I was reading that some MtFs take metformin to aid with fat redistribution. I may have to take it anyway for diabetes as my previous GP wanted to put me on it but I was wondering if this side effect is true. I have been resisting going on it because I think I can control diabetes with diet and exercise but the appeal of lowering A1C by 1% or more and also having fat redistribution for a more feminine shape as a side effect is appealing.
As far as i know Metformin can have a feminising effect by blocking a part of the testosterone produced in the ovaries of females. I guess it works for male bodies as well, but for a mtf person i don't see any advantage in regards to feminization. Since we're usually using high doses of very potent androgenblockers, we're already lowering the testosteron to a chosen minimum.
My experience with Metformin from November '11- March '12 was as follows- I had just put up an A1C of 10.5, and the doctor declared me diabetic on the spot. He was wrong. The chronic hyperglycemia was actually due to severe diverticulitis and multiple infections, including a UTI from a colovesical fistula. I was urinating fire every few minutes, passing gas out my urethra and chugging Gatorade to quench my extreme thirst. After I got the infections under control and went low-carb (due to thinking I was diabetic), I had to eat something every 2-3 hours just to keep my blood sugar up. Alcohol was a no-go. The good news was after all was said and done (and a week in the hospital after surgery to remove my sigmoid colon) that I lost 50 pounds and was no longer remotely overweight. This whole time I was keeping track of my blood sugar carefully, and showed my new doctor months of results. He told me to get the hell off of Metformin right away due to having numbers that were not only "normal", but on the low end of it. He wouldn't even tell me what my new A1C even was, and even told me I could have my cake (and eat it too.)
I suppose that if you lose all the weight from "male" places, then gain some back with female hormone levels, it will collect in more "female" places, but the trick would be to make sure you lose a lot of weight from the Metformin.
I was much happier off of it because having to remember to eat a small amount all the time just to keep my blood sugar up was a pain. When I went off of it, I stopped losing weight and my dysphoria went through the roof due to less testosterone aromatizing into estrogen from body fat.
Perhaps this is why so many MTFs have "fat" phases?
10.5!!! Wow!
The highest I've had was 7.7 when I got lazy with work/projects piling up and I couldn't get to workout plus I was depressed and ate lots of high carb and sugary food to make me happy plus drinking alcohol.
Now I keep it below 7, to around 6 and below sometimes. But it requires hard work, watching every morsel of what I eat and also hitting the gym hard. I love that I lose weight and all, and easily too I might add, but I wish I wasn't such a slave to the gym. :(
I am definitely diabetic. It runs in the family and my grandmother died in her 50s due to cardiovascular disease caused partially by it. She also had renal failure and other complications. My grandfather lost eyesight in one eye too and began to black out and fall down in his late 60s when his sugar got high. My dad is battling it now and he has to eat on time otherwise he feels the effects. My mom... won't go and see the doctor, but I'm sure she has it too. It's these weak Indian genes I have. :(
Sounds like the benefits for feminization may be dubious at best... I might still take it to lower my A1C just because i want to be healthy for transition. What an incentive, eh? I tell you, this has been the biggest motivator for me to keep myself healthy...
Enough estrogen and progesterone seem to aid with fat redistribution in some.
I was on metaformin for a little bit but not long, after I got out of hospital. But my diabetes went away... I didn't have any issues the short time I was on it. Right now, I am on phentermine for weight loss, it just curves appetite... I just got 20 more lbs to go and I'll be in the normal range my doctor said... but I want to be at the start of normal, so really I got 40 more pounds... the last 20 pounds I am shedding will be tough as I won't have my weight loss pill... he won't give it to me when I am 'normal'.
But, keep on top of your health when it comes to diabetes... I didn't and nearly died :\