Metformin might help keep preterm babies from getting low blood sugar.
A new study shows that metformin, a common and cheap drug, may help keep premature babies born to non-diabetic mothers who got steroids to stop early labor from having low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). This is an important finding because if low blood sugar in newborns isn’t treated right away, it can cause serious health problems.
When a woman starts to show signs of early labor, doctors often give her antenatal steroids to help the baby’s lungs grow faster. These steroids can save lives, but they can also make it more likely for preemies to have low blood sugar, even if the mother doesn’t have diabetes. If a baby’s blood sugar is too low, it can hurt their brain development and cause seizures, trouble eating, or learning problems that last a long time.
How Metformin Could Help Babies Born Too Early
The study suggests that metformin helps keep the blood sugar levels of these weak newborns stable. Metformin works by making it easier for the body to use glucose and keeping blood sugar levels from dropping too quickly. Researchers found that preterm babies whose mothers took metformin and steroids had fewer episodes of low blood sugar after birth than babies whose mothers did not take these drugs.
This is good news because metformin is a common, low-cost, and safe drug. For a long time, it has been given to people with diabetes and some pregnancy-related conditions. Using it to protect premature babies could lower the need for treatments like intravenous glucose and lower the risk of problems.
Experts, on the other hand, say that more research is needed before metformin can be used as a standard treatment for this purpose. Bigger clinical trials will help make sure that the drug is safe, the right dose, and that it has long-term effects on babies.
This study shows a new way to keep babies who are born too early from having low blood sugar. If future studies confirm these results, metformin may emerge as a significant instrument in enhancing outcomes for preterm infants globally.
