According to the American Diabetes Association, 23.6 million people in the United States have diabetes, a metabolic disorder that affects the levels of glucose in the bloodstream. Prolonged exposure to high blood glucose levels is a major risk factor for the development of complications including heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, retinopathy and neuropathies. Along with lifestyle modifications, many patients require the use of prescription medications to control blood sugar. Glyburide is a popular medication that is used to lower blood glucose in diabetics.
Diabetes Types
Insulin is a hormone that is produced and secreted by beta cells in the pancreas as a response to elevated blood glucose levels. In response to insulin, muscle and tissue cells absorb glucose from the bloodstream for utilization as energy to drive metabolic processes. Type I diabetics typically suffer from inadequate insulin secretion due to genetic or autoimmune disorders that affect the pancreas. In contrast, type 2 diabetics have muscle and tissue cells that respond poorly to insulin.
Glyburide
Available in the United States as a generic drug, glyburide has been widely used to control blood sugar and lower the risk of complications from diabetes. Classified as a sulfonylurea, glyburide works by stimulating insulin secretion by cells inside the pancreas. According to the Food and Drug Administration drug database, glyburide also may have additional effects that helps to lower glucose levels. Because glyburide helps to stimulate insulin production, it is often used in conjunction with other medications that promote insulin sensitivity in tissue cells.
Glyburide Dose and Side Effects
Indicated in the treatment of high blood glucose in type 2 diabetics, glyburide oral doses can initially start from 1.25 mg up to a maximum maintenance dose of 20 mg per day. Although glyburide has relatively few side effects, it does have significant risk for the development of hypoglycemia. Because glyburide is primarily excreted by the kidneys, the presence of renal disease, which is common in diabetics, can increase the risk of hypoglycemia.
Hypoglycemia
Patients who experience hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, may have symptoms that include thirst, dizziness, confusion, lethargy, somnolence, headache, hunger and irritability. In severe cases, hypoglycemia can cause loss of consciousness and seizures that are life-threatening. Hypoglycemia can be a major medical emergency, and patients taking a sulfonylurea should be educated about how to identify early symptoms of low blood sugar and the measures to take when they occur. Patients with concerns regarding diabetes and the use of a sulfonylurea should to speak with a physician.
