Diabetes – Oral Medicines for Diabetes

If you are having any symptoms or have any questions, please call 811 to speak with a registered nurse 24 hours a day.

What medicines could my healthcare provider prescribe?

Six kinds of diabetes medicine are available in pill form: metformin (a biguanide), sulfonylureas, thiazolidinediones, meglitinides, alpha‑glucosidase inhibitors and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors. Each medicine has good points and bad points. Your healthcare provider will decide which medicine is right for you.

Metformin

Metformin is a type of biguanide. It is often the first oral medicine prescribed for someone newly diagnosed with diabetes. It has the advantage of not causing low blood sugar. Metformin does not cause your pancreas to make insulin, but it helps your body use insulin better. Metformin can cause side effects such as nausea or diarrhea in some people. Your healthcare provider may prescribe metformin in combination with another oral diabetes medicine.

Sulfonylureas

Sulfonylureas are the most commonly prescribed diabetes medicines. These medicines help your pancreas make insulin. They are inexpensive and have few side effects. There are 3 types of sulfonyureas: gliclazide, glimepiride and glyburide. Side effects may include weight gain and low level of sodium in the blood. Sulfonylureas can be taken alone or with metformin, pioglitazone (a thiazolidinedione) or insulin. If you’re allergic to sulfa, you can’t take a sulfonylurea.

Thiazolidinediones

This class of medicines includes rosiglitazone and pioglitazone. These medicines help your body respond better to insulin. Rosiglitazone and pioglitazone can be used alone or in combination with other diabetes medicines. Side effects may include weight gain, fluid retention and an increase in LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. People taking rosiglitazone and pioglitazone also need periodic liver tests.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Diabetes Canada
Nova Scotia and PEI Toll Free: 1-800-326-7712
http://www.diabetes.ca

Nova Scotia Government website at:
http://www.novascotia.ca/dhw/publications/diabetes_fact_sheet.pdf

PEI Government Website
https://www.princeedwardisland.ca/en/topic/diabetes

Health Canada website at:
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/health-concerns/diseases-conditions/diabetes.html

Written by familydoctor.org editorial staff.

Revised/Updated: 05-01-2014

Created: 05-01-1999

This handout provides a general overview on this topic and may not apply to everyone. To find out if this handout applies to you and to get more information on this subject, contact your family healthcare provider.

Copyright (c) by the American Academy of Family Physicians

Permission is granted to print and photocopy this material for non-profit educational uses.

Written permission is required for all other uses, including electronic uses.

Nova Scotia Telecare, Reviewed by Clinical Services Working Group, February 2019

55631