Studies indicate that a cheap medicine is used to treat diabetes and helps to reduce weight, reducing death among patients with the emerging corona virus "Covid-19 ″", so what is it, how does it work, and should everyone start taking it?

This drug is "metformin" is a drug taken to treat high blood sugar levels caused by type 2 diabetes, and is available under different brand names, such as "Glucophage" and "Glucophage XR". , Fortamet, and Glumetza.

A study by researchers at the University of Alabama in Birmingham showed that taking metformin before diagnosing Covid-19 infection was associated with a 3-fold decrease in the mortality rate (threefold decrease in mortality) with Covid-19 in patients with type 2 diabetes.

"This beneficial effect persisted, even after taking into account age, gender, race, obesity, high blood pressure or chronic kidney disease and heart failure," said Anath Shalev, director and lead of the University of Alabama's Comprehensive Diabetes Center at Birmingham.

She added that because similar results were obtained in different populations from all over the world - including China and France - this indicates that the significant reduction in mortality risk associated with metformin use in people with type 2 diabetes may be generalized. .

Shalev says that how metformin improves the progression of Covid-19 disease is unknown, and the results indicate that the mechanisms may exceed any expected improvement in blood sugar control or obesity, as neither body mass index, blood glucose, nor accumulated hemoglobin (HbA1C) ) Less metformin users who survived compared to those who died.

"The mechanisms may include the anti-inflammatory and anti-coagulant effects of metformin previously described," Shalev said.

The study, published in the journal Frontiers in Endocrinology, included 604 patients with Covid-19 at the University of Alabama Hospital in Birmingham.

The researchers found that metformin was associated with a 3-fold decrease in the death rate with Covid-19 in patients with type 2 diabetes.

However, more studies are needed to find out if this effect also includes patients without diabetes.

What is metformin?

And "metformin" is a drug taken to treat high blood sugar levels caused by type 2 diabetes, and it is available under different brand names, such as "Glucophage", "Glucophage XR", and Fortamet and Glumetza.

Metformin is used in combination with a healthy diet and appropriate physical activity program, and possibly with other medications to control high blood sugar.

By controlling high blood sugar, metformin helps reduce or prevent complications of diabetes, such as kidney damage, blindness, nerve problems, amputations, and sexual problems such as impotence, and also properly controlling diabetes helps reduce the risk of heart attack or stroke.

Metformin helps restore the body's response to the insulin hormone that the body naturally produces, and it also reduces the amount of sugar made by the liver and also by the intestine.

Metformin works through the following mechanisms:

  • Reducing the amount of glucose (sugar) your liver makes.

  • Reducing the amount of glucose that the body absorbs.

  • Increase the effect of insulin on cells in the body.

  • Helping reduce appetite, which helps control a person's food and calorie intake, which has a positive effect on controlling blood sugar.

  • According to studies, metformin may help reduce weight in diabetics, of course, when used in conjunction with a healthy diet and an exercise program appropriate for a person's health.

  • So should we start taking metformin in anticipation of Corona?

    The answer, ask the doctor ..

    • If you have diabetes and take metformin, continue taking it as directed by your doctor.

    • If you have diabetes and your treatment does not include metformin, consult your doctor and ask him whether he can add metformin to you, and whether he can help you reduce the complications of Corona if you have it.

    • If you are not diabetic and are obese, talk to your doctor about the benefits metformin may offer you.

    • Generally, ask your doctor whether metformin can provide benefits for you, but never take it according to your opinion.