I have heard about a medication called Glucophage. How does it work, and is it safe?
Glucophage, the brand name for metformin, is a medication that is designed to treat people with type 2 diabetes. Metformin works in two ways. Firstly, it decreases glucose (sugar) production in the liver, and secondly, it increases the sensitivity of body tissues to the hormone insulin. Thus, the body is able to maintain a more normal sugar level with lower insulin levels. For the woman with PCOS who also has insulin resistance, metformin can help maintain a lower blood sugar level with less insulin. By reducing the insulin level required to maintain blood sugar levels, there is less insulin available to induce the negative effects of elevated insulin levels. This has been shown to translate into weight loss, lower androgen levels, and even increased ovulation in some women.
