Is metformin safe? Learn about the benefits and side effects of this common diabetes medication

People with type 2 diabetes may know all about metformin, which is a medication taken to manage this health condition. This drug works by lowering blood sugar, improving insulin sensitivity, and reducing the production of glucose by the liver. It is often the first line of treatment for type 2 diabetes, as it helps control blood sugar without weight gain or severe hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. But that’s not the only benefit of metformin. In addition to the management of diabetes, this drug, which is often called the “wonder drug”, is also used to treat Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) or to help lose weight. Know the benefits and side effects of metformin, which is more than a diabetes drug.

How does metformin help people with diabetes?

Metformin helps people with diabetes by reducing the production of glucose in the liver, improving insulin sensitivity, and reducing the absorption of glucose in the intestine. “These activities lower blood sugar effectively, especially in people with type 2 diabetes,” says psychologist Dr Jaspreet Singh. It does not cause weight gain and can help with weight loss, making it a good choice for diabetes management and weight loss.

What are the health benefits of metformin?

In addition to controlling diabetes, metformin has many other health benefits:

1. Aids loss

Metformin users who lost more than five percent of their body weight in the first year had greater weight loss success over 6 to 15 years, found a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine Medicine in 2019. “Metformin can help reduce appetite. It leads to a reduction in calorie intake and, ultimately, weight loss,” says the expert.

2. Helps control polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)

Metformin can be used to treat PCOS, as it can significantly reduce androgen levels, improve insulin sensitivity, and regulate menstruation, according to a 2023 study published in the journal Cureus. These medications can also help treat infertility, a common problem associated with PCOS. A study published in the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology found positive effects of metformin on fertility. Ur found that metformin can improve fertility outcomes in women with insulin resistance associated with PCOS.

3. Promotes heart health

Metformin may provide the same or better cardiovascular protection than other drugs such as pioglitazone and glyburide, according to research published in the Journal Of Cellular And Molecular Medicine in 2022. These drugs have been found to reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke, according to a study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. “It may lower blood pressure, and reduce the risk of heart disease,” says Dr Singh.

4. It reduces the risk of cancer

The use of this drug can help reduce the risk of various types of cancer, especially of the colon and pancreas, as research published in Annals Of Translational Medicine in 2014. Metformin has properties that anti-inflammatory that can help reduce the risk of cancer.

5. Improves liver health

Metformin may be beneficial for people with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, according to research published in the Journal of the American Pharmacists Association in 2003. “It may help reduce liver inflammation and improving liver function,” the expert says.

6. Reduces the risk of dementia

Its ability to improve insulin signaling in the brain can help protect against cognitive decline and reduce the risk of dementia. A link between discontinuation of metformin treatment and an increase in dementia was found in a study published in JAMA Network Open in 2023.

7. Improves skin health

Metformin may have beneficial effects on inflammatory skin diseases including psoriasis, acne, and allergic contact dermatitis, according to research published in the International Journal Of Molecular Sciences in 2020. It may also help improve skin tone without dealing with these skin conditions.

8. Reduces the risk of prolonged Covid

It can help reduce the risk of long-term Covid in people with diabetes. The health records of nearly 76,000 adults who took metformin to control type 2 diabetes were analyzed as part of a study published in Diabetes Care in September 2024. They were compared to more than 13,000 adults who took other diabetes medications. Metformin users were 21 percent less likely to have prolonged Covid than those who did not take this diabetes drug. This drug can also help people without diabetes to avoid prolonged Covid. The study, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases 2023, found that metformin reduces the risk of long-term Covid by 40 percent in adults who are overweight or obese. Most of them did not have diabetes.

What are the side effects of metformin?

Metformin has benefits, but it may have some side effects –

1. Stomach problems

These are some of the common side effects of metformin that tend to resolve on their own over time. They may include –

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Gas
• To cheat
• Loss of appetite

2. Lactic acidosis

It is a rare, but dangerous disease that can cause fatigue, muscle weakness, dyspnoea and abdominal pain. “People who drink a lot of alcohol or have certain medical problems, such as liver or renal disease, are more likely to have this negative effect,” says the expert.

3. Vitamin B12 deficiency

Metformin may interfere with the absorption of vitamin B12. This can cause anemia, which occurs due to a lack of red blood cells in the body, and leads to reduced oxygen flow to the body’s organs.

Metformin is not only for diabetes management, as it helps with PCOS, weight loss, liver and heart health. But do not use this medicine without consulting a doctor, as it can lead to stomach problems and others.