Metformin Uses (Cont.)

Metformin as Part of Diabetes Treatment

The main goal of any diabetes treatment is to lower your blood sugar levels (as measured by your hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c]) enough to reduce your risk for developing problems related to diabetes (see Diabetes Complications).
 
Any type 2 diabetes treatment begins with lifestyle changes (such as weight loss, a diabetic diet, and exercise). If lifestyle changes alone are not effective at managing diabetes, diabetes medications, such as metformin, may be necessary.
 
(To learn about controlling diabetes through lifestyle choices, click on any of the links below:
 

Metformin Use in Children

Metformin is approved for use in children who are at least 10 years old. The long-acting form, metformin ER, is approved for use in individuals who are age 17 or older. Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of using metformin for type 2 diabetes in children.
 

Off-Label Metformin Uses

On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend metformin for something other than the condition discussed above. This is called an "off-label" use. At this time, metformin has a few off-label uses, including:
 
  • Treatment of gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy)
     
  • Treatment of polycystic ovarian syndrome (see PCOS and Metformin)
     
  • Treatment of HIV lipodystrophy, a condition involving abnormal fatty areas of the body in people who have HIV or AIDS.
Pages:

Previous 1   2

Add this article to your Favorites     Email this article     Print
Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;