What Does It Feel Like to Take Metformin? 3 People Describe Their Experiences

Metformin, a Type 2 diabetes medication, is one of the most prescribed medications in the country. 

It has been approved in the U.S. since 1995 and is seen as the clinical answer to helping people with Type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar (glucose) levels.

Three people who take metformin tell GoodRx that it’s effective — as long as you can get over the most common side effect: digestive issues.

Metformin keeps him accountable

Steve Willis began taking metformin in March 2022, when he was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. He says he found an unintended benefit: The medication helps keep him accountable for eating the right things to keep his blood glucose in check.

But when he first started taking it, he experienced the medication’s best-known side effect.

“The very first thing you’re going to notice is that it’s going to have a laxative effect — I guess that’s the most gentle way I can put it,” he says. “It generally doesn’t ramp up until about the second day. But for the first couple of weeks, boy, it packs a wallop. And you’ll find out anything you eat, it is going to run right through you.”

After a while, he noticed that the side effect would come back  when he wasn’t eating properly. 

“I almost liken it to a way to keep you accountable, because you know what’s going to happen if you eat the wrong things too much, too often.”

Hoping to avoid these episodes, Steve changed his lifestyle. He now eats better and is more active. He’s lost 55 pounds since his diagnosis. Now, he takes 1,000 mg of metformin twice daily.

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Steve, who’s 46 and runs an electrical department near Granger, Indiana, says metformin also makes him feel more sensitive to sugar.

He likes to look at  the data. He studied his condition and his medication, and he learned that his lifestyle — sedentary with overeating — is likely what led to his diabetes, along with a possible genetic predisposition.

Now, his hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C A1C) (the test that measures average blood glucose over 3 months) is down to 6.1 — which is on target for someone with diabetes. And his blood glucose generally stays around 100, which is where he wants it to be.

“Because the metformin helps your cells absorb sugar like they should, I’ve noticed an increase in energy and the ability to actually feel satisfied and not want to snack so much because my body’s utilizing sugar like it should,” Steve says.

Another unintended benefit: He’s more apt to do yard work and walk the dogs. And he’s even channeled his energy into his passion for social media. A former radio guy and podcaster who focused on social media to give him and his kids something fun to do during the pandemic, he is now posting push-up videos for his many followers.  

Metformin occasionally makes an appearance in his videos, too. When he first started the medication and was in the throes of the unpleasant side effect, he posted a video asking for advice.

The best advice? “Do your research and know what to expect. Know what you should see and what you shouldn’t see and when something should be a concern,” he says. “Always ask questions when your doctor gives you a new prescription.”

Metformin doesn’t slow him down

Brian Grover’s metformin experience started in a similar way. When his bloodwork came back indicating he was borderline Type 2 diabetes, his healthcare provider prescribed metformin to help keep it under control. For the last 4 years, he has taken 500 mg twice a day.

“I didn’t have any concerns, but I do know my wife stopped taking it because it was affecting her kidneys, and she’s in stage 3 kidney disease,” he says. 

While metformin is not known to affect healthy kidneys, people with a history of kidney problems should talk to their provider before taking it. This is because metformin can build up in your body if your kidneys aren’t able to remove it properly.

“Since I already see a kidney doctor, I’m not concerned about it,” Brian says. “Because if he sees any change, he will make changes to my medication.”

Brian is 69 and retired in Oracle, Arizona. He golfs nearly every day, lifts weights, and walks. Metformin doesn’t slow him down.

“I don’t have any real side effects,” he says. “Every now and then, I’ll get diarrhea that may be triggered by it. But it is not recurring and only happens occasionally.”

Brian says he doesn’t really feel the medication in his body. But he knows it’s working because his blood tests show his blood sugar levels are under control. That’s what’s important to him.

“I would say that, at least for myself, that it hasn’t hurt me in any way,” he says.  

Metformin helps ward off sugar fatigue

Ten years ago, Joe Thomas did a wellness check at work to secure incentive money. But the check-up brought him more than a few bucks.

“I found out I was a Type 2 diabetic,” he says.

The 43-year-old maintenance man has taken 2,000 mg of metformin every day since to control his blood sugar levels. For a while, he also took the oral pill Januvia (sitagliptin) to increase the amount of insulin his body produced. But he found metformin worked better for him.

He has had occasional digestive issues, like many others who take it. But he also credits metformin with helping him lose weight.

Joe, from Cincinnati, says he knows the metformin is working because his blood sugar remains within desired levels. He checks his level once in the morning and once before bed.

Even without checking, he can tell when his level is high.

“I get extremely tired [if I don’t take it],” he says. “It is a weird feeling. You don’t feel right.”

Joe is on his feet every day and has a very physical job. Metformin keeps him on top of his game. He’s discussed the repercussions of long-term use with his doctor and isn’t worried.

“They check my kidneys every 6 months to make sure everything’s OK,” he says.

What does the pharmacist say?

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD

Director, Pharmacy Content

For many people living with Type 2 diabetes, metformin is often a first-choice medication. It helps improve your blood glucose levels in a few different ways. First, it makes your body more sensitive to insulin. This helps your cells use glucose in your blood for energy. Metformin also decreases the amount of glucose your body makes and absorbs.

When you’re first getting started on metformin, it’s normal to experience side effects like diarrhea, nausea, and gas. For most people, these side effects get better within a few weeks. Taking your dose with food — particularly with the largest meal of the day — can help in the meantime.

But if these side effects are making metformin difficult to tolerate, your healthcare provider may lower your dose or switch you to an extended-release (ER) version if you’re not taking one already. The ER version releases the medication more slowly, which may be easier on your stomach.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition, so you’ll likely need to take metformin long term. You’ll get the most benefit from treatment when you pair metformin with a healthy diet and exercise. Talk to your healthcare provider if any metformin side effects aren’t going away, or they’re getting worse. They can discuss the best next steps for you.

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Written by:

Brian G. Gregg

Gregg has more than three decades of professional communications experience. He's currently managing content for Harris Beach PPLC, as well as operating his own strategic communications firm, Write Stuff Strategic Communication.

Edited by:

Tanya Bricking Leach

Tanya Bricking Leach is an award-winning journalist who has worked in both breaking news and hospital communications. She has been a writer and editor for more than 20 years.

Reviewed by:

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD

Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD, is the director of pharmacy content for GoodRx. She has over a decade of experience as a pharmacist and has worked in clinical, academic, and administrative roles.

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