Biguanides for Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes medication that prevents the liver from making more glucose

Written by Lisa M. Leontis RN, ANP-C and Kamiah A. Walker

Biguanides are another medication class used to treat type 2 diabetes.

How they work: Biguanides affect the liver—not the pancreas like sulfonylureas, repaglinide, and nateglinide. They keep the liver from making more glucose when you don’t need it, thereby keeping your blood glucose level in a better range.

Special notes: Biguanides seem to make you less hungry, so it may help you lose weight. They may cause stomach upset, so take it with meals.

Example of biguanides:

Metformin (Glucophage) is a biguanide.

Reviewed by Amy Hess-Fischl MS, RD, LDN, BC-ADM, CDE

Updated on: 10/12/10

View Sources

American Diabetes Association. Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes—2009. Diabetes Care. 2009;32:S13-61.
Becker G. Type 2 Diabetes: An Essential Guide for the newly Diagnosed. 2^nd ed. New York, NY: Marlowe & Company; 2007.
McCulloch D. Patient information: Diabetes type 2: Overview. UpToDate Web site. January 30, 2009. Available at: http://www.uptodate.com/patients/content/topic.do?topicKey=~n0K0MIfI1iZs.&selectedTitle=5~150&source=search_result. Accessed April 20, 2009.
McCulloch D. Patient information: Diabetes mellitus type 2: Overview. UpToDate Web site. December 4, 2008. Available at: http://www.uptodate.com/patients/content/topic.do?topicKey=~X0jjLnBn4._ko&selectedTitle=4~150&source=search_result. Accessed April 20, 2009.

Continue Reading: Alpha-glucosidase Inhibitors for Type 2 Diabetes