Patients should be informed of the potential risks and advantages of MICRONASE (glyburide) and of alternative modes of therapy. They also should be informed about the importance of adherence to dietary instructions, of a regular exercise program, and of regular testing of urine and/or blood glucose.

The risks of hypoglycemia, its symptoms and treatment, and conditions that predispose to its development should be explained to patients and responsible family members. Primary and secondary failure also should be explained.

Physician Counseling Information for Patients: In initiating treatment for type 2 diabetes, diet should be emphasized as the primary form of treatment. Caloric restriction and weight loss are essential in the obese diabetic patient. Proper dietary management alone may be effective in controlling the blood glucose and symptoms of hyperglycemia. The importance of regular physical activity should also be stressed, and cardiovascular risk factors should be identified and corrective measures taken where possible. Use of MICRONASE (glyburide) or other antidiabetic medications must be viewed by both the physician and patient as a treatment in addition to diet and not as a substitution or as a convenient mechanism for avoiding dietary restraint. Furthermore, loss of blood glucose control on diet alone may be transient, thus requiring only short- term administration of MICRONASE (glyburide) or other antidiabetic medications. Maintenance or discontinuation of MICRONASE (glyburide) or other antidiabetic medications should be based on clinical judgment using regular clinical and laboratory evaluations.

Last reviewed on RxList: 3/28/2011
This monograph has been modified to include the generic and brand name in many instances.