Key takeaways
Glyburide (Glynase) and exenatide (Byetta, Bydureon BCise) are both used to manage type 2 diabetes, but they have several differences between them. Glyburide is an oral medication that works by telling your pancreas to release insulin. It's usually taken once or twice daily with meals. On the other hand, exenatide is an injectable medication that helps your body release insulin and blocks sugar release from your liver. Exenatide comes in short-acting (Byetta) and long-acting (Bydureon BCise) forms, with Byetta used twice daily before meals and Bydureon BCise once weekly. Glyburide can cause low blood sugar and weight gain, while exenatide is less likely to cause low blood sugar and might help with weight loss. However, exenatide can cause nausea and stomach upset. Glyburide is available as a lower-cost generic medication, whereas exenatide is only available as a brand-name medication, making it potentially more expensive.
