Prandin

Prandin is often prescribed to lower blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. It works by helping the pancreas produce more insulin. The drug comes in tablet form and is taken by mouth before each meal. If you skip a meal, you should also skip your dose of this medication. Side effects are possible; common ones include low blood sugar, upper respiratory tract infections, and headaches.

Prandin (Repaglinide)

What Is Prandin?

Prandin^® (repaglinide) is a prescription medication that is used to treat type 2 diabetes (also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes or adult-onset diabetes).

(Click Prandin Uses for more information, including possible off-label uses.)

Who Makes Prandin?

Prandin is manufactured by Novo Nordisk, Inc.

How Does Prandin Work?

Prandin is part of a group of diabetes medications called meglitinides. Meglitinides help the pancreas make more insulin, which helps to lower blood sugar. Another type of diabetes medication called sulfonylureas (see Prandin Alternatives) also helps the pancreas make more insulin. However, unlike sulfonylureas, Prandin is short-acting and is used to lower blood sugar after meals.

Effects

Several studies have looked at the effects of this medication, particularly with regards to hemoglobin A1c and postprandial blood glucose.

Hemoglobin A1c

Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) is a test used to measure long-term blood sugar control. For people without diabetes, HbA1c results are usually less than 6 percent, while people with diabetes usually have higher results. In one study, people taking Prandin lowered their HbA1c by up to 0.6 percent on average, while people not taking Prandin increased their HbA1c by 1.1 percent.

Studies have shown that the higher the HbA1c, the greater the chance for developing long-term problems related to diabetes. This includes problems such as:

By getting blood sugar levels under control with Prandin, it may be possible to decrease the chances of developing these diabetes-related complications.

(Prandin Continued: Page 2)