# Metformin helps people with type 1 diabetes use less insulin. Nobody knows why. - slug: metformin-helps-people-with-type-1-diabetes-use-less-insulin-nobody-knows-why - date: 2026-04-16 - category: Biotech & Life Sciences Doctors have been prescribing metformin to type 1 diabetes patients assuming it worked by improving insulin resistance. A rigorous new trial just proved it does not improve insulin resistance at all — yet patients still needed 12% less insulin. ---