Oral Diabetic Medications That May or May Not Cause Hypoglycemia

Oral diabetic medications that can cause low blood sugar or
hypoglycemia

The following sulfonylurea medications for diabetes can cause
hypoglycemia or low blood sugar as a side effect.

* Glipizide (Glucotrol)

* Glyburide (such as DiaBeta, Glynase, Micronase)

* Glimepiride (Amaryl)

 Repaglinide (Prandin) and nateglinide (Starlix) are not
sulfonylurea medications. However, they work in the same way and
can also cause low blood sugar as a side effect.

You are unlikely to develop hypoglycemia or low blood sugar
levels if you are taking:

* Metformin (Glucophage)

* Acarbose (Precose)

* Rosiglitazone (Avandia)

* Pioglitazone (Actos)

 Signs of Hypoglycemia:

**Cold sweat, faintness, dizziness

**Headache

**Pounding of heart, trembling, nervousness

**blurred vision

**Hunger

**Irritability

**Personality Change

**Not able to awaken

 It is important to know if you oral diabetic medication has the
side effect of low blood sugar because if you are going out or
driving, you should test your blood sugar before you leave and
make sure you take hard candy with you in your pocket or purse
at all times. You should also have a supply of hard candy in
your car at all times and not in the trunk of your car.

If you have the signs of low blood sugar, then you should take a
piece of hard candy or juice first and then test your blood
sugar.

Usually in 15 minutes taking 15-20 grams of Carbohydrate (CHO)
will usually bring up your blood sugar to normal range. You can
have a 4-6 ounce glass of juice, glucose tablets or 2-3 pieces
of hard candy. Don’t overdo it because your blood sugar will
then go sky high. If it doesn’t return within normal limits in
15 minutes, repeat the 15-20 grams of CHO and then check your
blood sugar in 15 minutes.

Please check out the article, Driving, at
http://www.diabetestestingcenter.com that goes into more detail
about what foods raise your blood sugar, stabilizes your blood
sugar and how and when you should test your blood sugar.