Start Metformin: What You Need to Know Before Taking It

When you start metformin, a widely prescribed oral medication for type 2 diabetes. Also known as glucophage, it helps your body use insulin better and lowers blood sugar without causing weight gain — unlike some other diabetes drugs. Millions in India take it daily, often as a first-line treatment, because it’s affordable, effective, and has been used for over 60 years.

But metformin dosage, how much you take and how you take it. Also known as starting dose, it’s not one-size-fits-all. Doctors usually begin with 500 mg once or twice a day, then slowly increase it based on your blood sugar levels and how your stomach handles it. Many people feel nauseous or get diarrhea at first — that’s common, and it usually fades after a week or two. Taking it with food helps a lot. Some people use it for metformin for weight loss, even without diabetes, because it reduces appetite and helps the body burn fat more efficiently. Also known as off-label use, this isn’t officially approved by regulators, but many doctors prescribe it this way, especially for those with PCOS or prediabetes. It doesn’t make you lose weight like Ozempic, but it can help you shed a few pounds over months, especially when paired with simple lifestyle changes.

Side effects like bloating, gas, or a metallic taste are common at first, but serious ones — like lactic acidosis — are extremely rare if your kidneys are healthy. That’s why doctors check your kidney function before and during treatment. If you’re over 65, have heart failure, or drink alcohol heavily, you might need lower doses or avoid it altogether. And if you’re scheduled for surgery or an imaging scan with contrast dye, you’ll need to pause it temporarily.

What you’ll find in the posts below isn’t just theory — it’s real talk from people who’ve been there. You’ll see how others handled the first week, what they did when their stomach rebelled, how they tracked results, and what they learned about combining metformin with diet, walking, or other meds. No fluff. No hype. Just what works — and what doesn’t — when you start metformin in the Indian context.