asked to take part in metformin study - any advice?

[Annie77]

Hi

Just had my booking in appt with midwife and my BMI came in at 31.8 so she asked me if I would like to take part on a study which is happening in Edinburgh & Nottingham.
It would be a blind study so not sure if I would get placebo or metaformin. The study requires me to be assessed in a 'bod-pod' to analyse body fat composition, 2 x MRI's, 6 x blood tests over the course of pregnancy.

Part of me really wants to as I have suspected I may have been glucose intolerant over the last 3 years & if I got the drug it may be helpful in keeping my weight gain under control and ensuring baby is okay & not develop GD.

On the other hand, do i really want MRI's whilst pregnant??

Anyone else involved in this study or similiar? Any adice would be very welcome.

Annie

 

[LRT]

I wouldn't participate in any kind of study while pregnant-especially with drugs. If you develop GD, it can be controlled with diet, exercise and insulin.

 

[OnErth&InHvn]

I wouldnt do it while preg but after I would. I take Met for my PCOS and thank god for ER because the standard has awful s/e!

 

[daisy72]

I definitely would not participate. Your BMI doesn't necessary mean that you will develop GD. If you develop it, you will need a treatment, not a maybe-yes-maybe-no game that you get with these blind tests. If you don't develop GD, why to take an unnecessary drug (to say nothing about MRI!). Metformin btw crosses the placenta. It is safe to take in pregnancy, but why to do it and be at risk of low blood glucose levels?
I have never heard that metformin can keep your weight gain under control. Only proper nutrition and moderate excersise...

 

[Scarletvixen]

Im on metformin but that because im diabetic, metformin is as safe as any meds cna be in pregnancy

 

[AonTaistealai]

daisy, metformin doesn't actually cause hypoglycemia.

Annie, ou can take a GTT to test for glucose levels. I wouldn't start a new med during pregnancy unless your doctor advised it. Metformin has done great stuff for me, but there was an adjustment period where I pretty much felt nauseous all the time. Do you want to deal with that on top of whatever baby symptoms you have?

 

[daisy72]

daisy, metformin doesn't actually cause hypoglycemia.

I know that it doesn't, in diabetic patients. The OP doesn't even have a diagnosis, only an elevated bmi. So I'm not sure how metformin works in people without diabetes.

 

[amjon]

Would they give you Metformin if you didn't do the study? My endo thinks insulin resistance may have played a role in my losses and is keeping me on the whole pregnancy. It won't cause low blood sugar and has actually prevented it for me as that has always been my biggest issue.

 

[sethsmummy]

I wouldnt take part in it hun.