Could the most popular Type 2 diabetes drug lead to cancer?
Metformin is the most prescribed drug for Type 2 diabetes and the 4th most prescribed drug overall in the U.S. It is prescribed to 120 million people worldwide and here in the U.S. to about 21 million. Metformin is the most affordable drug on the market to treat Type 2 diabetes and some patients can even get their pills for free.
Metformin was first used in clinical practice in France in 1957 but was only introduced to American patients in 1995. Metformin works by decreasing the amount of sugar (glucose) made by the liver. It also helps your body to better respond to insulin so that cells like your muscle absorbs and uses sugar more efficiently.
In early December, Singapore’s Health Sciences Authority recalled three out of the 46 locally marketed metformin products after they were found to contain high levels of a cancer-causing chemical called N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA). NDMA is a common contaminant found in water and foods such as cured and grilled meats, some dairy
