Definition

A medication used to help control blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes by reducing glucose production in the liver.

Example

The doctor prescribed metformin to help manage my diabetes.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of metformin?

Yeah, I think it's used for managing diabetes, right?

Exactly! My doctor prescribed metformin to help with my blood sugar levels.

That sounds like a good plan; it’s important to keep those in check.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Metformin is derived from the chemical name "N,N-dimethylimidodicarbonimidic diamide". The prefix "met-" comes from the Greek "meta-" (meaning after or beyond), and "formin" is derived from "formic acid" (from Latin "formica", meaning ant). The word refers to a compound that is related to formic acid, which was originally derived from ants.

Memory Tip

Think of 'meta-' meaning 'beyond' and 'form' relating to 'formic acid' from ants, which helps you remember that metformin is a compound associated with formic acid.

Visually Confused Words