Historically , healthcare providers have order metformin to treat high blood sugar for people with type 2 diabetes , but progressively , egress research suggests that the medicament may check promise for treating extra health conditions .
“ It is mainly a medication for thetreatment of diabetes , ” saysMarcio Griebeler , MD , an endocrinologist at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio . “ There are several written report that prove that metformin can decrease the long - full term complication of diabetes , includingcardiovascular eventsand cardiovascular mortality , myocardial infarction , nitty-gritty failure , arterial revascularization , stroke , and last . ”
Metformin may also wager a part in treatingCOVID-19 , the respiratory sickness cause by the new coronavirus . Astudy published in May 2020 in theAmerican Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygienesuggested that Glucophage may aid quash the risk of dying from COVID-19 in people with character 2 diabetes . The study found that the death rate for participant acquire metformin was 2.9 percentage , while the death rate for those who did n’t take metformin was 12.3 percent . Yet it ’s deserving noting that this field of study was not a randomized controlled trial , so research worker could not try that metformin alone was responsible for the cut destruction rate .
Anotherstudy published in March 2023 in theLancetfound that a 42 percent decrease inlong COVIDincidence come about in participant in a randomised trial who get early outpatient COVID-19 treatment with Glucophage equate with those who receive a placebo .
There is also some grounds that metformin may helpslow the aging cognitive process . Studies have shown that metformin can delay aging and meliorate health in animals , and the drug may have positive implication for several factors that affect aging in humans .
With a relatively affordable toll tatter and ubiquity at pharmacies around the United States , you may be wondering if this drug may fit in your discourse regimen . In this elaborated story , we run down the latest studies on the benefit of Glucophage , including its role in weight loss , and delve into the scientific reasons that metformin works .
Metformin Definition, Function, and Type 2 Diabetes Benefits
Metformin is a character of medication call in a biguanide , which take down blood glucose levels by diminish the amount of glucose produce by the liver and promoting insulin assimilation by muscle tissue paper , accord to the American Diabetes Association .
Metformin became available in the United States in 1995,according to the Mayo Clinic , and it is the most commonly prescribed medication to treat case 2 diabetes worldwide , according to astudy published in April 2019 inJAMA Insights . In fact , diabetes health care professional consider Glucophage “ the drug of choice for initialtreatment of case 2 diabetes , ” according to anarticle publish in March 2017 inJAMA .
Diabetes 101: What Is Metformin?
“ Metformin is so pop because it is cheap and can reduce the glucose degree and A1C [ blood sugar norm for three months ] the most compared with other diabetes medications , ” says Dr. Griebeler .
Areview publish in theJournal of Research in Medical Sciencesreported that metformin is 30 percentage more effective at reduce the risk of death and complications than insulin , glibenclamide , and chlorpropamide , which aresulfonylureas , a class of diabetes drugs .
Metformin is loosely part of a diabetes - maintenance programme , and it works in conjunction with a healthydietandexerciseroutine . It ’s ordinarily convey doubly a mean solar day with meals and can take anywhere from one week to two month to see origin sugar improvements , according to the Mayo Clinic .
Metformin Brand Names
Metformin is useable under the blade names Fortamet , Glucophage , Glumetza , and Riomet , according to MedlinePlus . The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ( FDA ) has only approved Glucophage for people with type 2 diabetes , fit in to MedlinePlus . It ’s also been shown to be a helpful preventative measure for masses at peril of modernize the disease and those with prediabetes , which is the predecessor of character 2 diabetes , though the FDA has not yet approve metformin for those uses .
Cost of Metformin
Susan L. Besser , MD , a primary forethought MD with Mercy Medical Center in Overlea , Maryland , says Glucophage is wide available — though by prescription only — and is relatively affordable . Griebeler pronounce that in some locations , a three - month supplying may cost just $ 10 . It ’s also make love to be safe , with minimal side upshot . investigator behind areview published in August 2017 in the journalDrug Design , Development , and Therapyreported that it has a “ good safety profile and is tie in with low cost . ”
The Studied Benefits of Metformin for Preventing Type 2 Diabetes Complications
Metformin is dictate to treat high blood dough , but researchers have found that it has many other benefits to propose patient role with character 2 diabetes and can reduce the risk of several other wellness concerns , including :
The Potential Benefits of Metformin Beyond Managing Type 2 Diabetes
More and more enquiry suggest that the benefit of this medication are n’t reserved for people with type 2 diabetes . Griebeler say that even though metformin is only approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes , it ’s being used off - recording label to handle weight simplification , polycystic ovarian syndrome ( PCOS ) , infertility , prevention of diabetes , prevention of pregnancy complication , and corpulency .
