Some technology industry employees are taking metformin, a prescription drug that helps diabetes patients control high blood sugar, to improve overall health, CNBC reports.
Tech industry executives, employees and investors who do not have diabetes take the drug to combat effects of aging, such as reduced cancer risk, according to the report. Additionally, metformin is a low-risk drug, with side effects of prolonged use being diarrhea, slow blood sugar and abdominal pain, CNBC reports.
"Theoretically someone can take it without diabetes, as there are some known side effects but they're usually tolerated if the patient gradually increases dosage over time," said Greg Burrell, MD, a practicing physician and the co-founder of Carbon Health, a mobile-based connected healthcare network in San Francisco, told CNBC.
Medical experts told CNBC because there is a lack of research on metformin's effect on people without diabetes, they are conflicted on its use among those individuals.