Hi there and welcome. I've never heard about carb AND metformin being a concern. All Diabetics or pre-diabetics as you said should watch carbohydrates in their diet as they turn to glucose (sugar) when digested and if you eat too many of them your blood sugar will rise. Based on your diagnosis you should be controlling them and spreading them out over the entire days meals. There are many websites that can help you with that. Simple carbohydrates are what you need to avoid or limit. Sugary sodas, juices, candy, cakes, etc... if you are going to have them you need to include them in your carb count for that meal.
Whole grains, starchy vegetables, and fruit are the best carbohydrates to eat. Potatoes, corn, peas, and starchy beans are included as carbohydrates, not vegetables (most people aren't aware of this). Pasta and rice are other carbohydrates that require portion control. There isn't anything that you can't eat, there is no special diabetes diet. Whole grains and starchy vegetables, veggies, fruit (limit them to 2-3 servings per day as natural sugar can also cause a rise in blood sugar), lean meats, and dairy are the basics. Serving size is important in all food types but each of us is individual in how we manage our diabetes. Some eat 5-6 small meals a day, some 3 meals and snacks in between. As a PreDiabetic, I'd guess a dietician would tell you to eat 3 meals a day and eat snacks in between of fruit or vegetables. I'm sure this is more than you wanted to know - sorry about that but it's important to balance your food and eat a healthy diet. Everyone should eat the way we do and get some daily exercise not just people at risk for diabetes. So back to your real question (I get side tracked lol) it's not the metformin that causes the need to control carbs, it's the blood sugar levels.

*Judy (JP)

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JP has explained the carbs relationship with Diabetes very well. However, if you still have doubts or questions ask your doctor if you can attend a Diabetes Class and they will explain some ways to watch and measure what you eat. That could be a start. However, if you have time Google Diabetes and there are many informative websites. That is how I came across Diabetes Community.

Wishing you great Health and prayers.

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Last edited about 1 year ago

I just found this regarding Metformin and how it works.
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Metformin appears to work in three ways. First, it decreases the absorption of dietary carbohydrates through the intestines.

Second, it reduces the production of glucose by the liver.(2) The liver uses the raw material in your food to create a reserve supply of blood sugar. When your body experiences stress, the liver releases the reserve glucose to supply your brain and muscles with an immediate source of energy to cope with the stress. Glucophage suppresses the production of this reserve fuel.

Third, and perhaps most importantly, metformin increases the sensitivity of muscle cells to insulin.(2) Insulin is the hormone that delivers glucose into your cells to be burned as fuel, or stored. Many type 2 Diabetics have "insulin resistance", a condition where excessive amounts of insulin are required in order to get blood glucose moved into cells, where it belongs. Glucophage helps your body to transport glucose with relatively less insulin, thus lowering your insulin levels. Chronically high levels of either glucose or insulin in your blood contributes to obesity, heart disease, infertility, and certain cancers, as well as the development of diabetes.

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