{"id":62247,"date":"2023-12-21T13:51:02","date_gmt":"2023-12-21T18:51:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=62247"},"modified":"2026-03-26T12:37:58","modified_gmt":"2026-03-26T16:37:58","slug":"metformin-benefits","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/metformin-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"6 benefits of the diabetes medication metformin"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Metformin is a medication commonly used to treat people with Type 2 diabetes. It lowers your blood glucose levels, which reduces the <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">risk of diabetic complications<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> such as kidney disease and nerve damage. But since its <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">FDA approval for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> back in 1994, metformin has emerged as something of a \u201cmiracle drug\u201d thanks to its effectiveness in treating other common health conditions, like infertility, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/news\/obesity-statistics\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">obesity<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and heart disease.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Though metformin isn\u2019t technically approved for use in treating anything other than diabetes, many healthcare providers prescribe it <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/off-label-prescription-drugs\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">off-label<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> because of the growing body of evidence supporting these added benefits. Metformin is also being studied for its potential to reduce the risk of certain types of cancer, as well as stroke and dementia.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read on to learn about these proven effects and promising future uses of metformin.<\/span><\/p>\n\t\t<div id=\"coupon-cta\" class=\"coupon-cta master-template\">\n\t\t\t<p id=\"headline\">Save up to 80% on Metformin with SingleCare<\/p>\n\t\t\t<p id=\"subheadline\">Different pharmacies offer different prices for the same medication. 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It works primarily by decreasing glucose production by the liver and improving insulin sensitivity, says <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.houstonmethodist.org\/doctor\/shawhin-karimi\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Shawhin Karimi<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, MD, an endocrinologist at Houston Methodist Willowbrook Hospital in Houston. This makes the medication a frontline treatment for Type 2 diabetes, but its benefits don\u2019t begin and end there. It is good for assisting with weight loss, improving fertility outcomes, and reducing cardiovascular inflammation\u2014among other things. Read on to find out how and why metformin works to improve health.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"1-improves-diabetes-health\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">1. Improves diabetes health<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Improving the health of people with diabetes is the primary reason providers prescribe metformin. It has many potential benefits for people with diabetes, says <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.medicalofficesofmanhattan.com\/our-team\/dr-sitembile-sales\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sitembile Sales<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, MD, internal medicine and integrative medicine physician with Medical Offices of Manhattan in New York. These include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Weight loss<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lower risk of diseases in the large blood vessels of the body, like the brain and heart, and in the small blood vessels of the body, like the eyes, nervous system, and kidneys<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Fewer cardiovascular events and less cardiovascular mortality\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Better <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/effects-of-high-cholesterol\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cholesterol levels<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lower risk of kidney disease and end-stage kidney failure\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It\u2019s important to remember that metformin should be used in conjunction with other interventions; Dr. Sales says lifestyle modifications like smoking cessation, healthy dietary changes, and exercise need to be part of any diabetes treatment plan. Studies show that a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC10611985\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">combination of metformin and lifestyle changes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can have positive impacts on diabetes health.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"2-provides-cardiovascular-benefits\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2. Provides cardiovascular benefits<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Metformin decreases your LDL cholesterol levels (the bad kind) and increases your HDL cholesterol levels (the good kind), says <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehcginstitute.com\/doctors\/danielle-kelvas-md\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Danielle Kelvas<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, MD, a primary care physician with The HCG Institute in Chattanooga, Tennessee. This is one reason for the cardioprotective benefits of metformin.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are other reasons, too, says Dr. Karimi; metformin has anti-inflammatory effects, improves functioning in the cells that line the interior of blood vessels, and protects against oxidative stress and damage to the heart muscle. However, Dr. Karimi explains that while these potential cardiovascular benefits are noteworthy, metformin isn\u2019t a primary treatment for cardiovascular diseases, such as heart failure.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"3-aids-with-weight-loss\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">3. Aids with weight loss<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Metformin is a great drug for weight loss whether or not a person has Type 2 diabetes. \u201cIt&#8217;s affordable, generic, doesn&#8217;t go on shortage, and has a low side effect profile, meaning that most everyone can tolerate it,\u201d Dr. Kelvas explains.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Even more importantly, you can lose belly fat with the use of metformin (and losing belly fat can <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.houstonmethodist.org\/blog\/articles\/2022\/may\/belly-fat-why-its-so-dangerous-and-how-to-lose-it\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lower your risk for heart disease and hypertension<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, among other chronic health conditions).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">How does metformin work to reduce stubborn belly fat? Dr. Kelvas says the drug decreases the rate of gluconeogenesis\u2014which is the complicated biochemical process by which the body processes, stores, and uses glucose\u2014and this has the effect of helping your body <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5291441\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">eliminate visceral fat<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, or excess fat stores in parts of the body like your midsection.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"4-assists-with-fertility-health\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">4. Assists with fertility health<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Metformin doesn\u2019t directly impact fertility in the traditional sense, but if you\u2019re experiencing infertility because of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/what-is-pcos\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">polycystic ovarian syndrome<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (PCOS), metformin can <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/metformin-for-pcos\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">treat many of the common problems<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> that cause fertility issues.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cPeople with PCOS are at a high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes not just because of weight gain, but because they have a genetic predisposition to developing insulin resistance,\u201d Dr. Kelvas says. \u201cKeeping your blood sugar regulated and keeping your weight down can improve all the symptoms of PCOS, from acne to infertility.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In other words, metformin helps control the endocrine complications of PCOS that exacerbate infertility. That\u2019s (possibly) not all it does, either: Some studies show that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sciencedirect.com\/science\/article\/pii\/S0015028217304855\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">metformin can induce ovulation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as well, but currently, using metformin to induce ovulation in women with PCOS is not considered a first-line treatment.