Both Type 1 and Type II diabetes generally can be treated and controlled with medications. For Type I, the necessary medication is insulin since the body produces little or none of this needed substance. For Type II diabetes, a variety of medications are available, usually accompanied by changes in diet. As with all medications, drugs to control diabetes have some side effects
Nausea and Vomiting
When a medication disagrees with the gastrointestinal system, nausea and vomiting may result. For some medications, this will decrease and disappear with continued use of the drug. Diabetes medications that can cause this include metformin, marketed as Glucophage, Glumetza, Fortamet and Rioment. Insulin, glyburide (Diabeta, Glycron, Micronase, Glynase Pres-Tab), sitagliptin (Januvia), rosiglitazone (Avandia), glipizide (Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL), repaglinide (Prandin) and pioglitazone (Actos) all may cause nausea and vomiting.
Appetite
Metformin also can cause a loss of appetite. Insulin, on the other hand, may cause an increase in hunger. Other diabetes medications that may cause an increase in appetite include glyburide, sitagliptin, rosiglitazone, pioglitazone, repaglinide and glipizide.
Anxiety
Glipizide can produce anxiety in some diabetes patients, and this should be addressed with a doctor as soon as possible. Repaglinide also may cause anxious feelings as part of another side effect, low blood sugar. Rosiglitazone, sitagliptin and glyburide also may cause anxiety as a side effect.
Convulsions
Glyburide may cause the serious side effect of convulsions or seizures. These aren't common, but should be brought to a physician's attention as soon as possible. Insulin, glipizide and repaglinide also may cause seizures.
Depression
While not common, depression may be a side effect of some diabetes medications, too. Glipizide, rosiglitazone, sitagliptin, glyburide and insulin all may produce mental depression as a side effect of their use to treat diabetes.
Unconsciousness
A serious side effect of repaglinide is to render the patient unconscious. This requires immediate medical attention. This also may be a side effect of pioglitazone and sitagliptin.
Coma
Another very serious potential side effect is for the diabetes medication to send you into a coma. Insulin may cause this, although rarely. Other medications that have the potential for causing a coma include glyburide, rosiglitazone and glipizide.
