Patient was educated on the side effects of using meglitinides as follows:
- Hypoglycemia
- Normally, in a healthy individual, insulin secretion from the pancreas is proportional to the glucose levels in the blood.
- In diabetics, being managed on meglitinides, this fine balance is no more in place.
- Use of meglitinides lead to increased secretion of insulin, despite low blood sugars, putting the individual at risk for hypoglycemia.
- Patients can present with dizziness, lightheadedness, sweating, and hunger.
- Excessive hunger
- The frequent episodes of hypoglycemia, secondary to use of the meglitinides, result in increased appetite and hunger, leading to excessive eating.
- Weight gain
- Excessive eating contributes to weight gain in individuals using meglitinides. Also, insulin is an anabolic hormone and so, increased secretion of insulin from the pancreas, secondary to use of meglitinides, result in weight gain.
- Seizures
- Meglitinides carry the risk of inducing seizures in some individuals. This is a rare and serious side effect on meglitinides intake.
