Both metformin and the sulfonylureas are equally effective in decreasing glucose levels, so either may be chosen. An advantage of metformin is that in some people, it promotes weight loss, in part due to a decrease in appetite. Another possible benefit of metformin is that it may lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels. If you have high triglyceride or cholesterol levels, metformin may do dual duty for you, and you won't need to take an additional drug. During the last year, my glucose has always been high.
Metformin gives people another option.
However, simply switching from a sulfonylurea to metformin is usually not helpful, since the two drugs are equally effective. But using both a sulfonylurea and metformin may do the trick. Because metformin acts differently than insulin, I wonder if I can use it. A You can't use it instead of insulin. Because your pancreas makes little or no insulin, you have to take insulin shots.