Recently, we conducted two surveys; one to cover Diabetes, and the other to collect data on whether Metformin (a medication used to treat Diabetes and sometimes prescribed for PCOS) had any notable effect on your ME/CFS symptoms.
Please see a snapshot of both surveys below and PDFs to view the main results.
Diabetes Survey – Snapshot
ME/CFS or Long Covid
- ME/CFS – 87%
- Long Covid – 22%
- Under investigation for ME/CFS – 5%
- Under investigation for Long Covid – 1%
Diagnosis of Diabetes
- Diabetes – 75%
- Prediabetic – 7%
- Not applicable- 17%
- Under investigation for Diabetes – 1%
Type of Diabetes
- Type 2 – 75%
- Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults (LADA) – 1%
- Awaiting Diagnosis- 3%
- Type 1-16%
- Steroid induced diabetes – 1%
- Mature Onset Diabetes in Young People (MODY) -1%
Before or after ME/CFS or Long Covid
- Before a diagnosis of Long Covid- 5%
- After a diagnosis of ME/CFS – 53%
- After a diagnosis of Long Covid – 9%
- Awaiting a diagnosis (Diabetes) – 2%
- Before a diagnosis of ME/CFS – 24%
Metformin Survey – Snapshot
How long have you taken Metformin?
- 1-2 years – 33%
- 1-6 month -11%
- 6 months to 1 year – 11%
- 2-5 years – 11%
- 6 years + – 11%
- Under 1 month – 22%
Improvement in ME/CFS symptoms?
- Not certain about the effect on ME/CFS – 19%
- Moderate improvement – 6%
- Major deterioration -7%
- No difference – 53%
- Temporary improvement – 4%
- Small improvement – 4%
- Small deterioration – 1%
- Moderate deterioration – 4%
- Temporary deterioration -1%
MEA Comment:
Whilst it is not surprising to find that some people in this survey have gone on to develop type 2 diabetes after being diagnosed with ME/CFS it was interesting to note that 16% in this sample developed type 1 (insulin requiring) diabetes.
In relation to metformin, a diabetic control drug that is also currently being assessed as a possible treatment for Long Covid, it was interesting to find that overall there was no clear evidence of metformin helping ME/CFS symptoms.
As the numbers in this survey are very small it's impossible to draw any firm conclusions.
Dr Charles Shepherd,
Trustee and Hon. Medical Adviser to the ME Association,
Member of the 2018-2021 NICE guideline on ME/CFS committee,
Member of the 2002 Chief Medical Officer's Working Group on ME/CFS
Further information
- The ME Association: ME/CFS: Diabetes – but not as we know it | October 2, 2025
- The ME Association: Survey: Your feedback on Diabetes medication | September 18, 2025
- Medical Matters: Diabetes | Summer 2018
- Medical Matters: Blood sugars: Hypoglycaemia | Autumn 2023
- Medical Matters: Blood sugars: Reactive Hypoglycaemia | Autumn 2023