Biguanides is another oral medication that a type 2 diabetic may used to control their symptoms. Instead of affecting the pancreas like the sulfonylureas does, biguanides target the glucose production in the liver. This particular drug is often used if the patient is obese. While it is generally a safe drug there are side effects and potentially lethal reactions that can result from taking this drug. One such lethal reaction is the development of a condition known as lactic acidosis. This condition is fatal 50% of the time, however, the risks of developing this condition can be reduced by first analyzing the health the person's kidneys and liver before prescribing this drug. Generally speaking, the most common side effects of this drug family are digestive tract irritations such as nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, cramping, and occasional the taste of metal in the mouth. The most common drug in this family is Metformin.
Sulfonylurea/Biguanide Combination
In the past sulfonylureas and biguanides have been prescribed together for people with type 2 diabetes in order to treat and manage their symptoms. In order to help reduce the number of pills that a diabetic has to take these drugs have recently been combined into one tablet. This helps to reduce the amount of medication taken, and it helps to save money on prescription drugs.