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A major study clears metformin of neurodevelopmental concerns in kids. Analyzing over 177,000 children in Australia, researchers found no link between in-utero metformin exposure and developmental delays by age 5. The findings offer reassuring, population-level safety data for pregnant women managing diabetes who prefer an oral alternative to insulin.
Pregnant women with diabetes who take metformin can breathe a little easier. A new study published in JAMA Network Open found that children exposed to metformin in the womb showed no neurodevelopmental delays by age 5 — easing a longstanding concern tied to the fact that the drug crosses the placenta.
The retrospective population study, led by Dr. Hannah Gordon of Mercy Hospital for Women in Australia, analyzed data from 177,409 children born in Victoria between 2009 and 2020. After adjusting for factors like maternal age, BMI, education, and socioeconomic status, metformin exposure showed no significant association with developmental outcomes. Even in a subgroup of women with gestational or type 2 diabetes, no statistically significant harm was detected.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Metformin is cheaper and easier to use than insulin, which can require up to four daily injections. With ~1 in 9 U.S. women living with diabetes and up to 9% of pregnancies affected by gestational diabetes, this large-scale safety data could meaningfully reduce clinical hesitancy and expand access to a more manageable treatment option.
