Diabetes Medication - Pills*
   
Class Name
Generic Name		 Brand Name® Pill Sizes
Color
(Maximum Dose)		 When to Take How and Where it works in the body
Thiazolidinediones Same time each day, usually morning Improved muscle cells respond the insulin - more glucose enters cell
  rosiglitazone Avandia 2mg / 4mg / 8mg
white, pink, orange, red, brown
(8 mg)
  pioglitazone Actose 15mg / 30mg / 45mg
all off-white
(45 mg)
Biguanide With food, usually 2-3 times daily Keeps the liver from releasing too much sugar
  metformin Glucophage 500mg / 850mg / 1000mg
all white
(2550 mg)
Glucophage XR 500 mg
white
(2500 mg)		 With food, 1-2 times daily
Sulfonylurea(s) Usually 1 time per day, in morning Makes the pancreas release more insulin
  glymepiride Amaryl 1mg / 2mg / 4mg
pink / green / blue
(8 mg)
  glipizide Glucatrol 5mg / 10mg
white
(40 mg)		 1-2 times per day, 30 minutes before meal or 1 time daily, same time
Glucatrol XL 5mg / 10mg
white
(40 mg)		 1 time daily, usually morning
  glyburide Glynase 1.5mg / 3mg / 6mg
white / pale blue / yellow
(12 mg)		 Twice daily, with breakfast & supper
DiaBeta & Micronase 1.25mg / 2.5mg / 5mg
white / pink / 
pale green
(20 mg)		 Twice daily, with breakfast & supper
Combination Pills Usually 2 times per day, with food Keeps the liver from releasing too much sugar & makes the pancreas release insulin
  glyburide
      plus
  metformin		 Glucovance 1.25mg/250mg,
2.5mg/500mg or
5mg/500mg
light yellow,
pale orange,
yellow
(20mg / 2000mg)
Meglitinides Immediately before eating carbohydrate Causes a quick burst of insulin by the pancreas
  repaglinide Prandin 0.5mg / 1mg / 2mg
white / yellow / red
(16 mg per day,
4 mg per meal)
  nateglinide Starlix 120 mg
yellow
(120 mg with meals)
Alpha Glucosidase Inhibitors Immediately before eating starchy carbohydrate Slows small intestine digestion of starches for lower BG after meals
  acarbose Precose 50mg / 100mg
white
(50-100 mg per meal depending on body weight)
  miglitol Glyset 25mg / 50mg / 100mg
all white
(100 mg per meal)
* Introductory information on insulin is not available in this packet. If you will be starting insulin soon, your physician will instruct you or refer you to a diabetes educator for formal instruction.
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Diabetes