Commonly used to treat type 2 diabetes, Glucovance® is actually a combination of two prescription medications – glyburide and metformin hydrochloride. The two substances affect the body in different ways. Glyburide is classified as a sulfonylurea, which helps the pancreas to make insulin. It also improves the cells’ response to the insulin. The result is lower blood sugar and better control over blood sugar levels. Metaformin lowers the level of glucose (sugar) created by the liver, and limits how much sugar is absorbed by the body from the person’s diet. It can also help the body make better use of its own insulin. This also results in lower blood sugar for those with diabetes. Glucovance is made by the corporate giant drug manufacturer, the Bristol-Myers Squibb Company.
Glucovance Side Effects and Interactions with Other Drugs
Since Glucovance is used to lower the body’s blood sugar, one of the most common side effects is low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). This can be just as dangerous as high blood sugar. For those with diabetes, Glucovance use may also cause nausea or vomiting, diarrhea or abdominal pain. They might experience dizziness, cold and flu-like symptoms, or weight gain. There might also be dangerous drug interactions. A few of the more common medicines that can interact with Glucovance include decongestants such as Sudafed, Hydrocortisone and Prednisone, and anti-inflammatory drugs such as Ibuprofen (used in Motrin and Advil). A comprehensive list can be found on eMedTV.com [http://diabetes.emedtv.com/glucovance/glucovance-drug-interactions.html]. This information is crucial for those with diabetes. Glucovance, when combined with any of these drugs, may either lower or increase blood sugar levels, making the effect of the drug harder to predict, and making it far more difficult to keep levels balanced.
People with certain existing medical conditions are advised not to use Glucovance. Diabetes sufferers with liver or kidney disease, recent heart attack or stroke, asthma or lung disease, should find an alternative treatment.
Glucovance Alternatives – Natural Treatments
If the above information worries you, you should know that there are alternatives to diabetes and Glucovance. This includes other oral diabetes medications as well as insulin, but the least intrusive to the body is to make some simple lifestyle changes. If your body is given the proper environment, it can do a good job at regulating blood sugar levels to keep you healthy. This includes weight loss and regular exercise, and a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, grains, and healthy fats and oils. Diabetics should stop smoking immediately, and should greatly limit (if not cut out completely) their alcohol consumption. These steps are recommended even for those who must use insulin or medication. However, in many cases, changes in lifestyle may help to prevent and even cure symptoms, making any kind of medication unnecessary.
