Dr prescribed me 500mg of metformin to help with insulin resistance and I’m so bloated, constipated, water retained and just feel generally worse than I did before. Please tell me to push through this and it gets better?

Last month I got my fasting insulin tested and it was 81 pmol. Definitely higher than normal but not terrible,l. I started to go hard core with diet changes. I eat my first meal at 12 noon and my next one at dinner time in the evening. I don’t eat large volumes. My meals consist around high protein high healthy fats and high fiber.
I retested my fasting insulin and it has now jumped (a month later) to 135 pmol!

I have pcos. So I’m also taking Ovasitol (myo inisitol) NAC and a few other insulin sensitizing supplements. My A1c is 5.5 (also less than ideal) and my fasting glucose is 4.7.

I am beside myself with worry and haven’t been able to stop crying. I don’t know why my fasting insulin got so much worse!

Summary

Date	Occassion	HbA1C	Fasting Glucose	Fasting Insulin	HOMA-IR Score
2025-05-01	1st HOMA-IR test	5.4	84	26.17	5.43
2026-06-02	Diet started	-	-	-	-
2026-06-22	2nd HOMA-IR Test	5.00	96.80	14.88	3.46
2026-08-19	3rd HOMA-IR Test	5.20	88.55	9.13	1.996

My Background

• 26M, Super Morbidly Obese
• Suffering From IR
• Suffering from Vitamin D & B12 deficiency
• Having a horrible sleep quality
• High rest HR (~80 bpm)
• High rest PB (~148/91), not diagnosed with hypertension

My Journey

June 2026

• Started following a calorie deficit
• Post meal walks (started with 10 minutes, increased it when I felt it's too easy, never felt enforced to do so)
• Total walking steps started with 3k steps (increased it when I felt it's too easy, never felt enforced to do so, by the end of the month it reached 8k steps per day), I was focusing on building the habit
• Replacing White sugar with sweeteners
• Replacing white bread with whole grain bread
• No snacking whatsoever, If I want to eat a snack or something sweet, I append it to my meal that's already full of protein
• I cut off the fruits in the first 2 weeks, then added them with a frequency of 1-2 times/week (they are extra effort on the liver which is already fatty)
• No vegetable/processed oils, only olive oil and coconut oil and animal fats (ghee/etc...).
• Generally Focusing more on clean carbs like potatoes and rice
• Never eating carbs alone, always combined with protein and/or fibre
• Fasting (didn't intend to do it tbh, I was switching between macro-fasting [16 hours fasting] and micro-fasting [fasting 4-5 hours between the meals], I mean I was doing either one of them but not both at the same time)
• Supplemets taken: Vitamin D (50k IU weekly prescribed by doctor), Vitamin B12 (500 mcg daily prescribed by doctor)

July 2026 - Now

• Everything in June 2026 is almost the same
• Increased the daily steps to 10k steps/day
• Introduced 3 days/week of resistance training (I let Gemini and Claude design a program for my specific athletic needs), it was a custom Upper/Lower program in my case
• New supplement added: Magnesium Glycinate (200 mg daily 1-2 hrs before sleep)

Current Status

• Way better sleep quality
• Way less resting HR (~70s, sometimes 60s)
• Normal Vit D & B12 levels
• Less rest PB (138/80) but still high, hoping it will enhance by losing more weight
• Lost ~14kg in 2.5 months (~9.5% of my starting weight)

Some Advice that Helped Me

• Focus on building good habits and discipline at first over losing weight
• In the first month or 2, weight is not your assessment criteria, your resting BP, resting HR, Fasting Insulin, Triglycerides, Cholesterol and Liver Fats are. If you got improvements in any of these, your body is treating itself, after it heals, the weight will drop as a consequence (not as a goal)
• Sugar is good but there are a ton of sweeteners with no aftertaste that can fill the void a little, try not to think of the diet as an elimination but more as a "replacement"
• Don't think of a diet as a template that you should fit into, it's objectively not! It's more of a set of rules that you try to stick to, thinking this way make it easier to sustain
• Completing more than a month without migraine or a single painkiller pill is a blessing, I was taking 2-4 pills per week, turns out it was because of sugar addiction and headache was the only way my body tells me it craves sugar
• Watermelon and Prickly Pears are very delicious, sweet and low in calories, they are good friends, include them
• You will be less encouraged to eat white sugar/flour/veg oils (even after reversal) when you remember every acne/skin pump you got because of them
• If you are in a social occasion (I had a ton of them, my rules were never applied perfectly), try to focus on proteins and grilled meats. Same applies for cheat meals (I got my first cheat meal just yesterday after gym, blood test and finishing 8k out of my 10k steps)

