‘Taking metformin after positive test reduces risk of long covid’ – trial

Taking the diabetes drug metformin after a positive coronavirus test reduces risk of long Covid, research suggests (Danny Lawson/PA)

Taking a common diabetes medication after testing positive for coronavirus may reduce the risk of obese and overweight people developing long covid by 40%, new research suggests.

The study found that 6.3% of people who took metformin, a drug used to control blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes, within three days of testing positive for the virus reported a long covid diagnosis within 10 months.