Is Glucotrol Used for Type 1 Diabetes?
Most people make
insulin in their
pancreas, including those with
type 2 diabetes. However, if a person has
type 1 diabetes, their body does not make insulin (or not enough to control blood sugar levels).
Glucotrol is a medicine that causes the cells inside the pancreas to make more insulin. If insulin-producing cells do not work, as in the case with type 1
diabetes, Glucotrol will not be effective. This is the reason that Glucotrol is not used to treat type 1 diabetes. Instead, a person with type 1 diabetes needs to take insulin medication.
Why Is Glucotrol Used for Diabetes Treatment?
The main goal of any
diabetes treatment plan is to lower your blood sugar levels (as measured by your hemoglobin A1c [HbA1c]) enough to reduce your risk for developing problems related to diabetes.
Treatment for type 2 diabetes typically begins with lifestyle changes (weight loss, a diabetic diet, and exercise). If lifestyle changes alone are not effective in
managing diabetes,
diabetes drugs, such as Glucotrol, may be necessary.
To learn more about controlling diabetes through lifestyle choices, click the following eMedTV links:
Is Glucotrol Used for Children?
Glucotrol has not been adequately studied in children. Talk to your healthcare provider about the benefits and risks of using Glucotrol in children with type 2 diabetes.
Is Glucotrol Used for Off-Label Reasons?
On occasion, your healthcare provider may recommend Glucotrol for something other than the condition discussed in this article. This is called an "
off-label" use. At this time, there are no universally accepted off-label uses for Glucotrol.
Previous