Sulfonylureas: What They Do, Medicines
Also in: हिन्दी தமிழ் मराठी తెలుగు ಕನ್ನಡ বাংলা ગુજરાતી മലയാളം
Sulfonylureas are tablets that lower blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. Examples sold in India include glimepiride and gliclazide. They are prescription medicines, and their main risk is low blood sugar.
Pharmacist review in progress. This page is based on the sources listed below and is being checked by our registered pharmacist.
How do Sulfonylureas work?
Sulfonylureas make the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas release more insulin. This lowers blood sugar, but it can fall too far if meals are skipped or other diabetes medicines are added.
Active ingredients of this type
These active ingredients belong to Sulfonylureas. They are listed A to Z.
- Gliclazide: Gliclazide is a medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes in adults.
- Glimepiride: Glimepiride is a medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes in adults.
Common questions
Why do sulfonylureas cause low blood sugar?
They make the pancreas release insulin even when blood sugar is not high. Skipping meals, alcohol, hard exercise, kidney or liver problems and other diabetes medicines raise the risk. Know the warning signs and follow your doctor's plan.
Do sulfonylureas replace insulin?
No. They help the pancreas release more of its own insulin and work only while it can still make some. Some people with type 2 diabetes need other medicines or insulin as well. Your doctor decides, so do not change anything on your own.
Sources
- Gliclazide: a medicine for type 2 diabetes. NHS (UK)
- Glimepiride tablets: prescribing information (label effective 11/2024). DailyMed, US National Library of Medicine
- Type 2 diabetes: treatment. NHS (UK)
- National Formulary of India. Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission