HealthCareMagic is now Ask A Doctor - 24x7 | https://www.askadoctor24x7.com

Get your health question answered instantly from our pool of 18000+ doctors from over 80 specialties
159 Doctors Online

By proceeding, I accept the Terms and Conditions

Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

HCM Blog Instant Access to Doctors
HCM BlogQuestions Answered
HCM Blog Satisfaction

Pregnant On Metformin For PCOS. Will This Medication Affect The Sugar Levels?

I am 22 weeks pregnant and have been on metformin 500mg twice a day since before my pregnancy for PCOS . I have to go in to take a Oral Glocuse Tolerance Test tomorrow morning and am wondering if the metformin is going to effect my test results. My doctor did not advise me to stop taking it but after reading about this online...I m beginning to think that maybe I should have stopped taking it 4 days prior as to get an accurate reading. So confused!
Tue, 19 Mar 2013
Report Abuse
General & Family Physician 's  Response
Continuing metformin throughout pregnancy has been shown to also significantly reduce the incidence of insulin-requiring gestational diabetes as well as fetal-growth restriction.

Metformin has been used as treatment for polycystic ovarian disease and has been
reported to reduce the incidence of gestational diabetes in women who use the drug
throughout pregnancy (Glueck and colleagues, 2004). Even so, it is usually recommended
that metformin be discontinued once pregnancy is diagnosed because it is long known to
reach the fetus (Harborne and associates, 2003). The Fifth International Workshop
Conference recommended that metformin treatment for gestational diabetes be limited to
clinical trials with long-term infant follow-up (Metzger and co-workers, 2007).
Subsequently, Rowan and colleagues (2008) reported results of a study in which they
randomized 751 women with gestational diabetes to metformin or insulin treatment. The
primary outcome was a composite of one or more of neonatal hypoglycemia, respiratory
distress, phototherapy, birth trauma, 5-minute Apgar score of 7 or less, and preterm
birth. Similarities in the composite outcome between metformin and insulin led the
investigators to conclude that metformin was not associated with increased perinatal
complications.
I find this answer helpful

3 Doctors agree with this answer

Disclaimer: These answers are for your information only and not intended to replace your relationship with your treating physician.
This is a short, free answer. For a more detailed, immediate answer, try our premium service [Sample answer]
Share on
 

Related questions you may be interested in


Recent questions on Metformin


Loading Online Doctors....
Pregnant On Metformin For PCOS. Will This Medication Affect The Sugar Levels?

Continuing metformin throughout pregnancy has been shown to also significantly reduce the incidence of insulin-requiring gestational diabetes as well as fetal-growth restriction. Metformin has been used as treatment for polycystic ovarian disease and has been reported to reduce the incidence of gestational diabetes in women who use the drug throughout pregnancy (Glueck and colleagues, 2004). Even so, it is usually recommended that metformin be discontinued once pregnancy is diagnosed because it is long known to reach the fetus (Harborne and associates, 2003). The Fifth International Workshop Conference recommended that metformin treatment for gestational diabetes be limited to clinical trials with long-term infant follow-up (Metzger and co-workers, 2007). Subsequently, Rowan and colleagues (2008) reported results of a study in which they randomized 751 women with gestational diabetes to metformin or insulin treatment. The primary outcome was a composite of one or more of neonatal hypoglycemia, respiratory distress, phototherapy, birth trauma, 5-minute Apgar score of 7 or less, and preterm birth. Similarities in the composite outcome between metformin and insulin led the investigators to conclude that metformin was not associated with increased perinatal complications.