Metformin & HDL

Metformin is a prescription diabetes medicine that helps to control blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This drug is also used in combination with insulin and other medications and treatment. HDL, a type of cholesterol produced by the body is affected by diabetes. The American Diabetes Association reports that there is a link between the drug metformin and HDL levels.

Metformin

The oral medication metformin is sold under the brand names Glucophage and Fortamet. This commonly prescribed medication acts on the liver and the intestines to decrease absorption of dietary glucose into the blood. The MayoClinic.com notes that it also helps to improve the sensitivity of the hormone insulin so that glucose is taken up more readily by the tissues and muscles.

HDL

HDL or high density lipoprotein is considered healthy because it can protect the body against cardiovascular disease. DiabetesHealth.com explains that it does this by removing cholesterol plaques from the inner walls of blood vessels and carries it back to the liver where it is broken down by enzymes. A healthy HDL level is considered 60 or above, while levels below 40 are considered unhealthy. According to the American Diabetes Association, some effects of diabetes may put individuals with the disease at higher risk of lower levels of HDL.

Cholesterol Effects

The American Diabetes Association notes that metformin may also have positive effects on cholesterol levels and even incidences of cancer in some individuals. The Association reports that lower levels of the healthy HDL cholesterol in some patients with type 2 diabetes are shown to be increased by taking metformin medication.

Comparative Medications

A 2003 study published in the medical journal "Diabetes Care," compares the effect of metformin and other oral hypoglycemic diabetes medications on HDL cholesterol levels in the body. Overweight patients with the same glycemic control through diet showed improved changes in cholesterol with higher HDL and lower unhealthy LDL cholesterol levels, by taking metformin. Another diabetes medication called pioglitazone also showed favorable effects on total cholesterol levels, while the drug glicazide did not show improvements in HDL levels.

Considerations

The diabetes drug metformin is part of diabetic treatment that includes lifestyle, exercise and diet changes and should be taken exactly as prescribed by a doctor; it is important to follow the prescription label for adequate glucose control and to reduce side effects. The MayoClinic.com underlines that medications like metformin can have unwanted side effects that may be potentially serious.