People with type 2 diabetes who were taking the drug metformin when they contracted COVID-19 had a 39% lower risk of dying over the following year than peers who were taking a different diabetes medication, according to a study published last week in Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.

The study also found that those who were taking metformin, a medication that helps lower blood sugar and improve insulin sensitivity, had a slightly reduced but non-statistically significant risk of long COVID.