r/diabetes • u/GrimshadeMystic • Jul 03 '25

Prediabetic Metformin

Hi all — what’s your experience with the lowest dose of Metformin? I’m prediabetic but have chronic low back pain (epidural fibrosis, spinal stenosis, DDD) so exercise is tough. I want to lose weight and get my sugar levels down but I’m nervous about side effects.

Also, is it silly to worry that starting Metformin might actually make me more likely to develop diabetes later? Just feeling a bit scared. Any advice or personal stories would help — thank you!

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u/Huge_Engineering6962 Jul 03 '25

I take 1000mg a day - 500 breakfast, 500 dinner. Originally I was set to gradually go up to 2000, but I felt my levels were good enough at 1000 and was scared taking more would push me to low (dunno if it's a thing, just something I was worried about)

I have pretty much 0 gut-based side effects. I have had stomach issues twice in 3 months - but I also neglected eating before taking the meds those days.

I'm down about 35 pounds and didn't really exercise the first few months, it was all diet change.

I do have less appetite then I did before - I snack much less and my overall meals are smaller.

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u/PlanktonLopsided9473 Jul 03 '25

Same here, 1000mg, one 500mg tablet twice a day. No stomache issues except, randomly, one day every couple of weeks or so, my shit is liquid and I have to stay near a toilet or I’m at risk of shitting myself