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Glucophage Weight LossGlucophage weight loss refers to weight loss that actually occurs as a side effect of taking the drug for treatment of type II diabetes. Glucophage, or metformin is also prescribed for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome or PCOS. Glucophage controls the level of glucose in the blood. It is essential for diabetics to regulate glucose levels. Sometimes they need to eat quick acting carbohydrates for energy during or after physical activity and sometimes they need to need slower acting carbohydrates that are low on the glycemic index , and consequently introduce lower levels of glucose at a slower rate into the blood. Insulin is used by the body to process glucose and allows it to be either burned as fuel or stored as fat. Glucophage lets the body process glucose with a smaller amount of insulin that would otherwise be necessary. Diabetics do not produce enough insulin, which is why glucophage is prescribed as a treatment. There are some other interesting effects of taking glucophage besides weight loss. For example, it not only reduces insulin and glucose levels in the body but also testosterone. The reduction of testosterone in turn helps to reduce hirsutism, the appearance of too much body hair, but it can also precipitate balding in both men and women. It improves amenorrhea, the absence of periods in pre-menopausal women, which can help infertility, but it can also lead to complications with pregnancy. Glucophage has also been proven to reduce the incidence of acne. Weight loss in people taking glucophage is not the primary purpose for taking it, nor is it a primary benefit in those that do take it. However, glucophage appears to contribute to weight loss in some patients. There are negative side effects as well. Some people taking glucophage report flu-like symptoms such as achiness and fatigue. Glucophage can also cause anemia by reducing the amount of B vitamins in the body. A significant number of people (about one third) experience nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. This last symptom can be combated by introducing small levels into the body and increasing the dose over time as the body builds up resistance to the side effects. Some scientists think that this latter symptom of diarrhea and vomiting is the primary reason why glucophage weight loss occurs. In short, you only lose weight because you are generally unwell and don’t tolerate food as well as normal. Because glucophage acts on the liver, your liver and kidneys must be in healthy condition in order for you to take it. Another side effect of taking glucophage is an elevated level of the hormone homocysteine. This can cause complications with pregnancy and lead to the dangerous condition of eclampsia which puts both the mother and baby’s life at risk. Glucophage is only available with a prescription and generally prescribed for the treatment of diabetes and PCOS. Glucophage patients are advised to improve their diet and to exercise regularly. Proper attention to diet and exercise can help those at high risk of diabetes from developing it in the first place. There are also many herbal supplements that can control some of the other symptoms for which glucophage is prescribed. Fish oils and B vitamins can particularly help. Glucophage weight loss, weight loss caused by lowering the amount of glucose released into the blood stream, can be reproduced to some extent by sticking to a low glycemic index diet. Philip Kustner
Glucophage weight loss is not a healthy way to go. Back
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