Glyburide Vs Metformin

What is Glyburide?

It is a prescription drug that is taken by people with type 2 diabetes to help them manage their blood sugar levels. Glyburide can be used alone or in combination with other diabetes drugs, such as Metformin. The drug is to be taken orally once per day with the first meal of the day, usually breakfast. Your doctor may prescribe this medication at a lower dose before gradually increasing the dose to reduce the risk of side effects.

• Also read: Glyburide Vs Glipizide
• Also read: Glimepiride Vs. Glyburide

What is Metformin?

Metformin is an oral medication used to treat patients with type 2 diabetes. It can be prescribed together with insulin or other diabetes drugs, but should not be used to treat patients with type 1 diabetes. The drug should be taken with food, unless you are advised otherwise by your doctor. This medication is only part of a treatment program that also includes exercise, diet, and, weight control.

• Also read: Glimepiride Vs. Metformin
• Also read: Actos Vs. Metformin
• Also read: Jardiance Vs. Metformin
• Also read: Insulin Vs. Metformin
• Also read: Janumet Vs. Metformin

Similarities and differences between metformin and glyburide

Similarities

Glyburide and Metformin are oral diabetes drugs that are used to treat patients with type 2 diabetes. Usually, after you eat, glucose is absorbed into the bloodstream. When the level of blood glucose rises, the body will stimulate the pancreas to release insulin. This natural hormone will help the muscle cells absorb glucose from the blood, and store the excess glucose for future purposes. In patients with type 2 diabetes, this process does not function as it should. This is because the body cannot produce enough insulin or it become resistant to insulin. As a result, people with type 2 diabetes experience high blood sugar levels, which, if left untreated, could lead to severe health problems like blindness, kidney problems, or nerve damage. People with type 2 diabetes can control their blood sugar levels through proper exercise and diet plan. In case this does not work, your doctor may prescribe either Glyburide or Metformin to help you manage your blood sugar levels better. However, these drugs should not be used to treat patients with type 1 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition where the pancreas fails to produce insulin as a result of beta cells being attacked by the immune system. When you take Glyburide or Metformin, they help your body respond better to the insulin it already makes. Hence, these medications cannot be used in patients who do not naturally produce insulin.

Differences

Glyburide is also known as its brand name, Diabeta, while Metformin’s brand name is Glucophage. Metformin belongs to a class of medication known as biguanides. Biguanides work by reducing the amount of glucose that is produced by the liver and by stimulating the cells to absorb glucose from the bloodstream. On the other hand, glyburide belongs to a class of medications known as sulfonylureas. Sulfonylurea drugs work by stimulating the pancreas to release insulin, which helps to reduce high blood sugar levels in patients with type 2 diabetes. Metformin is usually the first prescription drug that is prescribed to patients with type 2 diabetes. In case Metformin does not work effectively in controlling blood sugar levels, Glyburide may be prescribed alone or in combination with Metformin. Both medications are affordable oral diabetes drugs. However, Metformin is sold at a slightly lower price compared to Glyburide. When it comes to side effects, sulfonylureas are more likely to cause hypoglycemia compared to Metformin. Unlike Glyburide, Metformin does not result in risk of low blood sugar because it does not stimulate the pancreas to produce insulin.