• A biguanide hypoglycemic agent used in the treatment of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus not responding to dietary modification. Metformin improves glycemic control by improving insulin sensitivity and decreasing intestinal absorption of glucose. (From Martindale, The Extra Pharmacopoeia, 30th ed, p289)
  NLM Medical Subject Headings
  U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
• An agent belonging to the biguanide class of antidiabetics with antihyperglycemic activity. Metformin is associated with a very low incidence of lactic acidosis. This agent helps reduce LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and is not associated with weight gain, and prevents the cardiovascular complications of diabetes. Metformin is not metabolized and is excreted unchanged by the kidneys.
  NCI
  U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
• N,N-dimethylimidodicarbonimidic diamide; an oral hypogylcemic agent.
  CRISP Thesaurus
  National Institutes of Health, 2006
• The active ingredient in a drug used to treat diabetes mellitus (a condition in which the body cannot control the level of sugar in the blood). It is also being studied in the treatment of cancer. It decreases the amount of glucose (a type of sugar) released into the bloodstream from the liver and increases the body's use of the glucose. Metformin is a type of antidiabetic agent.
  NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
  U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021