Cited by 201Diabetes Management and ResearchDiabetes Treatment and ManagementDiabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins

The use of metformin in type 1 diabetes: a systematic review of efficacy

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Vella, S., Buetow, L., Royle, P., Livingstone, S., Colhoun, H. M., Petrie, J. R.·2010·Diabetologia

Abstract

Aims/hypothesis As adding metformin to insulin therapy has been advocated in type 1 diabetes, we conducted a systematic review of published clinical trials and clinical trial databases to assess the effects on HbA(1c), weight, insulin-dose requirement and adverse effects.Methods We constructed evidence tables and fitted a fixed-effects model (inverse variance method) in order to assess heterogeneity between studies and give a crude measure of each overall treatment effect.Results Of 197 studies identified, nine involved randomisation with informed consent of patients with type 1 diabetes to metformin (vs placebo or comparator) in either a parallel or crossover design for at least 1 week. We noted marked heterogeneity in study design, drug dose, age of participants and length of follow-up. Metformin was associated with reductions in: (1) insulin-dose requirement (5.7-10.1 U/day in six of seven studies); (2) HbA(1c) (0.6-0.9% in four of seven studies); (3) weight (1.7-6.0 kg in three of six studies); and (4) total cholesterol (0.3-0.41 mmol/l in three of seven studies). Metformin was well tolerated, albeit with a trend towards increased hypoglycaemia. Formal estimates of combined effects from the five trials which reported appropriate data indicated a significant reduction in insulin dose (6.6 U/day, p < 0.001) but no significant reduction in HbA(1c) (absolute reduction 0.11%, p = 0.42). No reported trials included cardiovascular outcomes.Conclusions/interpretation Metformin reduces insulin-dose requirement in type 1 diabetes but it is unclear whether this is sustained beyond 1 year and whether there are benefits for cardiovascular and other key clinical outcomes.

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  • Addition of metformin to insulin therapy in type 1 diabetes is associated with reductions in insulin-dose requirement and HbA1c levels.

    “The addition of metformin to insulin therapy in type 1 diabetes is also associated with reductions in insulin-dose requirement and HbA1c levels [30,31].”
  • There is some evidence that suggests improvement in metabolic control of poorly controlled adolescents with type 1 diabetes when metformin is added to insulin therapy.

    “There is some evidence that suggests improvement in metabolic control of poorly controlled adolescents with type 1 diabetes when metformin is added to insulin therapy.”
  • Metformin has been shown to reduce insulin dose requirement (5.7-10.1 U/day), HbA1c (0.6-0.9%), weight (1.7-6.0 kg), and total cholesterol (0.3-0.41 mmol/l) in adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

    “Metformin has been shown to reduce insulin dose requirement (5.7–10.1 U/day), HbA1c (0.6–0.9%), weight (1.7–6.0 kg), and total cholesterol (0.3–0.41 mmol/l) [30].”

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Authors
Vella, S., Buetow, L., Royle, P., Livingstone, S., Colhoun, H. M., & Petrie, J. R.
Affiliations
  • University of Dundee (GB)
  • University of Aberdeen (GB)
Corresponding author
Petrie, J. R.
Venue
Diabetologia
Published
2010-01-08
Volume
53
Issue
5
Pages
809-820
ISSN
  • 0012-186X (ISSN-L)
  • 1432-0428
OpenAlex
W1965620761
Cited by
201
References
77
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 6 · 2024: 7 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 8 · 2020: 14 · 2019: 10 · 2018: 17 · 2017: 27 · 2016: 21 · 2015: 19 · 2014: 12 · 2013: 13 · 2012: 11
FWCI
1.63
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Diabetologia (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Discovery Research Portal (University of Dundee) (submittedVersion)
  • ENLIGHTEN (Jurnal Bimbingan dan Konseling Islam) (submittedVersion)
Funders
  • Pfizer
  • University of Aberdeen
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Management and Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes Treatment and Management
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism › Diabetes, Cardiovascular Risks, and Lipoproteins
Keywords
metformin, type 1 diabetes, insulin dose reduction, HbA1c, body weight, total cholesterol, hypoglycemia, adverse effects
MeSH terms
Clinical Trials as Topic, Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1, Drug Therapy, Combination, Humans, Hypoglycemic Agents, Insulin, Metformin, Treatment Outcome

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