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
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- 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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Jenny E Gunton is supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council CJ Martin Fellowship.
None identified.