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diabetes and covid: drug reduces death risk

researchers compared the effect of insulin and metformin on covid-19 patient outcomes.

by nick beare

jan 15 2021

2 minute read

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drug reduces risk of dying for people with covid-19 and diabetes

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a study out of the university of alabama at birmingham (uab) showed that use of the diabetes drug metformin prior to a covid-19 diagnosis had a significant effect on a person’s chances of dying.

in fact, the racially diverse study saw a threefold decrease in mortality for people with type 2 diabetes even after correcting for sex, age, race, obesity and other health factors, anath shalev, m.d., director of uab’s comprehensive diabetes center and leader of the study, told uab news .

“since similar results have now been obtained in different populations from around the world — including china, france and a unitedhealthcare analysis — this suggests that the observed reduction in mortality risk associated with metformin use in subjects with type 2 diabetes and covid-19 might be generalizable,” she said.

the study, published in the journal frontiers in endocrinology, included 25,326 patients tested for covid-19 at uab between feb. 26 and june 22 of last year.

researchers focused the study on how both insulin and metformin — the two most common medications for diabetes – affected patient outcomes related to covid-19 and saw dramatic results for those who were taking metformin, while insulin had no effect on mortality.

“the mechanisms may involve metformin’s previously described anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic effects,” said shalev.

patients who used metformin prior to their covid-19 diagnosis had an 11 per cent mortality rate — a rate comparable to the covid-19 positive-population. meanwhile, patients who were not metformin users had a significantly higher mortality rate, at 23 per cent.

it is not yet known how metformin might affect the prognosis of patients with covid-19 and researchers say more work will need to be done to determine the role of the drug and its apparent safeguarding tendencies, as well as its role moving forward in the pandemic.

“these results suggest that, while diabetes is an independent risk factor for covid-19-related mortality,” shalev said, “this risk is dramatically reduced in subjects taking metformin — raising the possibility that metformin may provide a protective approach in this high-risk population.”

the findings offer hope to the more than 11.5 million canadians living with diabetes. a recent survey conducted by diabetes canada in june last year, found that 73 per cent of respondents said that they are worried about catching covid-19, citing increased anxiety about their health, financial situation, and ability to afford to manage their diabetes.

for more information on diabetes, support or to connect with other patients, visit diabetes canada.

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diabetes and covid: drug reduces death risk

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diabetes and covid: drug reduces death risk

researchers compared the effect of insulin and metformin on covid-19 patient outcomes.

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