The place of metformin in the treatment of carbohydrate metabolism disorders and insulin resistance during, before and after pregnancy: resolution of the expert council

Abstract

Due to its effect on insulin resistance, ease of administration and favorable safety profile, metformin has been included in the recommendations of foreign medical communities for the management of pregnant women with hyperglycemia since 2008. However, in Russia, the use of any oral hypoglycemic agents during pregnancy is still contraindicated. However, recent studies demonstrate the safety and positive effects of metformin on pregnancy in patients with pregestational diabetes mellitus, polycystic ovary syndrome and gestational diabetes mellitus. In 2023, the Federal Service for Surveillance in Healthcare of the Ministry of Health of Russia updated the instructions for the medical use of Glucophage® and Glucophage®Long: pregnancy was excluded from the “Contraindications” section and moved to the “With caution” section. This resolution is intended to evaluate studies of the effectiveness and safety of metformin, as well as to study the experience of foreign colleagues and Russian legal aspects of prescribing metformin in the stages of preparation for pregnancy, during it and in the post-gravid period.

Keywords

• metformin
• pregnancy
• lactation
• breastfeeding
• type 2 diabetes mellitus
• gestational diabetes mellitus
• prediabetes
• polycystic ovary syndrome