Hope this helps. Feel free to ask if you have any question

I need help. I was trying to find pasta and pizza crust that was made out of chickpeas. I am trying my best to use alternative foods to help fight insulin resistance. I don't know if I am doing it right. I am try to eat sugar free candies and sodas I mostly drink water and sparkling water. I try to use fiber powder to drink because I want to add a lot of fiber throughout the day. I am trying to do calorie deficits which it's not easy but I am not giving up on it. I don't feel any tingling feeling in my toes and fingers but I am worried that I will never lose weight and I feel like I am doing everything wrong.

Endo told me to stop metformin for 1month now. Last a1c check a week ago was 5.1, FBS was 87. I have established healthier lifestyle since dx last Sept. Lost weight, around 33lbs. And lift weights 3-4x a week. Now I am sort of worried bec my symptoms seems ot came back. I pee more frequently than I was taking metformin. Esp at night. Did not change anything even I was off metformin. I still walk every after meals. What gives?

EDIT: I want to add that I have been taking psyllium husk fiber in water before meals as a fiber. Maybe about 1-2 a day. And noticed that after taking it, I have to pee after an hour. Could that be it?

Hi! I don’t have diabetes or prediabetes, I only have insulin resistance. But I was wondering if you think it would be worth buying a blood glucose monitor to track my glucose levels throughout the day/weeks, or if you think this isn’t really useful or interesting in my situation?

Just to add: I’m already taking metformin daily.

I’ve been drinking ultra filtered milk because it has lower sugar and higher protein, thinking it would be better for my blood sugar and insulin.

It turns out ultra filtered milk spikes my blood sugar (175 an hour after drinking) even worse than regular milk. After doing some research, I found out that whey protein can actually cause a sharp insulin spike.

It’s so frustrating when something I think is healthy ends up straining my pancreas. Just wanted to share this for anyone else watching their glucose

I’ve heard some professionals say that intermittent fasting is more effective for weight loss, while others say that what really matters is the calorie deficit you create, regardless of how many meals you eat or how long you go without eating.

Both sides seem to have valid arguments, but I’d really like to hear from people who have actually tried both.

Have you ever done a calorie deficit and/or intermittent fasting? What worked better for your body? What gave you faster results? What made you lose more weight?

And yes, I know it’s a combination of factors. I know physical activity matters, strength training matters, drinking plenty of water matters, reducing carbohydrates matters, etc. I already know all of that. 😅 I’m specifically asking about fasting vs. calorie deficit and what actually worked better for you.

What was your experience?

I’ve been trying to lose weight for a while now and honestly I’m getting pretty frustrated. I’m eating better, trying to be more active, and I’ve cut down on a lot of the obvious junk. But the progress is incredibly slow compared to the effort I’m putting in. I was recently told I have insulin resistance and now I’m wondering how much of a difference that actually makes when it comes to losing weight.

I know the basic advices but does insulin resistance genuinely make the process harder? It's just something that I keep thinking about Should I change how I approach food or add more exercise to my routine?

For context: I'm 35 year old female from Bangalore, India

"Edit: Going with Clinic Living Plus, thanks for all the suggestions!!"

Trying to build a list of small, realistic changes rather than a full diet overhaul. What's one swap (not a whole meal plan, just one thing) that you noticed actually helped with energy or cravings?

I have had acanthosis nigricans (dark ring around neck) since I was 13. I never had a doctor check for insulin resistance because I knew that's what it was. My mom is T2DM and was when she was pregnant with me (so high risk). That being said my a1c has always been between 5.4-5.6. Lately I started metformin to help with it and my sugar cravings, I exercise everyday (walking, strength training, pickleball) and somehow the ring around my neck is getting darker and darker. Does anyone have experience with this?

Tengo 19 años
Mi caso es que estaba muy flaco y con un porcentaje de grasa muy bajo 10-12% y intente subir de peso lo hice de mala manera con un exceso de comida chatarra y subi 20kg en 6 meses pase de un porcentaje de grasa de 12% a 21% de 52kg a 72kg todavia dentro de mi rango ya que mido 1.73 y me sentia muy inflamado fui al doctor y me diagnostico resistencia al insulina

Llevo 35 dias y he bajado como 10kg con dieta ! Sigo comiendo carbohidratos y he dejado los azucares totalmente

Psdt: Los alimentos procesados, azucares,snacks y demas nunca me habian echo engordar. Incluso bajaba mas peso con ellos

Todo esto tambien me ha creado un TCA por la comida real

Pienso que la reversión remisión o cura va a depender de los factores que la hayan originado , de la genética y del tiempo que se lleva teniéndola , ya que cada persona es distinta

En mis experiencia ha sido muy difícil dejar los azucares y los snacks que tanto comía antes de subir de peso! Y no se si podré comerlos al revertir la resistencia al insulina :/

Hi everyone! I’m 24F, 5’5” and around 253 lbs. My biggest struggle has always been my midsection/belly fat, which I’ve had since I was a preteen, even before I knew I had insulin resistance.

