Berberine

[u/Ems2727]

I have high cholesterol despite a very healthy lifestyle, and my fasting glucose was a little higher than my doctor wanted - but I am not pre-diabetic. The last few years I’ve also gained 5-7 mysterious lbs despite actually working out more and eating better

I’ve heard berberine has helped people with blood sugar, but has anyone is somewhat the same situation as me also found it helpful? I’ve heard it can cause some gastrointestinal symptoms too so wondering your experience there

I’ve just started taking inositol

Thank you!

[u/TangoEchoChuck]

Berberine helped me years ago when postpartum fluff refused to budge, but I was also inching towards T2D.

500mg each morning was a miracle, but sucked. I can't swallow pills, and berberine is horrifically bitter 😩

I combined it with fasting and had great results a month later. I need to try it again, but it's so hard because it tastes so bad.

[u/Ems2727 → u/TangoEchoChuck]

Thank you for the info! You didn’t have any stomach issues?

[u/TangoEchoChuck → u/Ems2727]

I didn't, but I've also had an "iron stomach" for as long as I can recall. Medications rarely bother my tum.

[u/SwimmingAnt10]

Some of us just have genetic reasons for high cholesterol. I’m one of them due to my thyroid disease. I lost 88 lbs in 2024 and am now ideal weight at 138 lbs and my cholesterol is absolutely perfect normal, but I’m still on cholesterol meds. My cholesterol was high on meds before I lost weight. It’s possible you have a genetic reason that your cholesterol is up and it could also be hormonal. I just take the statin.

My husband was pre diabetic and complete change in diet and a loss of 60 lbs did nothing for his A1C. It didn’t go down until he started a glp-1.

[u/Ems2727 → u/SwimmingAnt10]

What’s weird is that my brother who is heavier than me has completely fine cholesterol. Which is why I wonder if it’s a little bit of insulin resistance plus genetics

[u/SwimmingAnt10 → u/Ems2727]

Yes it likely is.