Use this table to look up the different medications that can be used to treat type 2 diabetes. Use the links below to find medications within the table quickly, or click the name of the drug to link to expanded information about the drug.
- Metformin: Learn more about metformin
- Thiazolidinediones (glitazones): Learn more about thiazolidinediones
- Insulin-releasing pills (secretagogues): Learn more about pills that cause insulin to be released from the pancreas
- Starch blockers: Learn more about starch blockers
- Incretin-based therapies: Learn more about incretin-based therapies
- Amylin analogs: Learn more about Amylin analogs
- SFUs, repaglinide and nateglinide can cause hypoglycemia. The risk of hypoglycemia is increased when meals are skipped. Avoid skipping meals.
- "Clinical" maximum daily dose for glyburide is 10 mg and glipizide is 20 mg; higher doses are not likely to further lower the blood glucose.
- These medicines do not cause hypoglycemia when used alone. However, when used with SFUs, repaglinide, nateglinide, or insulin, hypoglycemia may occur.
- Lactic acidosis symptoms: feeling very weak, tired or uncomfortable; unusual muscle pain, trouble breathing, unusual or unexpected stomach discomfort, feeling cold, feeling dizzy or lightheaded, or suddenly developing a slow or irregular heartbeat.
- Radiologic tests using iodinated contrast media: stop metformin at the time of or prior to the procedure, and withhold for 48 hours after procedure and restart after kidney function has been re-evaluated and found to be normal.
- Liver toxicity symptoms: unexplained nausea, vomiting, stomach pain, unusual tiredness, loss of appetite, dark urine, or yellowing of the skin or whites of eyes.