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Learn More about Type 2 Diabetes

What is type 2 diabetes?

  • Type 2 diabetes is a disorder that affects the way your body metabolizes (absorbs) sugar.
  • Normally, sugar is digested, broken down into glucose, and used as energy by cells. This process is assisted by the hormone insulin.
  • If you have diabetes, this process is disrupted and blood sugar levels can become too high.
  • People with type 2 diabetes typically can produce insulin, but either they don't make enough or their cells do not respond to it.
  • Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes.

What are the symptoms of type 2 diabetes?

  • The symptoms of type 2 diabetes can develop slowly and gradually, unlike those of type 1, which usually appear in childhood.
  • These symptoms include increased thirst and hunger, fatigue, frequent urination, blurred vision, and slow healing.
  • Not everyone with type 2 diabetes experiences symptoms.

How is type 2 diabetes treated and monitored?

  • The American Diabetes Association (ADA) publishes guidelines for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. They recommend that treatment begin with lifestyle changes (such as healthy diet and exercise) and oral type 2 diabetes medications such as metformin. People with more severe or unresponsive diabetes may require other oral type 2 diabetes treatments and/or insulin to reach their blood glucose (sugar) goals.
  • Blood sugar levels must be measured regularly. Your healthcare professional will instruct you so you can do this at home with a blood glucose meter. You will also need to keep a daily log of your results.
  • Another test, known as A1C, measures your average blood sugar levels over a 2- to 3-month period.
    • Measuring A1C doesn't replace daily self-testing, but it gives you an idea of how well your overall treatment plan is working.
  • The ADA and many doctors consider an A1C level of less than 7% to be ideal.

What are the consequences of untreated type 2 diabetes?

  • Untreated diabetes can lead to serious complications such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and blindness, so treatment is essential.
  • Long-term complications develop slowly, but can become life-threatening.
  • Some of the complications include:
Possible long-term complications of type 2 diabetes
Heart disease Diabetes dramatically increases the risk of cardiovascular problems, including angina (chest pain), high blood pressure, heart attack, and stroke.
Neuropathy (nerve damage) Excess sugar can damage the walls of small blood vessels that nourish nerve cells. This can result in numbness, tingling, burning, or pain that usually starts at the tips of fingers or toes.
Vision loss Damage to blood vessels in the retina can lead to blindness. Diabetes also increases the risk of other eye conditions, including cataracts and glaucoma.
Nephropathy (kidney damage) Diabetes can injure the blood vessel clusters that filter waste from the blood. This can lead to kidney failure or irreversible disease requiring dialysis or transplant.
Foot damage Nerve injury or poor circulation in the feet increases the risk of serious infections that could result in the need for amputation.

Where can I go for more information about type 2 diabetes?

There are many organizations that provide information on treating type 2 diabetes . If you want to learn more about diagnosis, treatment, or living with type 2 diabetes, the websites listed below may be a good place to start. You may also want to ask your doctor and healthcare team for local groups who might be able to offer more personalized support.

American Diabetes Association
www.diabetes.org
US Department of Health and Human Services
http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/

Next, learn more about GLUMETZA®, a first-line type 2 diabetes medicine that may help minimize stomach-related side effects, such as nausea, in the first week of taking the medication.

Indication

GLUMETZA is a biguanide indicated as an adjunct to diet and exercise to improve glycemic control in adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Important Safety Information

Warning: Lactic Acidosis

Lactic acidosis is a rare, but serious, complication that can occur due to metformin accumulation. The risk increases with conditions such as sepsis, dehydration, excess alcohol intake, hepatic impairment, renal impairment and acute congestive heart failure.

The onset of lactic acidosis is often subtle, accompanied only by nonspecific symptoms such as malaise, myalgias, respiratory distress, increasing somnolence, and nonspecific abdominal distress.

Laboratory abnormalities include low pH, increased anion gap, and elevated blood lactate.

If acidosis is suspected, GLUMETZA (metformin hydrochloride, extended-release tablets), should be discontinued and the patient hospitalized immediately.

GLUMETZA is contraindicated in patients with:

  • Renal impairment (e.g., serum creatinine levels ≥ 1.5 mg/dL for men, ≥ 1.4 mg/dL for women or abnormal creatinine clearance), which may also result from conditions such as cardiovascular collapse (shock), acute myocardial infarction, and septicemia (see WARNINGS and PRECAUTIONS (5) of the Full Prescribing Information).
  • Known hypersensitivity to metformin hydrochloride.
  • Acute or chronic metabolic acidosis, including diabetic ketoacidosis. Diabetic ketoacidosis should be treated with insulin.

Hypoglycemia does not occur in patients receiving metformin alone under usual circumstances of use, but could occur when caloric intake is deficient, when strenuous exercise is not compensated by caloric supplementation, or during concomitant use with other glucose-lowering agents (such as sulfonylureas and insulin) or ethanol. Elderly, debilitated, or malnourished patients, and those with adrenal or pituitary insufficiency or alcohol intoxication are particularly susceptible to hypoglycemic effects. Hypoglycemia may be difficult to recognize in the elderly, and in people who are taking beta-adrenergic blocking drugs.

In clinical trials, the most common side effects with GLUMETZA monotherapy were diarrhea, nausea, dyspepsia, and upper abdominal pain. In clinical trials of GLUMETZA combined with a sulfonylurea, the most common side effects included hypoglycemia, diarrhea, and nausea.

Dosage and Administration

  • Administer once daily with the evening meal.
  • Individualize the dose based on effectiveness and tolerability, while not exceeding the maximum recommended daily dose of 2000 mg.
  • If naïve to metformin treatment, initiate with 500 mg daily.
  • Swallow whole. Never split, crush or chew.

Dosage Forms and Strengths

Extended Release Tablets, 500 mg and 1000 mg

For the Full Prescribing Information, including Black Box Warning, please click here. Please consult with your healthcare professional to see if GLUMETZA is right for you.

To report a Product Adverse Event or Product Complaint: 1-888-778-0887, Monday-Friday, 9:00 am-7:00 pm Eastern Time

Note: You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA.

Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

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The content of this website is not a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be interpreted as treatment recommendations or relied on for medical diagnosis or treatment. Please see complete Legal Disclaimer.

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Glumetza® and Smartcoat® are registered trademarks of Biovail Laboratories International S.r.l. AcuForm® is a registered trademark of Depomed. Inc.

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