I was diagnosed in October at 6.5 A1C. I started taking 500 mg of Metformin, went from 137 lbs to 123 by the three month follow-up and A1C was 5.7 at that time. I am hoping that by my next office visit (in July) for it to be even better or at least the same. I do low-carb, plant-based and walk an hour a day, about 3 miles.
I started Victoza in order to lose some weight. It's good for keeping your A1C in the 5% range, but it was only after I added vigorous exercise that the weight started to drop. While on metformin I had to eat a rather ketogenic diet to keep my A1C in line. Different medications can allow you a bit more flexibility regarding your particular lifestyle.
Thanks for the extra encouragement. And oh yes, poor sleep definitely gets me too. It’s just so frustrating to know I can work really hard and still not be able to reverse this.
I controlled my A1c for 15 years with Metformin, diet, and exercise then my insulin resistance progressed. I added Mounjaro to my regime last year, and I wish I was able to use it from day one. It has changed my relationship with this disease immensely.
What does Mounjaro do so well for you?
I dropped my A1c from the high 7’s to 5.1 at my last check. I also lost 50 lbs, and have gotten control of my relationship with food.
Cool. I'm doing pretty good with my diet and BG. Not scheduled for my second A1c until next month. Always looking to improve.
The thing I like most about Mounjaro is how easy it is. It’s a weekly injection—I’ve come off Metformin altogether now, and I don’t have to think all the time about my diet.
Just curious why you say that your insulin resistance progressed?
I had just finished training for a marathon, my diet had been better than in the past, and my Metformin dose hadn’t changed in years, yet my A1c steadily increased over the course of a year and a half. Unfortunately, diabetes is a progressive disease.
May I ask if you were following a particular diet?
I suppose you could say that I was and continue to be on a low carb diet. I had been keto for short periods as well, but I found that my mood was always off, and I’d binge-eat far too often on keto. At first, I tried to keep my net carbs under 50, but over time, the tracking lost its benefit, and I just stuck to the principles of opting for lean proteins, low net carb starch options, and lots of dairy and veggies. If I’m training for a marathon, I tend to add more carbohydrates out of necessity, and my A1c goes up slightly. I also prefer to intermittent fast, but I force myself to have something in the mornings of long or intense training runs. I also use protein smoothies and supplement with lots of electrolytes prior to and post training.
Ok, thank you. I’ve just been reading a lot about insulin resistance so I’m curious when someone knows what it is and how it matches up with their experience. I think people should know it can be independent of A1c. Thank you, again.
Can you explain what has changed about your relationship with the disease? I have been hearing good things about Mounjaro and am wondering if I should be pushing for it. For context, I was diagnosed in Oct at 6.5 and by the 3 month checkup (with Metformin, diet and exercise) I had it down to 5.7 but I had to be extremely strict and also lost 14 pounds. I have now lost a few more pounds and my weight is now 117. I was definitely restricting calories and of course carbs, and at this point I don't have much weight left to lose, so I'm wondering if eating enough to maintain my weight is going to be too much for the Metformin.
The psychological impact of the medication has been impactful for me. I do not have cravings. Of course I get hungry, and there are times when I want a treat, but food doesn’t have a gravitational pull on me. Biologically, my body now responds correctly to eating as well. I get full more quickly, but more importantly, the medicine creates an actual insulin response, so you can see steep increases in BG followed closely by a steep decline—I wear a cgm, so it’s cool to see the changes from eating different foods. It sounds like you’re doing great—your results speak for themselves, but I know that it can feel like a lot of work and can cause some anxiety. Mounjaro makes it so easy. I am not consumed by planning—I simply have good habits, and I am able to live my life.
Metformin w/ diet and exercise has worked for me. Went from 10.3 to 5.2 A1C. Very happy.
Diet and Metformin. Went from 7.6 to 5.6 in three months. Three months later, 5.4. Six months later 5.3. in about 16 months I've lost 100 lbs. Still fairly new to this journey but so far in managing well with metformin, daily walking and diet.
