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Metformin is a drug primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes. It belongs to a class of medications called biguanides, which are considered antihyperglycemic agents. Metformin works by decreasing glucose production in the liver and improving the body's response to insulin in muscle and fat tissues.12

It can also be used to prevent the progression of type 2 diabetes in individuals with impaired fasting glucose, alongside weight loss and exercise. While generally effective, a rare but serious side effect of metformin is the accumulation of lactic acid in the blood and tissues.31

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