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December 25, 1999

Medications: Pills for Diabetes

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Question from Newton, Massachusetts, USA:

Is it common to use Glucophage with type 1 diabetes?

Answer:

From: DTeam Staff

Oral agents such as Glucophage [metformin] are not used in Type�1 diabetes. Without lab tests, it is sometimes difficult to tell if it is Type�1 or Type 2 diabetes. Measurement of antibodies are useful as well as tests of insulin reserve, albeit somewhat expensive.

We are now-a-days recognizing children with type 2 diabetes that we initially thought had type 1 diabetes. Other centers are reporting similarly. Metformin is excellent for type 2 diabetes — but it isn’t approved by the FDA for children, although many physicians use it.

LD