Alternatives to Nateglinide
In general, treatment for
type 2 diabetes begins with lifestyle changes (for example, weight loss, exercise, and diet). If lifestyle changes alone are not effective in
managing diabetes, medication such as nateglinide may be necessary.
The main goal of
diabetes medication is to lower blood sugar levels enough to reduce the risk of developing problems related to
diabetes, such as heart, nerve, eye, or kidney problems. Because nateglinide can lower blood sugar levels, people may be able to lower their risk for developing problems related to high blood sugar by taking it.
Nateglinide is quite effective in controlling blood sugar. It is also generally well tolerated. However, side effects can occur, or the medicine may not work as well as needed. In these cases, nateglinide may need to be combined with another diabetes medicine, such as
metformin (
Glucophage®) or insulin. You may also wish to consider a substitute for nateglinide. These could include another meglitinide or other
diabetes drugs, either by themselves or in combination.
(To learn about controlling diabetes through lifestyle choices, click the following eMedTV links:
What If I Take an Overdose of Nateglinide?
People who take too much nateglinide may have overdose signs and symptoms that could include:
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
- Fainting
- Shakiness
- Fast heartbeat (tachycardia)
- Confusion
- Sweating.
If you happen to overdose on nateglinide, seek immediate medical attention.
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