Has anyone had experience using glyburide. My doc just started me on it in addition to Januvia and I'm having lows a couple of times a day. I hate to eat more because I don't need the extra food. If the lows keep up I'm going to talk to him. I'm keeping good logs and I will just fax him the logs along with a phone call.
Any ideas? suggestions? similar experiences?
Glyburide is in the class of drugs known as sulfonylureas. Sulfonylureas are some of the oldest if not the oldest drugs out there for T2 diabetics. These type of drugs lower blood glucose by increasing insulin production by the pancreas. You may be suffering lows for the same reason as a person that injects to much insulin. It's just that in this case it's your own insulin supply that is over abundant.
What are your bg levels when you feel low, sometimes when a person reduces their bg they will feel lows that are not truly lows but rather are low compared to where they have been. If that's not the case then a decrease in dosage is the most likely solution to this problem. I'm wondering if you have made any other changes. I know that any time my meds were increased it made me more aware of my diabetes and resulted in increased attention to things like diet and exercise. If that's the case it's a good thing and a decrease of dose is most likely in order.
Some people feel comfortable adjusting their meds on their own but I always consult my doctor. I wouldn't wait to long to speak to him/her because frequent lows can be dangerous. Good luck, it sounds like your drug combination is working but is just working a little bit to good.
Gary S
Oh dear:
If one is trying to control weight and not stuff in the food. Glburide is a 10.5 hour lasting pain in butt.
I too have had the lows you mention.
I am on liquid insulin - humalog lispro with a 4 to 5 hour reach and it is for me far better. As for pills, have you/doctor tried starlix as it has 4 hour reach as well and give's one option to take or drop each meal.
glyburide really needs to be kept fed.
good luck.
I was on glyburide (w/ metformin) for 16 months. While I didn't have lows very frequently, I was careful to eat every 3-4 hrs. When I went off another (non-diabetes) drug, my body shifted and I did start having lows. Doc & I decreased the glyburide dosage, but the lows remained . . . sometimes 1-2 hours after breakfast. It was nerve-wracking.
The doc was hesitant, but I took myself off the glyburide, decreased my carb intake by 20%, and have been doing well ever since.
My BG has been going down into the low 60's which I know isn't dangerously low but it feels terrible - shakes, sweats, craving tons of carbs and sugar. I definitely don't enjoy it.
I'm trying so hard not to overeat the lows but my body is screaming for more...