#glipizide

What is Diabetes? | How Can Ozempic Help?

Photo by Nataliya Vaitkevich on Pexels.com What Is Diabetes and How is It Damaging to Our Bodies? Recently I did a podcast about diabetes, and it was very informative with regard to understanding what diabetes is and learning about new semaglutide treatments like Ozempic. I thought it may be helpful to you under the ‘life advice’ category of this blog. Enjoy.

Brand Name: Glucotrol and Glucotrol XL

Generic Available

Common Dosage Forms:

Tablets: 5 mg, 10 mg

Tablets, sustained-release (XL): 2.5 mg, 5 mg, 10 mg

FDA Indications/Dosages:

An as adjunct to diet in the treatment of non-insulin dependant stable of maturity onset type of mild to moderately severe diabetes mellitus: Usual initial dose is between 2.5 mg and 5 mg, given before breakfast. Make dosage increases in increments of 2.5 mg to 5 mg every 2-3 days. If a single dose proves to be unsatisfactory, divide daily dose and give twice a day. Daily dosages above 15 mg should be divided into two equal doses. Normal dosage range is 5-20 mg per day. Maximum recommended daily dosage is 40 mg.

*Patients receiving less than 20 units of insulin per day may be switched to to glipizide and their insulin discontinued. Patients receiving more than 20 units of insulin per day may be switched to glipizide and their insulin decreased by 50% per day. Further reductions in insulin dosage may be applied dependant upon results. No transition period is needed when transferring patients from other oral hypoglycemics.

Pharmacology/Pharmacokinetics: Glipizide is a sulfonylurea antidiabetic medication that stimulates insulin synthesis and release from beta cells in the pancreatic islets. May also improve binding between insulin and insulin receptors, and increase the number of insulin receptors in the periphery. Peak plasma levels are reached in 1-3 hours with a half-life of 2-4 hours. Food delays absorption. 99% is bound to plasma proteins. Metabolism occurs in the liver and excretion in the urine.

Drug Interactions: Dicumarol, chloramphenicol, alcohol, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, phenylbutazone, salicylates, sulfinpyrazone, and sulfonamides may increase effects. Diazoxide, rifampin, and thiazide diuretics may decrease effects.

Contraindications/Precautions: Contraindicated in juvenile, unstable (labile), or complicated diabetes mellitus as the sole therapy, in patients allergic to sulfa drugs, and it diabetic ketoacidosis with or without coma. Use with caution in patients with serious impairment of renal, hepatic, or thyroid function, and in pregnant and nursing women. In patients with severe burns, infections, or trauma, glipizide may be need to be discontinued and insulin given. Pregnancy Category C.

Adverse Effects: Nausea, diarrhea, heartburn, pruritus, and urticaria. Mild hypoglycemic reactions (sweating, tremor, blurred vision, weakness, hunger, and  confusion) may occur rarely and should be treated with oral glucose.

Patient Consultation:

Take 30 minutes before meals.

Compliance with therapy is essential for optimal effect.

Follow prescribed diet closely.

Avoid excessive use of alcohol.

If a dose is missed, take it as soon as possible. If it is closer to the time of your next dose than the dose you missed, skip the missed dose and return to your dosing schedule. Do not double doses.

Which is better for a type 2 diabetes, Glipizide or Metformin?

Which medication is “better” will always vary depending on the individual and their particular situation. There are advantages and disadvantages to all of them–if there weren’t, we would just pick the “best” one and call it type 2 diabetes medicine!

While both Glipizide and Metformin are inexpensive, Metformin will be a better option for many people because it has a slight weight loss effect, does not cause hypoglycemia, and helps improve insulin sensitivity.

Glipizide, by contrast, generally has a weight gain effect, can cause hypoglycemia (which inevitably results in the need to eat glucose containing foods, which further increases weight gain), and can exhaust the pancreas over time.

This class of medications generally lose their effect after some length of time. However, a few considerations need to be made for Metformin. It can cause diarrhea and if this doesn’t go away, the body may not be able to tolerate it. Additionally, since it’s cleared by the kidneys, those with kidney disease aren’t able to take it.

I was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in an ambulance on the way to the emergency room at 5:00am on January 5, 2017. I had the flu for the previous couple of weeks, while vacationing with my family in Panama, Central America. I was not eating well or exercising, and I was quite weak and tired. Being sick also meant my body was making extra glucose.  I did not know I had diabetes, and all of this…

Patient: This medicine X is making my blood sugar drop.

Wayfaring: *Explains that medicine X is not making her blood sugar drop, though medicine Y, which she is taking high doses of, commonly causes hypoglycemia.*

Patient: 

Nope it’s definitely medicine X. But I stopped medicine X but I’m still having hypoglycemia. 

Wayfaring: *Explains mechanism of action of medicines X and Y, showing how Y causes hypoglycemia*

Patient: I guess you're smart and all, but are you sure? I don't think that's right.

Wayfaring: Um... I’m sure. 

Patient: How sure?

Wayfaring: 100%. Because.......science? This was a basic thing I studied in my first year of medical school. There are tons of studies on this. I am completely sure.

Patient: I’m not sure. 

Pet Poisons A-Z: Glipizide and Gorilla Glue!

Welcome back for G-day!  We’ve made it one whole week!  Woo!  Typically I try to find a couple of things that fit together in some way, but neither glipizide nor Gorilla Glue have anything in common. Other than being bad for your pet, that is!

Glipizide is used to treat type II diabetes

One of the oral medications used to treat high blood sugar, glipizide is usually used in combination with or…