Weight Change Low Blood Sugar Blood Sugar Daily Routine Daily Sugar Testing Side Effects
(Hypoglycemia) (A1c Reduction) (Monitoring)
Metformin Metformin Metformin 1  2% Metformin Metformin
Metformin
In the first few weeks after starting
Monitor 2 - 5 times weekly,
None Metformin, patients may have some
less often once stable.
nausea, indigestion or diarrhea.
Severe = No Risk Minor = 0  1%
Insulin
Insulin Insulin
Insulin Insulin Insulin Unlimited %
There are no other side effects associated
with Insulin.
OR Monitor once or twice daily,
4 to 6 lb. gain
less often once stable.
Glitazones
Severe = 1  3% Minor = 30  40%
(of those who experience minor hypoglycemia)
Over time, 10 in 100 people may have fluid
retention (edema) while taking Glitazones.
Glitazones Glitazones
Glitazones Glitazones Glitazones 1%
For some, it may be as little as ankle swelling.
For others, fluid may build up in the lungs
Monitor 3 - 5 times weekly,
More than 2 to 6 lb. gain
less often once stable. making it difficult to breathe. This may resolve
after you stop taking the drug.
Severe = No Risk Minor = 1  2%
( )
Exenatide KEEP COLD Take in the hour Exenatide
Exenatide
Exenatide Exenatide Exenatide ½  1%
before meals. After starting Exenatide, some patients may
Monitor twice daily after meals
have nausea or diarrhea. In some cases, the
3 to 6 lb. loss
when used with Sulfonylureas,
nausea may be severe enough that a patient
as needed when used
has to stop taking the drug.
Severe = No Risk Minor = 0  1% with Metformin.
Sulfonylureas Sulfonylureas Sulfonylureas 1  2% Sulfonylureas Take 30 min. before meal. Sulfonylureas
Sulfonylureas
Some patients get nausea, rash and/or
Monitor 2 - 5 times weekly, diarrhea when they first start taking
2 to 3 lb. gain OR
less often once stable
Sulfonylureas. This type of reaction may
Severe = Less than 1% Minor = 21% force them to stop taking the drug.
(of those who experience minor hypoglycemia)
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