Sulfonylureas diabetes medications are a particular class of oral anti-diabetic drugs that have been used since the 1950s to treat type 2 diabetes. They work with the pancreas to increase the release of insulin from beta cells. The three most common drugs in this classification are glipizide (Glucotrol), glibenclamide (also known as glyburide, marketed as Diabeta, Glynase and Micronase in the U.S.) and glimepiride (Amaryl or GLIMY). Glimepiride is also available combined with pioglitazone (Duetact). Glipizide and glyburide, combined with metformin, are sold as Metaglip and Glucovance. The sulfonylureas diabetes drugs are typically taken just once or twice a day, and may cause low blood sugar if not followed immediately by a meal (or taken right after). They’re usually prescribed when exercise and diet is not enough to balance blood sugar levels, but they can have serious side effects.
Diabetes and Sulfonylureas: What Are The Risks?
The most common side effect of sulfonylureas diabetes drugs is hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), as is the case with any anti-diabetic drug that is long-acting and stays in the body. Alcohol consumption will increase this risk. Other symptoms can include headaches, allergic reactions, anemia and abdominal upset. There may also be weight gain associated with this medicine. Women who are pregnant or are nursing should not use sulfonylureas, nor should those with kidney or liver problems. Since there are many other drugs that can interfere with sulfonylureas, those taking multiple medications should be extremely cautious. All drugs of this type have FDA warnings of an increased risk of cardiovascular disease. A study in 2009 found that compared with metformin, the sulfonylureas diabetes drugs (both first and second-generation versions) showed a greater risk of death from heart failure [http://diabetes.webmd.com/news/20091204/metformin-vs-sulfonylureas-for-diabetes]. For this reason, metformin was recommended over the sulfonylureas diabetes drugs (though metformin also has health concerns).
Are There Sulfonylureas Alternatives?
It is widely known that weight loss, a healthy diet and exercise are the most important elements of a diabetes treatment plan, and is a far healthier option than the sulfonylureas diabetes drugs. Cutting out harmful fats, sugars and starches from your meals and snacks will go a long way in lowering blood sugar and keeping it in balance. Besides regular exercise and a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, whole grains, beans, legumes and healthy oils (omega-3, olive and peanut), there are many minerals and herbs that have traditionally been used to lower blood glucose levels. The more well-known are chromium, cinnamon extract, fenugreek, Gymnema sylvestre, ginseng, and bitter melon. A 2007 study conducted by the Philippine Department of Health found that bitter melon worked as well in lowering blood sugar and improving glucose uptake as glyburide. Another study, comparing glyburide with mulberry leaves, found greater reduction of glucose levels, “bad” cholesterol and triglycerides with the mulberry treatment, whereas the glyburide only lowered triglycerides [http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11718678].
