Metformin use as an adjunct to insulin treatment in selected patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus

Gunton, Jenny E; Twigg, Stephen M

doi:10.5694/j.1326-5377.2003.tb05374.x

Topics

To the Editor: Metformin is a commonly prescribed oral hypoglycaemic agent used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus. Its major effect is on hepatic glucose production and thereby fasting blood glucose level (f-BGL). Metformin does not commonly cause weight gain, and may be associated with significant weight loss.1

Correspondence:

Acknowledgements:

Jenny E Gunton is supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council CJ Martin Fellowship.

Competing interests:

None identified.

1. Bailey CJ, Turner RC. Drug therapy: metformin. N Engl J Med 1996; 334: 574-579.
2. Daniel JR, Hagmeyer KO. Metformin and insulin: is there a role for combination therapy? Ann Pharmacother 1997; 31: 474-480.
3. Meyer L, Bohme P, Delbachian I, et al. The benefits of metformin therapy during continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion treatment of type 1 diabetic patients. Diabetes Care 2002; 25: 2153-2158.
4. Hamilton J, Cummings E, Zdravkovic V, et al. Metformin as an adjunct therapy in adolescents with type 1 diabetes and insulin resistance: a randomised controlled trial. Diabetes Care 2003; 26: 138-143.

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