How does glimepiride work?
Glimepiride is a type of medicine known as a sulfonylurea.
Sulfonylureas increase the amount of insulin that your pancreas makes. Insulin is the hormone that controls the level of sugar in your blood.
When will I feel better?
You may not feel any different when taking glimepiride as you may not have any symptoms with type 2 diabetes. This does not mean that the medicine is not working. It's important to keep taking it.
Glimepiride reduces blood sugar levels in 2 to 3 hours.
It helps keep your blood sugar level stable and will reduce your chance of getting health problems due to diabetes in the future.
Are there any long-term side effects?
Glimepiride is safe to take for a long time. There's no evidence that it harms your general health or your pancreas.
However, glimepiride may stop working properly after a while. Your doctor may want to try you on a different medicine, or start prescribing another diabetes medicine along with glimepiride.
Are there other medicines that treat type 2 diabetes?
Glimepiride belongs to a group of medicines called sulfonylureas. These include gliclazide, glibenclamide, glipizide and tolbutamide.
There are several other types of medicines that also treat type 2 diabetes including:
- metformin
- DPP-4 inhibitors, like saxagliptin
- SGLT2 inhibitors, like dapagliflozin
- GLP-1 agonists, like exenatide (given by injection)
- insulin (given by injection)
Metformin is usually the first choice of medicine used for treating type 2 diabetes.
Glimepiride can be prescribed on its own or together with other diabetes medicines.
It's usually prescribed if you cannot take metformin, or if metformin on its own is not keeping your blood sugar under control.
Can I get diabetes medicines for free?
If you have diabetes, you're entitled to free prescriptions for all of your medicines, not just your diabetes ones.
To claim your free prescriptions, you'll need to have a medical exemption certificate (FP92A). You can get an application form at your GP surgery. Once you've filled in the form, ask your doctor to sign it.
Can I take glimepiride before surgery?
If you're going to have an operation, tell your doctor beforehand that you're taking glimepiride.
They may switch you to insulin for a few days before and after your surgery.
This is because glimepiride increases your risk of low blood sugar during the operation. Low blood sugar can be difficult to detect when you're put to sleep with general anaesthetic.
Will it affect my contraception?
Glimepiride does not affect any type of contraception, including the combined pill and emergency contraception.
But talk to your doctor before starting to take contraceptive pills if you're already taking glimepiride. They may change your dose of glimepiride. This is because contraceptive pills change how your body handles sugar.
Can I drive or ride a bike?
If your blood sugar levels are stable, taking glimepiride should not affect your ability to drive, cycle or use machinery or tools.
However, if your blood sugar levels become too low, this can reduce your concentration. If this happens to you, do not drive, cycle, or use machines or tools until you feel better.
If your eyesight if affected by changes in your blood sugar, do not drive or use machinery until you can see clearly again. See your doctor or optician if your vision does not get better.
It's an offence to drive a car if your ability to drive safely is affected. It's your responsibility to decide if it's safe to drive. If you're in any doubt, do not drive.
Talk to your doctor or pharmacist if you're unsure whether it's safe for you to drive while taking glimepiride. GOV.UK has more information on the law on drugs and driving.
Can I drink alcohol while taking glimepiride?
Yes, you can drink alcohol while taking glimepiride. But it's best to drink no more than 2 units a day. Drinking more than this can increase your risk of low blood sugar.
Is there any food or drink I need to avoid?
It's a good idea to cut down on foods with added sugar. Check the nutrition labels as many foods and drinks are high in sugar, such as:
- sweets
- cakes
- biscuits
- chocolate
- some fizzy drinks
- juice drinks
However, it's important to always carry a fast-acting carbohydrate with you, like sugar cubes, fruit juice or some sweets, in case your blood sugar level gets low. Artificial sweeteners will not help.
You may also need to eat a starchy carbohydrate, like a sandwich or a biscuit, to maintain your blood sugar for longer.
Be careful when eating food and drink that contains karela (also called bitter gourd). This is because it can lower your blood sugar levels which means your diabetes is not controlled as well as it should be. Karela is used to flavour foods such as curries. It has a bitter taste and is also made into juice and tea.
Will I put on weight or lose weight?
Glimepiride can make you feel more hungry and some people find they put on weight.
Try to eat a healthy balanced diet without increasing your portion sizes. Regular exercise will also help you to keep your weight stable.
If you are already overweight, talk to your doctor about the best way to avoid putting on any more weight.
Glimepiride will not help you lose weight.
Can lifestyle changes help to control diabetes?
There are some lifestyle changes you can make to help control the symptoms of type 2 diabetes. These include:
- eating a healthy diet
- losing any excess weight
- not smoking
- cutting down on alcohol – try to keep to the recommended guidelines of no more than 14 units of alcohol a week. A standard glass of wine (175ml) is 2 units. A pint of lager or beer is usually 2 to 3 units of alcohol
- exercising – 30 minutes a day, 5 times a week is ideal
Glimepiride is usually prescribed when diet and exercise alone have not been enough to control your blood sugar levels.