Type Of Myocardial Infarction

Metformin is one of a number of medications in the category known as the biguanide drugs. These drugs target the liver and keep it from releasing glucose into the bloodstream. Metformin is frequently prescribed to type II diabetics to aid in the control of their blood sugar levels. In healthy individuals, the liver releases glucose into the blood when more is needed for energy- for example, during times of strenuous exercise- but this function causes difficulties for diabetics who cannot absorb the sugar from their blood into the cells where it is needed.

Studies performed on diabetics have uncovered that those patients taking metformin experience a lower level of myocardial infarctions, or heart attacks, than those not using the medication. This decrease in cardiac ailments extends beyond what would be expected from the drug's ability to lower patients' blood glucose, as it was not evident in patients taking different types of medication that had similar effects on their overall blood sugar levels.. Further investigation showed that metformin usage stabilized general vascular function independent of its effects on sugar metabolism.