[Biguanides in the treatment of diabetes mellitus]

Biguanides are useful drugs in diabetes but their indications are very precise. The danger of lactic acidosis can be avoided with the use of metformin, the less toxic of biguanides, and strict respect for contraindications. All biguanides have a similar action, through different pharmacokinetics, and besides their hypoglycemic effect, have a favourable action on blood lipids, which increases their usefulness. Haemorheological effects, recently studied in animal research, may open a new field in the employment of biguanides.