What Do Meglitinides Do?

In the human body, insulin is produced by specialized cells in the pancreas. These are called beta cells. In people with type 2 diabetes, the beta cells produce less insulin, making blood sugar levels harder to control. Meglitinides stimulate the beta cells to produce more insulin, helping the body to better process glucose (sugar) and to lower blood sugar levels. Meglitinides are relatively short-acting medications. They allow for more flexible meal timing than longer-acting diabetes meds that require meals to be on a more fixed schedule.

What you should know about Meglitinides:

Meglitinides appear to cause hypoglycemia less often than sulfonylureas, but it’s still a possibility, especially if your dose is too high.Other side effects are uncommon but can include backaches, headaches, cold and flu symptoms, chest pain, gastrointestinal problems, joint pain, tingling skin, certain infections, and vomiting.However, if the discomfort for you is minor, meglitinides can help people with diabetes boost insulin production at mealtime.

Type 2 Diabetes: Meglitinide Drugs:

Meglitinides (meh-GLIT-in-ides) are another type of diabetes medicine. Repaglinide (re-PAG-lyn-ide) is the name of a meglitinide. This medicine helps your pancreas make more insulin right after meals, which lowers blood glucose. Your doctor might prescribe repaglinide by itself or with metformin (another diabetes medicine) if one medicine alone does not control your blood glucose levels.A good thing about repaglinide is that it works fast and your body uses it quickly. This fast action means you can vary the times you eat and the number of meals you eat more easily using repaglinide than you can using other diabetes medicines.

How well it works:

Repaglinide has been found to be safe and effective in adults who have type 2 diabetes. Some older adults may be more sensitive to side effects.One study found that repaglinide was as safe and effective as glyburide (one of the sulfonylurea medications) in treating people with type 2 diabetes. Repaglinide has not been studied in children or pregnant or nursing women.

Why it is used?

Meglitinides can be used to treat type 2 diabetes in people whose blood sugar levels have not stayed within a normal or near-normal range using diet and exercise. Meglitinides can be used along with metformin if diet, exercise, and metformin or repaglinide alone have not kept blood sugar levels within a safe range. The dose of each may need to be adjusted to prevent low blood sugar. Because meglitinides work quickly and do not stay in the body long, they need to be taken at or just before each meal. This allows flexibility for people who do not eat on the same schedule each day.

Drug Interactions:

Some interactions between medications can be more severe than others. The best way for you to avoid harmful interactions is to tell your doctor and/or pharmacist what medications you are currently taking, including any over-the-counter products, vitamins, and herbals.

Side effects: 

Side effects include weight gain and hypoglycemia. While the potential for hypoglycemia is less than for those on sulfonylureas, it is still a serious potential side effect that can be life-threatening. Patients on this medication should know the signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia and the appropriate action to take

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