Benefits of Metformin Combined with Insulin in Children with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Some patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus have not good glycaemic control with ordinary doses of insulin. So applying other treatment modality in addition to insulin and diet therapy could improve glycaemic control. To evaluate whether, in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus, the addition of Metformin to insulin and standard diabetes management result in better glycaemic control and lower insulin dosage. In a clinical trial study 16 children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes with had high insulin intake and HbA1c >8% were participated. HbA1c, FBS, 2hpp BG, insulin dosage and BMI were measured and compared at the onset and end of the treatment. There were significant differences in HbA1c and insulin dosage between the time of 0 of the study and after 4 months of Metformin addition therapy. But there were no significant differences between BMI, FBG and 2 h pp BG at the onset of the study and end of it. Metformin treatment lowered HbA1c and decreased insulin dosage in patients with type 1 diabetes in poor metabolic control. Long term studies will determine if these improvements are sustained.