My doctor told me my overall bloodwork was “wonderful” aside from several vitamin/mineral deficiencies (A, B2, C, D, iron and phosphorus). I’ve also had menstrual changes since March 2025. My periods are now lighter, sometimes shorter, and occasionally late. I still get them, but this is definitely different from how my cycle used to be.

My prolactin was also slightly elevated at one point, but when it was rechecked, it had returned to normal.

Because of the insulin resistance + weight + menstrual irregularities, I’ve started wondering whether PCOS could also be a possibility. I haven’t been diagnosed with it.

I finally got serious about making lifestyle changes on July 14. I’ve been prioritizing protein and fiber, cutting out added sugar, reducing my carb intake, and trying to walk more. It’s now August 16, and honestly, I don’t see much of a difference yet, especially around my stomach. I know it’s only been about a month and that these things take time, but it’s still discouraging. I also don’t own a scale, so I have no idea whether I’ve actually lost weight.

I’m considering switching PCPs because my current doctor is always rushed and I don’t feel like I can really discuss my concerns with her. I’m thinking about asking a new doctor whether metformin might be appropriate for me.

For those who have dealt with insulin resistance, PCOS, or something similar:

• Were you able to lose weight through lifestyle changes alone?
• Did metformin make a noticeable difference for you?
• Did you experience any negatives or side effects?
• Is there anything you wish you had known when you started?

My mom thinks I should do everything naturally and that I’m too young for medication, but I’m wondering if medication could help alongside diet and exercise. I know metformin isn’t a magic weight-loss pill, and I’m not looking for an easy way out. I just want to know whether it could potentially make my lifestyle changes more effective.

I really want to work toward my health and body goals without resorting to extreme calorie restriction or unnecessarily cutting out entire food groups.

Any advice or personal experiences would be greatly appreciated! ❤️

My experience with weight loss, PCOS and insulin resistance
Hi everyone! First of all, I’m sorry for my English. I’m not fluent, so some of my translations may be incorrect.
I wanted to share my experience and ask for some advice from people who may have gone through something similar.

Over the course of about 4 years, I progressively gained around 23 kg without any obvious explanation. I had always maintained pretty much the same lifestyle and diet. Then, from May to December 2025, I gained around 8 kg, which really scared me because it happened so quickly that I lost the ability to fit into many of my clothes.
At the beginning of this year, I started changing my diet and exercising. I was walking and doing strength training 5 times a week. I did this consistently for exactly 3 months, but I couldn’t lose even 1 kg.

So I saw an endocrinologist. After blood tests and an evaluation, I was diagnosed with PCOS and insulin resistance. I also developed dark patches of skin on different parts of my body.

I made further changes to my diet, significantly reduced my sugar and overall carbohydrate intake, and currently do strength training 3 times a week. I take 1,000 mg of metformin per day (I’ve been taking it for about a month), and I’m also taking Contrave to help control my appetite, as well as vitamin supplements because some of my levels were low.

Even though I’m doing what I’m supposed to, I still feel completely stuck. I’m not losing weight, I don’t see any noticeable changes in my body, and it feels exactly like before I discovered what was going on.

If I go off my plan for even one meal, I sometimes see 1–2 kg more on the scale afterward.

I’d really like to hear about your experiences: How long did it take for your medications to start making a noticeable difference in your weight loss?

I know it’s still early to expect major results, but it’s frustrating not to see even 1 kg less after months of trying.
Did anything in particular help you finally break through a plateau or “unstick” your weight loss?

I need to lose around 13 kg by November because I’m getting married, so I’m feeling quite anxious about the timeline.

I also have questions about my metformin dose. I’ve read that some people with insulin resistance may need at least 1,500 mg per day, but I don’t know whether 1,000 mg is enough in my case.

