Metformin: a life-saving medication

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease. Chronic complications of diabetes, like macroangiopathy, microangiopathy and diabetic neuropathy, present very often at the time of diagnosis, lead to severe disability and a premature death. Chronic hyperglycaemia is a major factor that plays a key role in induction and progression of chronic diabetic complications. The actual guidelines recommend metformin as first-line pharmacological therapy for all patients with type 2 diabetes. Metformin is effective, cheap and safe both in monotheraphy and in combination with other oral antidiabetic agents or insulin. Pleiotropic effects and cardio-protective influence of metformin on cardio-vascular system are also emphasized.