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Semin Reprod Med 2020; 38(06): 366-376
DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1727203
Review Article

Metformin for Preventing Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in Women with a Previous Diagnosis of Gestational Diabetes: A Narrative Review

Vincent L. Versace
1   School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
,
Hannah Beks
1   School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
,
Hannah Wesley
1   School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
2   Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, Chennai, India
,
Kevin McNamara
1   School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
,
William Hague
3   Robinson Research Institute, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
,
Ranjit Mohan Anjana
2   Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, Chennai, India
,
Viswanathan Mohan
2   Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, Chennai, India
,
Kamlesh Khunti
4   Diabetes Research Centre, University of Leicester, Leicester, United Kingdom
,
James A. Dunbar
1   School of Medicine, Deakin University, Geelong, Australia
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Abstract

Women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) when compared with women who have not had GDM. To delay or prevent T2DM, guidelines recommend regular screening in the primary care setting and lifestyle interventions that are largely focused on dietary and physical activity modifications. As the postpartum period can be challenging for women, uptake and engagement in screening and lifestyle interventions have been poor. Poor uptake and engagement places women with a history of GDM at heightened risk for future morbidity and development of T2DM. Metformin has been a longstanding and safe treatment for the control of blood glucose in people with T2DM. Research has supported the efficacy of metformin, used as an adjunct to a lifestyle intervention or as a stand-alone treatment, in preventing T2DM in people at high risk of T2DM. Findings from longitudinal studies have demonstrated the potential for metformin to reduce conversion to T2DM when used by women with a previous diagnosis of GDM. This review examines the potential effectiveness of metformin to reduce the incidence of T2DM among women with a previous diagnosis of GDM in the “real-world” setting.

Keywords

gestational diabetes - type 2 diabetes mellitus - risk factors - preventive medicine - metformin


Publication History

Article published online:
15 April 2021

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