Patient was educated on the side effects of using Tolbutamide as follows:
- Hypoglycemia
- Normally, in a healthy individual, insulin secretion from the pancreas is proportional to the glucose levels in the blood.
- In diabetics, this fine balance is no more in place. Use of Tolbutamide leads to increased secretion of insulin, irrespective to the blood sugar levels, thus putting the individual at risk for hypoglycemia.
- Patients can frequently present with dizziness, lightheadedness, sweating, and hunger.
- Weight gain
- Excessive eating contributes to weight gain in individuals using Tolbutamide.
- Also, insulin is an anabolic hormone and so, increased secretion of insulin from the pancreas, secondary to use of Tolbutamide, results in weight gain.
- Hyperglycemia
- Tolbutamide loses the effectiveness over time and so, could lead to progressive decrease in insulin secretion.
- This can result in poor control of blood sugars with episodes of high blood sugar readings, thus necessitating an increase in the dose of Tolbutamide.