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"5-reduces-cancer-risk\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">5. Reduces cancer risk<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recent studies suggest metformin may be able to reduce the incidence of pancreatic, liver, breast, and colon cancers in people with diabetes, says Dr. Sales. This research is still emerging; a large <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/articles\/10.3389\/fendo.2019.00617\/full\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">meta-analysis of studies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> on metformin and cancer showed promise with metformin decreasing pancreatic cancer incidence and improving survival rates for people with colorectal cancer. But that particular analysis did not show a decrease in the incidence of breast, liver, colon, or other types of cancers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3 id=\"6-lowers-risk-of-stroke-and-dementia\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">6. Lowers risk of stroke and dementia<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, metformin may be associated with a lower risk of stroke and dementia, though again, the evidence is emerging, and nothing definitive has been shown. The preliminary data is promising, however, thanks to what we know about Type 2 diabetes and brain health: \u201cBlood sugar control helps to reduce the risk of stroke, dementia, and what neurologists are calling \u2018Type 3 diabetes,\u2019\u201d says Dr. Kelvas, referring to a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/type-3-diabetes\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">type of diabetes associated with Alzheimer&#8217;s disease<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If metformin helps maintain healthy blood sugar levels, it follows that the drug may also be able to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5298897\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">lower the incidence of stroke<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> and prevent other <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/diabetes\/library\/features\/diabetes-and-your-brain.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">brain disorders caused by diabetes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\t\t<div class=\"singlecare-dynamic-newsletter-wrapper sin-newsletter-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"heading\">Get our diabetes newsletter<\/span>\n\t\t\t<form class=\"form-wrapper\" data-newsletter-form=\"1\" data-subsource=\"Diabetes Newsletter\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"input-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<label for=\"dynamic-email\">Email<\/label>\n\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"email\" id=\"dynamic-email\" class=\"email\" required>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"input-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<input class=\"submit-form-btn\" type=\"submit\" value=\"Click to sign up\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/form>\n\t\t\t<p class=\"success-message\" role=\"status\" aria-live=\"polite\"><\/p>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"what-is-metformin-approved-to-treat\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is metformin approved to treat?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Currently, the FDA has only approved metformin for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, there are many off-label uses for metformin, says Dr. Sales, including the treatment of:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gestational diabetes\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Weight gain caused by the use of certain medications, such as antipsychotics<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and hirsutism (excess hair growth on the body), oligomenorrhea (infrequent menstrual periods), and anovulatory infertility, all of which are associated with PCOS<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Metformin may also be used to treat prediabetes or to prevent Type 2 diabetes in certain populations, Dr. Sales says. The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aafp.org\/pubs\/afp\/issues\/2019\/0801\/p134.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">people who benefit the most are those who are at high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, such as people younger than 60, people with a BMI over 35, and women with a history of gestational diabetes.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Dosages vary based on the patient\u2019s overall health (such as the severity of diabetes and other coexisting medical conditions), but the typical range for an adult is between 500 to 2,000 mg per day.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"metformin-side-effects\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Metformin side effects\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to Dr. Sales, the most common <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/metformin-side-effects\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">side effects of metformin<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Gastrointestinal upset, including diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, gas, heartburn, and\u00a0 stomach pain<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Weakness<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Headache\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vitamin B12 deficiency, because <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6867725\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">metformin may reduce the stomach\u2019s ability to absorb this nutrient<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Less commonly, you may experience other side effects such as sweating or low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). Some people get lactic acidosis, which is a dangerous buildup of lactic acid in the blood. It can cause death if not treated, so if you have any of the following symptoms, you should get emergency medical help: muscle pain, feeling cold, difficulty breathing, dizziness or lightheadedness, weakness, vomiting, or slow or irregular heart rate.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If you\u2019re concerned about side effects, talk to your healthcare provider. Some of these side effects can be mitigated by increasing your dosage very slowly, using <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/metformin-vs-metformin-er\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">extended-release formulations instead of immediate-release formulations<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and supplementing with vitamin B12 while taking metformin.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2 id=\"the-bottom-line-talk-to-your-doctor-about-using-metformin\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The bottom line: Talk to your doctor about using metformin<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Metformin is a widely used drug in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes, but its potential benefits may extend to many other disorders and conditions, including heart disease, obesity, infertility, cancer, and dementia. In the future, it\u2019s possible that metformin could even be used to treat age-related diseases and increase life-span. The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/10.1007\/978-3-030-22009-9_400\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Targeting Aging with Metformin<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> (TAME) trial is one of many studies currently looking into these claims.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But at this point in time, the FDA has only approved metformin for the treatment of diabetes. If you are curious about metformin\u2019s other health benefits, talk to your healthcare provider.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cUsing metformin for reasons not approved by the FDA should always be done in consultation with a healthcare provider due to the limited scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness and safety for specific conditions,\u201d Dr. Karimi says. In other words, never take metformin off-label without informing your provider and discussing the pros and cons of off-label use.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Metformin is a medication commonly used to treat people with Type 2 diabetes. It lowers your blood glucose levels, which reduces the risk of diabetic complications such as kidney disease and nerve damage. But since its FDA approval for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes back in 1994, metformin has emerged as something of a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":145,"featured_media":62221,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4589],"tags":[10298,737,9825],"coauthors":[8860],"class_list":["post-62247","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drug-info","tag-diabetes","tag-heart-health","tag-weight-loss","wpautop"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.8 (Yoast SEO v27.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>6 benefits of metformin: Diabetes treatment and beyond<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Metformin is more than just a diabetes drug. 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