双胍类药物起源于中世纪欧洲,当时人们发现山羊豆(galega of ficinalis)植物可用来治疗糖尿病。20世纪20年代,山羊豆中的活性成分胍被分离纯化出来。此后合成出一系列双胍化合物。目前,二甲双胍被认为是胰岛素增敏剂之一,可有效降低血糖,改善胰岛素抵抗。它对超重糖尿病患者可强化 Biguanides originated in medieval Europe when it was discovered that galega of ficinalis plants are used to treat diabetes. In the 1920s, guanidine, the active ingredient in goat beans, was isolated and purified. Since then a series of biguanide compounds have been synthesized. At present, metformin is considered as one of the insulin sensitizers, which can effectively lower blood sugar and improve insulin resistance. It can be strengthened in patients with overweight diabetes