There are so many questions and doubts, and I’d really appreciate hearing from people who have been through something similar. ❤️

Hello! I have recently started the Metformin extended-release tablets to help with my severe insulin resistance. It's been about four weeks now, and while I don't really have any gastrointestinal issues, I have experienced an uptick in my anxiety and depression. Could this just be a sign that my body is trying to get used to using my insulin more efficiently? Has anyone else experienced a temporary increase in mental symptoms while adjusting to Metformin? Thanks in advance for any and all input!

Hello guys, wanted to share my test results. It may help somebody whose critical markers are beyond optimal range and wondering how to bring them back to normal.

I have done multiple tests. Major ones I will list here. The first shock I got was in January 2025 when out of the blue:

1. My liver markers (SGPT, SGOT) were both 170 and 120!
2. Grade 2 fatty liver in ultrasound!
3. Fasting glucose was 102!
4. PP glucose was 178!
5. Total cholesterol: 240
6. Triglycerides: 199!
7. LDL cholesterol: 135
8. HDL cholesterol: 59
9. Uric acid: 7.3

Then I did test this year in January. Saw little improvement:

1. Liver markers showed considerable improvement: SGPT was 115 and SGOT was 50.
2. Grade 1 fatty liver in ultrasound!
3. Fasting glucose 97!
4. Total cholesterol improved: 186
5. Triglycerides: 190 (no change)
6. LDL cholesterol improved: 101!
7. HDL cholesterol worsened: 47!
8. Uric acid improved: 7

4 weeks back I had done my blood test again. Saw some improvement but some shocking results as well:

1. My liver markers all were normal now: SGPT: 34 and SGOT: 28! (Huge improvement!)
2. Fasting glucose: 97.5 (still borderline)
3. Hba1c: 6.1! (Shocker!)
4. Total cholesterol: 201 (slightly worsened)
5. Triglycerides: 121 (huge improvement!)
6. LDL cholesterol: 126 (slightly worsened)
7. HDL cholesterol: 51
8. Uric acid: 8.5 (Shocker!)

Concerned by these numbers, i watched some youtube videos on how to reverse prediabetes. I came to know about tests like fasting insulin and HOMA IR. I had never heard about them before. I decided to do some lifestyle changes for atleast 1 month and then again get tested.

Now yesterday I did my blood tests again after a month to check my sugar and uric acid levels as these were beyond normal last time. I did post meal sugar test as well to see how much sugar spikes after I eat because last time hba1c was 6.1 while fasting glucose was only 97.5. The results surprised me!

1. Uric acid: 6.4 (Huge improvement!)
2. Fasting sugar: 85.7 (Huge improvement!)
3. Post meal sugar: 103
4. Fasting insulin: 3.65 (Extremely sensitive)
5. HOMA IR: 0.77

These results really surprised me. Either the previous results had some error or human body is really amazing to heal itself!! I guess I was insulin resistant since January 2025 when my blood sugars went beyond normal for the first time and liver enzymes were way beyond normal levels indicating of fatty liver along with high triglycerides and uric acid. This indicates metabolic stress. Now only I came to know all this by watching YouTube videos. I am sure if I had tested for fasting insulin then definately the insulin levels would have been very high (I was not aware of insulin test then).

Let me tell you about myself and what I did:

I am 34 year male. Height 165 cm and weight 63 kg. I had to take holistic approach to reverse this. I had to target both diet and physical activity. First diet: I decided to reduce the amount of carbs I eat in a day. For eg- In the breakfast, multigrain flour chapati with vegetable, egg and milk. I earlier ate 3 chapatis in lunch and now only two. If I have to eat rice then only one chapati. At dinner i used to eat 300 gram of cooked rice. Now I eat only 150 gram and deficit replaced by more veggies. I eat two eggs in a day: one in morning and one in dinner. Trying to include protein in every meal I eat. Physical activity: I went to gym atleast 3 times in a week. I walked atleast 9000 steps in a day. At work I took 15 min time in the morning and evening for walking instead of having tea and snacks.

Doing above things I regained my insulin sensitivity and my blood sugars are back to normal. I lost 5kg weight in the last two months. I hope others can learn from this post who are in dilemma.

When I first started changing my diet, I focused mostly on what I had to stop eating.
Over time, I realized that understanding how different foods affected me was much more useful than simply making a list of “good” and “bad” foods.
Everyone seems to respond differently, and learning what works for your own body takes time.
What is one thing you wish you had known before you started changing your diet?

Is there and other reliable way to diagnose early IR without an OGTT Kraft test?

I read that in the early stages Insulin and C peptide can stay normal during fasting periods but overshoot after eating.

Thanks in advance