I wanted to mention for most of the people here that for PCOS people, Glucophage (metformin) is a "firstline" treatment drug. It is given to PCOS patients not so much to treat their "prediabetes" as to alleviate their PCOS symptoms. Heres how it works.
One of the major biochemical features of polycystic ovary syndrome is insulin resistance accompanied by compensatory hyperinsulinemia (elevated fasting blood insulin levels). Please note this is NOT elevated blood glucose levels (diabetes or prediabetes) but as Flute mentioned, a condition that if untreated could lead to the disease. There is increasing data that hyperinsulinemia produces the hyperandrogenism of polycystic ovary syndrome by increasing ovarian androgen production, particularly testosterone and by decreasing the serum sex hormone binding globulin concentration. What this means is that as your insulin level becomes elavated, you start releasing hormones (mostly male hormones) associated with PCOS. As the nasty hormones reach high levels they can lead to anovulation, amenorrhea, recurrent pregnancy loss, and infertility.
As we know Metformin is a bit of a miracle drug as it decreases the amount of sugar produced by the liver, it also increases the amount of sugar absorbed by muscle cells and decreases the body's resistance to insulin and VOILA. . .
Lower blood sugar leads to a lesser need for insulin. The body then makes less insulin. Lower insulin leads to lower androgen ("male" hormone) production and thus we have a simple effective treatment for PCOS.
I hope this helps understand why Glucophage (Metformin) is routinely prescribed to PCOS patients.
Post Edited By Moderator (Admin) : 10/10/2006 12:47:00 PM (GMT-6)