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Biguanides for Type 2 Diabetes
These medicines can be used to treat people who have type 2 diabetes and who have not been able to keep their blood sugar levels within the target range by eating a balanced diet, losing weight, and exercising regularly. Metformin may be used alone or along with a sulfonylurea or thiazolidinedione medicine.
Metformin can also be used to treat people who have type 2 diabetes and who need to take insulin. A study showed that adding metformin to insulin therapy improved blood sugar levels better than increasing the dose of insulin and did not cause weight gain.1 Metformin may also be used with exenatide, pioglitazone, and sitagliptin.
People who have very low insulin levels, have other severe medical conditions (such as kidney, liver, heart, or lung disease), or are having major surgery should not take biguanides.
Metformin is the oral medicine of choice for treating type 2 diabetes in children and adolescents.2
In some cases, a doctor may recommend metformin for people who have prediabetes.
| By: | Healthwise Staff | Last Revised: June 9, 2010 |
| Medical Review: | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Matthew I. Kim, MD - Endocrinology | |
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