Nateglinide for diabetes

About nateglinide

Insulin is a hormone which is made naturally in your body, in the pancreas. It helps to control the levels of sugar (glucose) in your blood. If your body does not make enough insulin, or if it does not use the insulin it makes effectively, this results in the condition called diabetes (diabetes mellitus).

People with diabetes need treatment to control the amount of glucose in their blood. This is because good control of blood sugar levels reduces the risk of complications later on. Some people can control the sugar in their blood by making changes to the food they eat but, for other people, medicines like nateglinide are given alongside the changes in diet.

Nateglinide lowers blood sugar by encouraging your pancreas to produce more insulin. It starts to work quickly so it is particularly helpful in controlling blood sugar levels straight after a meal. Nateglinide will be prescribed for you alongside another antidiabetic medicine called metformin.

Before taking nateglinide

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking nateglinide it is important that your doctor knows:

• If you are under 18 or over 75 years of age.

• Si está embarazada, esperando un bebé o en período de lactancia.

• Si tiene algún problema con el funcionamiento de su hígado.

• If you have a severe illness or infection.

• Si alguna vez ha tenido una reacción alérgica a un medicamento.

• Si está tomando otros medicamentos. Esto incluye cualquier medicamento que esté tomando y que pueda adquirirse sin receta, así como medicamentos a base de plantas y complementarios.

How to take nateglinide

• Before you start the treatment, read the manufacturer's printed information leaflet from inside the pack. It will give you more information about nateglinide tablets and will provide you with a full list of the side-effects which you may experience from taking them.

• Take nateglinide exactly as your doctor tells you to. The usual dose is one tablet three times daily, before your main meals (usually breakfast, lunch and dinner). It is best to take the tablet immediately before you eat your meal, but it can be taken up to 30 minutes before a meal. If you miss a meal, do not take a tablet.

• You will be prescribed a low dose to begin with. If it becomes necessary, your doctor may increase the number of tablets you need to take each day.

• Swallow the tablet with a drink of water. Do not break or crush the tablets.

• If you forget to take a dose, do not worry, just take your next dose at the next mealtime. Do not take two doses together to make up for a forgotten dose, and do not take the tablets between meals.

Aproveche al máximo su tratamiento

• Es importante que acuda regularmente a las citas médicas y clínicas. Así podremos controlar su evolución. Necesitará revisiones periódicas en una clínica oftalmológica y podológica, así como con su médico y la clínica de diabetes.

• Su médico puede recomendarle que se haga análisis de azúcar (glucosa) en sangre u orina con regularidad para comprobar que su diabetes está controlada. Su médico o enfermera especializada en diabetes le enseñarán cómo hacerlo.

• Drinking alcohol is not recommended with nateglinide as it can affect the control of your blood sugar.

• Si es usted conductor, debe tener especial cuidado, ya que su capacidad de concentración puede verse afectada si su diabetes no está bien controlada. Es posible que le aconsejen que compruebe sus niveles de azúcar en sangre antes de viajar y que lleve un tentempié en los viajes largos.

• Si su médico le ha aconsejado hacer cambios en la dieta, dejar de fumar o hacer ejercicio con regularidad, es importante que siga sus consejos.

• Consulte a su médico antes de realizar cualquier ejercicio físico nuevo, ya que tendrá un efecto sobre sus niveles de azúcar en sangre y es posible que deba comprobar sus niveles en sangre u orina con mayor regularidad.

• Make sure you know what it feels like if your blood sugar is low. This is known as hypoglycaemia, or a 'hypo'. The first signs of hypoglycaemia are feeling shaky or anxious, sweating, looking pale, feeling hungry, having a feeling that your heart is pounding (palpitations), and feeling dizzy.

• If you are due to have an operation or dental treatment, you should tell the person carrying out the treatment that you have diabetes and that you are taking nateglinide. This is because if you are not able to eat for a time, you will be advised to skip your doses until you are eating normally again.

• Si tiene una sed inusual, orina con más frecuencia y se siente muy cansado, debe comunicárselo a su médico. Estos son signos de que tiene demasiada azúcar en la sangre y puede ser necesario ajustar el tratamiento.

• Treatment for diabetes is usually lifelong. Continue to take the tablets unless you are advised otherwise by your doctor.

Can nateglinide cause problems?

Along with their useful effects, most medicines can cause unwanted side-effects although not everyone experiences them. The table below contains some of the most common ones associated with nateglinide. You will find a full list in the manufacturer's information leaflet supplied with your medicine. The unwanted effects often improve as your body adjusts to the new medicine, but speak with your doctor or pharmacist if any of the following continue or become troublesome.

Si experimenta cualquier otro síntoma que crea que puede deberse a los comprimidos, hable con su médico o farmacéutico para que le aconsejen.

How to store nateglinide

• Mantenga todos los medicamentos fuera del alcance y de la vista de los niños.

• Almacenar en un lugar fresco y seco, lejos del calor y la luz directos.

Información importante sobre todos los medicamentos