Metformin is primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes by helping control blood glucose levels. It's also sometimes used to treat polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and may help with weight management. “It’s been widely accepted that metformin lowers blood glucose primarily by reducing glucose output in the liver. Other studies have found that it acts through the gut,” said corresponding author Dr. Makoto Fukuda, associate professor of pediatrics – nutrition at Baylor. Metformin is a generic prescription medication used to help manage blood sugar levels in adults and some children with type 2 diabetes. It works by decreasing sugar production in the liver. Overview: Metformin is medicine you take to help keep your blood sugar from getting too high. Common side effects may include stomach problems, such as diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain. Metformin is used to treat high blood sugar levels that are caused by a type of diabetes mellitus or sugar diabetes called type 2 diabetes. With this type of diabetes, insulin produced by the pancreas is not able to get sugar into the cells of the body where it can work properly. Metformin is used alone or with other medications, including insulin, to treat type 2 diabetes (condition in which the body does not use insulin normally and, therefore, cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood). Metformin lowers blood glucose levels by reducing how much glucose is released from the liver, and by helping the cells of your body absorb more glucose from your blood. In adults, metformin can be prescribed alone, or with other diabetes medicines, including insulin. Medical uses Metformin is used to lower blood glucose in those with type 2 diabetes. [15] It has also been used to help with metabolic abnormalities in polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), and as a second-line agent for infertility in those with PMOS. [15][34] Metformin is an FDA-approved antidiabetic agent that manages high blood sugar levels in type 2 diabetes patients. It reduces glucose absorption from the intestines, lowers liver glucose production, and improves insulin sensitivity. Summary Millions take metformin every day to manage type 2 diabetes. The NHS has now issued a clear warning about symptoms that should never be ignored. Here is what the medicine is used for, common side effects, and the serious signs that mean you should contact a doctor or seek urgent help.