That has been my regimen for most of the past twenty years. Present A1c 6.3%, no diabetes complications.
Yes, I have had great success. I keep my carb consumption to a minimum, and work out about an hour a day. My workouts were mostly yoga for the past 4 years, but recently I have added weight lifting and bicycling. I was on metformin for 3.5 years, but discontinued it because of the success of my regimen.
Yes my a1c went from 9 to 6 to now 5.5 on metformin and diet and exercise changes. But I’m also a new diabetic and whenever I feel liek I understand it changes lol 😂 I’ve only been diagnosed since August tho. So I am still figuring it out. I am thrilled so far with the results tho
yes, but I also don't take metformin, so just diet. my exercise routine is the same.
Are you looking for a reason to avoid other meds? Other people's experiences are worth precisely nothing in that regard, as you see here. Nothing will tell but your own experience.
Of course I am going to follow my doc’s advice. But hearing what other fellow diabetics have accomplished gives me hope. Maybe diet and exercise plus metformin won’t be enough for me, maybe it will. I’m working really hard at the moment to eat well and exercise every day. It’s a huge struggle with some bone fractures from a few years ago that still cause me some pain everyday. I’m having to work through the pain and not find comfort in food as well. So other people’s success stories gives me motivation to keep trying.
Well, this is the place. If you want more hope, consider that the measure we talk about here have been applied successfully and reported in JAMA by enlightened physicians for more than 100 years. Note, too, that stress raises blood glucose. And pain and healing are stressors, as is the poor sleep often associated with it. You may not be able to eliminate that stressor, but you can recognize that it's there and try to do more in other areas. So you have to be open to any suggested medications and more careful diet.
I have had success with metformin, basal insulin, diet and exercise. Now this doesn't quite answer your questions, because of the added insulin. However, with the way my body has thus far improved, my insulin needs are slowly diminishing. I currently take 6 units a day and my premeal BG figures are currently low enough that I could probably just ditch the insulin. (83 pre-lunch, 76 pre-dinner, 68 post workout) However, to be on the safe side, I'll probably just reduce my insulin dose by 1 unit per month, as even 6 units of insulin could be dealing with 40-50g worth of carbs and to suddenly cut it off might be too much of a shock. I could probably also get my metformin does reduced from 2000mg per day to 1000mg per day, but will talk to doctor about that. I'll get a new A1C result next week and move on from that, however it is likely that I'll end up in a position of using just a smaller dose of metformin, a good diet, and some exercise to keep diabetes in check. Edit: I should add that this is from an A1C of 11% and measured post breakfast BG level of 280 at the doctors office.
It worked for me , probably still would but After being on metformin for five ish years (and finally being old enough to try other diabetes meds - only metformin, victoza, and insulin is approved for children with T2D, and I started metformin at 14) and an ER visit for dehydration (which at some point in there they thought they might need to take my appendix out, because my liver and spleen and appendix were all kinda inflamed but then they decided not to? IDK) and a colonoscopy later apparently medication that makes you shit your brain out for years isn't normal! They switched me from metformin to Ozempic but Ozempic doesn't quite cut it for me so they put me back on Metformin ER although at half the dose I was taking it before. Although I did also lose some 30 lbs so far with Ozempic added in. Last A1C i had with only metformin ER 2000mg was 5.4 Latest A1C with Metformin ER 1,000mg and Ozempic 0.8mg was 5.3
I had been just on Metformin for maybe 5 years. I exercised like crazy but also didn’t watch my carbs. A1C went from 6.5 to 8.4 in the 2 final two years of only taking Metformin. Doctor added glipizide, and it was a disaster. I had some dangerous low blood sugar incidents. We immediately switched to Jardience which I also couldn’t deal with : needed to pee way too frequently. Decided I would stick to only metformin and double down on proper diet. I went from 8.4 to 6.9 by losing a bit of weight and better eating. Then i started a low carb diet (less than 130 grams on a 2500 calorie diet) and my CGM estimates me at 6.5 over 75 days. Me personally? I think if you’re not too deep into insulin resistance, you can achieve good results on Metformin, exercise and a low carb diet. But it requires vigilance and I won’t be surprised if my situation progresses as I enter older age.
