Metformin Particularly Effective in Those With History of GDM – check out this article written in Medscape for more information. 

These latest findings come from the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) and its extension phase.

After 15 years from the start of DPP, women with a history of gestational diabetes taking metformin still had a 41% reduced risk of type 2 diabetes, compared with an 11% reduction in parous women with no history of gestational diabetes.

This contrasts with an overall effect of metformin in reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes by 18% in the study cohort as a whole.

“The overall results reinforce the long-lasting efficacy of metformin in reducing the development of diabetes and support its more widespread use as a prevention measure in those at high risk,” said David M Nathan, MD, director of the Diabetes Center at Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, the study chair of DPP, who presented these latest results at the conference.

Asked for comment, Shubhada Jagasia, MD, professor of medicine and vice chair of clinical affairs in the department of medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, told Medscape Medical News that these new data should help doctors to target metformin treatment to those who will benefit most.

Women with a history of GDM who developed prediabetes that were started on Metformin decreased risk of developing type 2 diabetes by 41% at the 15 year mark. Wow.

Interested in learning more about women and diabetes? Check out our Online University course:

Level 2 – Women and Diabetes 1.0 CEs – $19.00

Women with diabetes are confronted with a variety of issues that require special attention, education and understanding. This course reviews those special needs while focusing on Gestational Diabetes and Pre-Existing Diabetes.