Diabetes Pills
Pills that
increase the amount of insulin the pancreas makes:
. Glipizide/Glucotrol
. Glyburide/Diabeta or Micronaise
. Glimipiride/Amaryl.
. Repaglinide/Prandin
. Nateglinide/Starlix'
. Miglitol Glyset
TIPS TO REMEMBER
These pills may cause your blood sugar to become too low
(hypoglycemia) if you do not eat regular meals and snack.
Prandin and Starlix are taken right before eating and must
not be taken if you do not eat.
Pills that
decrease insulin resistance:
. Pioglitazone/Actos
. Rosiglitazone/Avandia
TIPS TO REMEMBER
Your doctor may order a blood test to check your liver
function at rimes when you are taking these pills. Let your
doctor know if you are retaining fluid (water) when you are
taking these pills. If you are retaining fluid, you may notice
that you are gaining weight, have swollen ankles, or feel
short of breath. It is best to take these pills with a meal.
Pills that reduce the
amount of glucose
(sugar) that the liver makes:
. Metformin/Glucophage'
TIPS TO REMEMBER
Your doctor may order a blood test to check your kidney
function at times when you take these pills. If you are
having surgery or an x-ray or scan where you need to take
dye, Glucophage may need to be discontinued before the
surgery or test. Check with your doctor before stopping the
medicine. Let your doctor know if you have excess gas or
diarrhea when you first start Glucophage. Sometimes the
dose needs to be lowered and gradually increased.
It is best to take these pills with a meal.
Pills that slow down
the absorption of some types of carbohydrates after eating:
. Acarbose/Precose
. Miglitol/Glyset
TIPS TO REMEMBER
It is important to take these pills with the first bite of food
at each meal. Let your doctor know if you have excess gas
or diarrhea. The dose or frequency of taking these pills
may need to be adjusted. These pills do not cause low
blood sugar (hypoglycemia) but if you are also taking
insulin or a pills that increase insulin and you have low
blood sugar, you need to take glucose tablets to treat
the low blood sugar.
Combinations of pills
You may need to take more than one type of diabetes pill
to keep your blood sugar under control. your doctor may
prescribe two or more different pills for your diabetes.
There are now some pills available which combine two
different types of diabetes medications:
' Glucovance is a combination of Glyburide
and Glucophage
. Avandamet is a combination of Avandia
and Metformin. (Glucophage)
' Metaglip is a combination of Glipizide
and Metformin (Glucophage |
