glipizide / metformin

Glipizide in glipizide/metformin can start to lower your blood sugar levels within 30 minutes after you take your medication. But it can take about 2 weeks before you start to see how well glipizide/metformin controls your blood sugar levels overall. It can take about 2 months for you to experience the full effects of metformin. When you first start glipizide/metformin, your diabetes care team will ask you to check your blood sugar levels regularly to see if it's within a goal range. If needed, they'll adjust your dose of glipizide/metformin every couple of weeks until you're at a dose that works well for you.

Glipizide/metformin and insulin both can help manage blood sugar levels, but they do so in different ways. Insulin is a hormone that helps your body manage its blood sugar levels. And insulin medication is prescribed for people who either don't make insulin or whose body doesn't respond to insulin the way it should. Metformin controls blood sugar levels by helping the body respond better to insulin, while glipizide tells the body to release more insulin. Glipizide/metformin is taken by mouth, where as insulin medications are typically injected under the skin. Talk with your diabetes care team if you've more questions about glipizide/metformin and insulin.

If glipizide/metformin isn't enough to help control your blood sugar levels, your diabetes care team might consider prescribing Jardiance (empagliflozin) to help. Jardiance (empagliflozin) works differently from glipzide and metformin; it helps control blood sugar levels by getting rid of sugar through the kidneys. This medication is a good option for people who have certain medical conditions, such as serious kidney problems of heart failure. Keep in mind that taking Jardiance (empagliflozin) with glipizide can raise your risk for dangerously low blood sugar levels. It's important to know how to recognize symptoms of low blood sugar levels and keep fast-acting sugars with you so, if needed, you can raise your blood sugar back to a safe level.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol) doesn't have a known interaction with glipizide/metformin. But acetaminophen (Tylenol) might not be a good option for certain people, such as those who have liver problems. To be on the safe side, however, you should always check with your healthcare professional (HCP) before starting any new medications.

Ask your diabetes care team what you should do if you skip a meal. Typically, you should take glipizide/metformin with meals. This is because glipizide is meant to lower blood sugar levels after you eat. If you take glipizide/metformin without eating, then you're at higher risk for dangerously low blood sugar levels, which can be very serious.

Yes, diarrhea is one of the more common side effects of glipizide/metformin. Both glipizide and metformin can cause diarrhea and other stomach problems. It's generally more common during the first few weeks of starting glipizide/metformin and can get better over time. If you experience diarrhea after starting glipizide/metformin, taking it with food might help. If this side effect doesn't go away, let your diabetes care team know.

It's best to avoid drinking alcohol while taking glipizide/metformin. Drinking alcohol while taking metformin can raise your risk of lactic acidosis, a side effect where you have too much lactic acid in your body. And drinking alcohol while taking glipizide can put you at risk for dangerously low blood sugar levels. If you drink alcohol regularly and it's difficult for you to quit, talk with your diabetes care team before starting glipizide/metformin. They can let you know if there's a safer amount of alcohol to drink, teach you how to recognize symptoms of serious side effects, or talk with you about other options to treat diabetes.