Glyburide Uses

Primary glyburide uses include helping the pancreas produce more insulin and lowering blood sugar by improving insulin resistance. The drug is often used to treat type 2 diabetes when lifestyle changes alone are not enough. These glyburide uses can help reduce the risk for problems associated with high blood sugar, such as heart disease and kidney failure. The medication can also be used to treat gestational diabetes in pregnant women.

About Glyburide

Glyburide Uses: An Overview

Glyburide (DiaBeta^®, Glynase^®, or Micronase^®) is a prescription medication licensed to treat type 2 diabetes when diet and exercise alone are not successful in lowering blood sugar. The drug can be used alone or in combination with another diabetes medication.

(Click Glyburide Alternatives for information about other medications for type 2 diabetes.)

Glyburide Uses 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. The condition involves 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 remove sugar from 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. The cause of type 2 diabetes is not fully understood, although it is known that obesity and genetics play an important role.

Glyburide may be used in people who cannot lower blood sugar levels sufficiently through lifestyle changes (weight loss, diet, and exercise). The medication is part of a group of diabetes drugs called sulfonylureas. Sulfonylureas work by increasing the production of insulin in the pancreas. They may also help to lower blood sugar by improving insulin resistance. This means that sulfonylureas can help the cells remove more sugar from the blood.

In some cases, glyburide 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. Thus, using glyburide alone will not be effective. These people will need to take another diabetes medication or take insulin along with glyburide.

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