used drugs for diabetes, metformin, inhibit, or can prevent the growth of cancer cells. The interest in the properties of metformin was the fight against cancer in 2005, when British researchers found that diabetics who failed the drug for the treatment of diabetes, cancer risk by 40% lower than possible. Several follow-up studies made the same observation, with the risk reduction ranging from 30 to 70 percent depending on the type of cancer.

A recent study at the National Cancer Institute was conducted showed that mice given oral metaformin 40-50 percent fewer tumors developed as a prominent carcinogenic in normal cigarettes, while mice was injected with antidiabetic tumors less than 72 percent.

metformin (metformin hydrochloride or generic), Glucophage, such as markets. Glucophage is a medication for diabetes are used orally to increase blood sugar (glucose) in patients with type 2 diabetes who control their blood sugar control can not with diet and exercise. It works by reducing the amount of glucose in the liver and because it is easier for glucose to enter body tissues force.

metformin seems to work against a broad spectrum of cancers. Unlike chemotherapy or radiation therapy, metformin is not poison or burn the cancer cells. It is believed that drugs to prevent against diabetes fight against cancer through targeted tumor stem cells and that its regeneration in the early stages of the disease. It has been shown to activate an enzyme that inhibits a protein regulating cell growth in tumors.

“These results represent an unexpected and exciting advance,” said Dr. Michael Pollak, a Canadian professor of oncology at McGill University in Montreal, “We have an old drug a safe drug that can an unexpected use in cancer prevention and cancer therapy. “

The evidence is convincing enough that the researchers recommend that patients with type 2 diabetes (non-insulin-dependent) consider metformin before other drugs because of diabetes additional effects.

metformin as a well tolerated drug with a long history as a drug for the treatment of diabetes. There were more than 42 million prescriptions for metformin and metformin XR (Extended Version) in the United States in 2009. Unlike other medicines for diabetes, it does not cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) when used alone, and is the drug of known diabetes only in the prevention of cardiovascular complications of diabetes.


Medicines for diabetes