Patient/caregiver was educated on side effects of Nateglinide use as follows:
Hypoglycemia
- Nateglinide is very quick and short to act. It acts by stimulating release of more insulin from the cells of pancreas. Increased insulin secretion by nateglinide can help improve shifting of glucose from the blood into the cells of body tissues. Increased glucose shifting into the cells leads to lowered blood sugar numbers and improved regulation of blood sugars. Increased glucose shifting into the cells contribute to better nutrition supply to the cells of body tissues. Improved nutrition supply to body tissues result in improvement in diabetes symptoms, such as, feeling very tired, confusion, and blurred vision.
- Since nateglinide is very quick to act, it is to be taken no earlier than 30 minutes before the mealtime. Taking nateglinide as scheduled can lead to increased insulin secretion but observing noncompliance with timely intake of food can lead to severe lowering of blood sugars and episodes of dangerous hypoglycemia. Patients in hypoglycemia can present with dizziness, lightheadedness, weakness, headache, sweating, shaking, chills, rapid heartbeat, anxiousness, and hunger.
- Determine your meal and snack times and strictly adhere to the time. Maintain good regular eating habits. Avoid skipping meals or undereating, while taking nateglinide. Skipping a meal or undereating can bring the blood sugars down. Observing compliance with timely nutrition intake and recommended calorie consumption can help prevent development of hypoglycemic episodes.
Seizures
- Nateglinide carries the risk of inducing seizures in some individuals.
- This is a rare and serious side effect secondary to use of Nateglinide.
- Report to your doctor for further recommendations in the event of presentation with seizures.
