Glucovance Uses

Glucovance is a combination of two diabetes drugs. The medicine is used to treat type 2 diabetes in adults who cannot lower their blood sugar levels through lifestyle changes alone. Glucovance is not used to treat type 1 diabetes, and is not recommended for use in children. At this time, there are no universally accepted off-label Glucovance uses.

 

What Is Glucovance Used For?

Glucovance® (glyburide and metformin) is a prescription medication that is used to treat type 2 diabetes. The medicine is a combination of two different diabetes drugs: glyburide (DiaBeta®, Glynase®, or Micronase®) and metformin hydrochloride (Fortamet®, Glucophage®, Glucophage XR®, Glumetza®, or Riomet®).
 

Using Glucovance for Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2
 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes (see Diabetes Types). It is also sometimes called adult-onset diabetes or non-insulin-dependent diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a condition involving insulin resistance. With insulin resistance, the cells of the body do not respond to insulin as well as they normally should. As a result, the cells do not take sugar out of the blood very well. This is why people with type 2 diabetes have high blood sugar.
 
Over time, high blood sugar can lead to a number of problems, including diabetic impotence, diabetic neuropathy, kidney failure, and heart disease (see Diabetes Complications). The cause of type 2 diabetes is not fully understood, though it is known that obesity and genetics play an important role in its development.
 
Glucovance is used for treating type 2 diabetes in people who cannot lower blood sugar through lifestyle changes (such as weight loss, diet, and exercise) alone. Glucovance is a combination of two diabetes drugs (glyburide and metformin). These two medications work differently and have different effects in the body:
 
  • Glyburide is part of a class of diabetes drugs called sulfonylureas. A sulfonylurea, such as glyburide, helps the pancreas make more insulin. It also helps the cells of the body respond better to insulin. This helps to lower blood sugar and keep it under better control.
     
  • Metformin works in several ways. It decreases the amount of sugar (glucose) made by the liver. It can also decrease the amount of sugar absorbed into the body (from the diet) and make insulin receptors more sensitive -- which helps the body respond better to its own insulin. All of these effects cause a decrease in blood sugar levels.
     
In some people, Glucovance may need to be combined with other diabetes medicines. For example, if type 2 diabetes is untreated for a very long time, the pancreas may not be able to make enough insulin anymore. In these people, using Glucovance alone will not be effective. These people will need to take insulin along with Glucovance.
 
(Glucovance Uses Continued: Page 2)
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Written by/reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD; Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Kristi Monson, PharmD;