Biguanide

Biguanide belongs to a group of drugs for type 2 diabetes that work by inhibiting the production of glucose in the liver, improving the body's sensitivity to insulin and reducing the amount of sugar absorbed by the intestines.

The biguanide drug is metformin, which is commonly used as a first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes.

Metformin is usually used as a single treatment (monotherapy), but may also be combined with other drugs - eg,
Metformin + Pioglitazone,
Metformin + Vildagliptin,
Metformin + Sitagliptin.
Metformin is also sometimes prescribed in combination with insulin for people with type 1 diabetes.

Biguanide Class Drugs

Metformin is the only drug of the biguanide class.
However, there are two different versions of metformin;
Metformin IR (immediate release) - taken up to three times a day.
Metformin SR (sustained release) - usually taken once a day.

How Biguanide Medicine Works :

Biguanide drugs work by stopping the liver from converting fats and amino-acids into glucose. The biguanide medication helps cells respond more effectively to insulin and take up glucose from the blood by activating an enzyme (AMPK).