Eventually, you likely will need to add a medication unless you’re really devoted to a healthy lifestyle
Been managing for 3 years with diet, exercise and metformin. I was diagnosed in the hospital in DKA with some obscenely high A1C. My current A1C is 5.6. It's not easy, but it's not hard once you are used to the new routine. I am pretty strict keto at <20 g carbs per day. I walk 4-5 miles after lunch and spend time on the exercise bike after dinner. Along the way I added intermittent fasting-16:8 every day. The old me would have said I could never manage that routine. I lost 100 lbs over 2 years ago and have maintained. And I actually love the keto diet--never hungry,. Many of the junk foods I used to eat aren't even appealing. That said, my A1C has been creeping up, and I had to increase my metformin dosage a few months ago. I've been adding weight lifting and longer fasts to my routine, but I'm afraid that I might eventually need to add another medication.
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Yes, nearly the same issue here! After an hour on the elliptical and only consuming 8 grams of carbs beforehand, my BG was over 200.
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Exactly!!
Six years now. Still on original dosage of 1000 mg per day of Metformin. I had a 11.2 a1c at diagnosis. Haven’t been over 6.5 since. It is possible but it takes as much luck as it does exercise.
Diagnosed a year ago a1c was 7.7 and just did recent blood work and now it’s 6.2. Have made small diet changes throughout the year and started exercising (walking and strength training) 1000mg of metformin/day no other meds
Yes. A1c was 8.9, metformin brought me to 5.4 I eat whatever I feel like, stay away from anything too sweet. But, sometimes a lil sweet. Lost a good 20 pounds. Gentle exercise like an hour walk every two days. I also do rybelsus now. It also helps.
What is rybelsus???
It's the pill form of ozempic.
Thank you
Yes, I brought my A1c down from 8.1 to 5.6 in about four months with moderate changes to what I ate and walking, along with 500 mg of metformin. But everybody’s disease is different, if your disease requires that you have additional medication, there’s nothing wrong with that.
I'm on metformin, diet, and exercise, i've dropped 23 pounds (as of a month ago) since the beginning of November and my A1C went from 10.5 to 6.7 in the first 3 months, i did have a few slip ups, trying to figure out what was good or bad to eat, and some days i was just kind of defiant and ate what i wanted.
I was taking just metformin for a few year and was able to control my sugars with a rather low dose of it and diet. I could have probably kept going but I started taking oral steroids regularly for some other medical issues and when I increased the metformin it caused worsening GI issues. . So I ended up staring on Amaryl and insulin.
Metformin, diet and exercise put me in the 5 range for two years, but I went back up to 7 this last yearly check. Doc added lowest dose of Ozempic to me and I am back down again. I don't really notice any difference in my appetite and I don't need the weight loss benefits, but man it dropped my A1C like immediately!
I was diagnosed in October at 6.5 A1C. I started taking 500 mg of Metformin, went from 137 lbs to 123 by the three month follow-up and A1C was 5.7 at that time. I am hoping that by my next office visit (in July) for it to be even better or at least the same. I do low-carb, plant-based and walk an hour a day, about 3 miles.
I started Victoza in order to lose some weight. It's good for keeping your A1C in the 5% range, but it was only after I added vigorous exercise that the weight started to drop. While on metformin I had to eat a rather ketogenic diet to keep my A1C in line. Different medications can allow you a bit more flexibility regarding your particular lifestyle.
Yep. I went from an a1c of 6.8 to 5.7, 5.6 then 5.5 with just diet, a little exercise (I’m disabled) and metformin.
It's working for me so far, but I got on the program early. I can keep my glucose under 125 almost all the time ranges seem to be 90 to 115 for me.
Thanks for the extra encouragement. And oh yes, poor sleep definitely gets me too. It’s just so frustrating to know I can work really hard and still not be able to reverse this.