Metformin is a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes and gestational diabetes, and its also used to help prevent type 2 diabetes if youre at high risk of developing it. It works by improving the way your body handles insulin, which lowers your blood sugar levels. Metformin is the most common treatment for type 2 diabetes. It can also be prescribed for other uses, such as managing symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) . Some key points about metformin include:

• How it works: Metformin reduces serum glucose level by several different mechanisms, including reducing the amount of glucose the liver releases into the body and helping the bodys insulin work better.

• Side effects: The most common side effects of metformin are feeling and being sick, diarrhea, stomach ache, and loss of appetite. Vitamin B12 deficiency is also a common side effect of taking metformin in higher doses or for long periods of time.

• Other benefits: Metformin may provide heart health benefits, including lower rates of death due to cardiovascular disease. It may also help people with diabetes lose excess weight. Additionally, metformin may have health benefits for people who dont have diabetes, such as delaying the onset of diabetes or even preventing it among people with prediabetes.

Its important to note that metformin is not a substitute for a healthy lifestyle, and its best to take it with a meal to reduce the side effects. If you have type 1 diabetes, metformin might also be prescribed, but only if you have insulin resistance.