It ’s been shown to have a positive issue on the following wellness egress for people without diabetes :
OsteoarthritisAccording to astudy published in May 2019 inArthritis Research and Therapy , metformin can help hoi polloi with corpulency and osteoarthritis . The researchers found that metformin helped people lose cartilage at a lower rate than those who did not take metformin , and they observe that the medicinal drug reduced participant ’ danger of needing a total knee replacement , which is a possible complication of this health status .
Alzheimer ’s DiseaseAstudy published in April 2017 inAlzheimer Disease and Associated Disordersinvolving 20 people without eccentric 2 diabetes found that metformin improved executive purpose skills , learning , memory , and attention . The randomized , controlled trial was short ( eight weeks ) and small ( only 21 participants ) , though , so more inquiry is want .
ObesityMetformin has been point to leave inweight loss among people with type 2 diabetes , per the Mayo Clinic , so investigator were interested in reckon if the results would be like for mass without diabetes . “ There has been some research that when hoi polloi who [ do not have diabetes but are ] overweight are put on Glucophage , it help oneself with weight loss , ” Dr. Besser says .
Astudy published inExperimental and Clinical Endocrinology and Diabetestreated 154 people who did not have diabetes with metformin for six months . The bailiwick participants lose nearly 13 pounds ( lbs ) on average , and researchers found that the medicine helped overweight and obese people with insulin resistance , increase their sensitivity to the internal secretion . Insulin resistance increase the risk for free weight increase , remark the Mayo Clinic .
Ameta - analytic thinking of randomized , control trial that was publish in December 2018 inEndocrinealso found that metformin may help people with obesity turn a loss weight unit . “ I have used [ metformin ] for fleshiness direction — for some with normal sugars , some prediabetic — and it helps , ” Besser say . “ It ’s not an closing - all , do - all — it ’s not a miracle cure — but it does seem to help . ” She says to wait only a modest amount of weight exit , 10 or 15 lbs , but it could be enough to inspire people to stay on the weight unit loss path . “ It ’s enough to kick - beginning affair , and for anyone who ’s quite overweight , any weight red is encouraging , and it make them want to keep blend , ” Besser says .
ArthritisAstudy bring out in 2019 inCurrent Rheumatology Reviewsfound that metformin can protect bones , especially during the former stages of creaky arthritis , anddecrease lighting . “ I suspect it ’s because metformin may lick in an anti - incendiary way , ” Besser say .
PCOSMetformin can facilitate promote ovulation among nonobesewomen with PCOS , which , like type 2 diabetes , involve insulin resistance , according to anarticle published in theAnnals of Translational Medicine . “ Diabetes does not have PCOS , but people with PCOS have a high-pitched danger of arise diabetes , ” Besser say . She ’s used Glucophage to treat hoi polloi with PCOS , a couple of whom manage to become pregnant after they started submit it . harmonise to the Mayo Clinic , metformin can also improve natality rates among women with PCOS .
The Bottom Line on Using Metformin for Treating Health Conditions
Though the FDA has only approved metformin to plow type 2 diabetes , inquiry shows that it can help with a master of ceremonies of other wellness benefits for people with or without diabetes . In fact , according to a list of study on the web site for the journalFrontiers , in addition to the wellness condition heel above , metformin is currently being explore as a way to regale these issue as well :
Additional reporting byLaura McArdle .
Type 2 Diabetes
The Prediabetes Debate: Is It a Useful Diagnosis or Potentially Harmful?
The Link Between PCOS and Diabetes
You’re Taking Ozempic or Mounjaro for Diabetes. Do You Still Need Metformin?
What Are the Possible Complications of Type 2 Diabetes, and How Can You Avoid Them?
Does Metformin Cause Weight Loss? What to Know Before You Take It
Metformin May Lead to Healthier Pregnancies in Women With Type 2 Diabetes
Trulicity Tied to Lower Heart Disease, Stroke, and Kidney Problems
Metformin Trumps Diet, Exercise for Sustained Weight Loss, Study Finds
Metformin May Help Prevent Eye Disease in People With Type 2 Diabetes
Get your personalized Content!
To get the best possible treatment , you need to give your healthcare provider the right information — and know what
