Glipizide is part of a class of medication called sulfonylureas. A sulfonylurea medication like glipizide helps lower your blood glucose<\/a> (blood sugar) levels by increasing insulin secretion in your pancreas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Other popular types of sulfonylurea medication to treat type 2 diabetes include glyburide and glimepiride. Glyburide is associated with an increased risk of hypoglycemia compared to glipizide and glimepiride<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Glipizide is prescribed in dosages ranging from 5 to 40 milligrams per day, with 40 milligrams being the maximum daily dose for regular release glipizide. The maximum daily dose for Glucotrol XL\/glipizide ER is 20 milligrams per day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Type 2 diabetes is caused by a combination of insulin resistance<\/a> and lack of insulin production by the beta cells in your pancreas. When you don\u2019t have enough insulin (the hormone that lowers your blood glucose levels), your blood sugar levels will be higher than what\u2019s considered healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chronic high blood sugar<\/a> can lead to complications like nerve damage, poor wound healing<\/a>, increased risk of chronic diseases like heart disease<\/a>, kidney damage<\/a>, and other health issues. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Managing your blood sugar levels (whether through a healthy lifestyle or with the help of medications) is the best way to prevent diabetes complications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Glipizide helps your pancreas secrete more insulin from its beta cells to help promote healthy blood sugar levels. Regular glipizide (not glipizide ER\/Glucotrol XL) is meant to be taken at meals to help prevent high blood sugar levels after eating. Taking glipizide with meals can also help prevent hypoglycemia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Like all medications, glipizide comes with potential side effects. Some of the most common glipizide side effects include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of the less common glipizide side effects include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Potential rare side effects of taking glipizide include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the biggest potential complications of taking glipizide is hypoglycemia<\/a> (low blood sugar). Glipizide can cause low blood sugar<\/a> because it increases insulin secretion, which lowers blood sugar levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Low blood sugar usually isn\u2019t life-threatening if it\u2019s not severe. However, if you develop severe hypoglycemia, it can cause fainting, coma, and death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some of the symptoms of low blood sugar<\/a> to be aware of while taking glipizide include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Low blood sugar is defined as any blood glucose level below 70 mg\/dL. If you\u2019ve had diabetes for a long time or have had many incidences of low blood sugar in the past, you might not feel symptoms until your blood sugar is much lower than 70 mg\/dL.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you experience low blood sugar on glipizide, you should treat it by eating or drinking something containing 15 grams of carbohydrate. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Fruit juice and candies are ideal since they are rapidly absorbed into your bloodstream. It doesn\u2019t take much juice to treat low blood sugar – about one-half cup of juice contains around 15 grams of carbohydrates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After taking some carbohydrates, you should recheck your blood sugar in 15 minutes. If your blood sugar levels aren\u2019t increasing enough, you should repeat the treatment and retest your blood sugar in another 15 minutes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You should repeat this process until your blood sugar is at your target level (usually at least 70 mg\/dL). If your blood sugar isn\u2019t increasing despite treatment, contact your healthcare provider for medical advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n You can help lower your chances of developing glipizide by taking it as prescribed by your healthcare provider. Don\u2019t increase your dose or take multiple tablets at once if you miss a dose because that can cause hypoglycemia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taking glipizide helps lower blood sugar levels. If you don\u2019t eat consistent meals or you skip meals, glipizide might lower your blood sugar too much. This is especially true if you eat a very low carbohydrate diet, such as a ketogenic diet<\/a>. Not only can taking glipizide with meals help reduce your hypoglycemia risk, but it may help reduce the risk of gastrointestinal upset like nausea, gas, diarrhea, and stomach upset.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you haven\u2019t taken a diabetes medication<\/a> that can cause low blood sugar before, you should ensure your family, close friends, coworkers, etc., understand the signs of low blood sugar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n This way, they can better help you if you experience low blood sugar when you\u2019re in their company, especially if it\u2019s severe hypoglycemia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Low blood sugar can strike at any time, so it\u2019s good to be prepared. Keep glucose tablets, candy, or juice boxes with you when you\u2019re traveling, and make sure you have them on hand at home at all times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Symptoms of an allergic reaction include trouble breathing and swelling of your tongue and\/or airway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For information on glipizide interactions<\/a>, pharmacists can notify you if glipizide will cause a drug interaction with other types of medication you\u2019re taking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Drinking alcohol while taking glipizide increases your risk of developing hypoglycemia. Avoid drinking more than one drink daily if you\u2019re a woman and more than two drinks daily if you\u2019re a man. Glipizide is a category C medication, which means it may cause harm to an unborn baby if taken by the mother during pregnancy. That rating means that, according to animal studies, glipizide was found to harm the fetus (baby). Still, there aren\u2019t any studies on humans to determine if glipizide is safe during pregnancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re taking glipizide and get pregnant, seek medical advice from your healthcare provider right away to determine the next best step to manage your diabetes during pregnancy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Insulin and glipizide shouldn\u2019t be taken together because of the higher risk of developing low blood sugar. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The most common glipizide side effects are gastrointestinal-related, such as nausea and having an upset stomach. Other common glipizide side effects include headache, dizziness, and drowsiness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Taking glipizide increases your risk of developing hypoglycemia by increasing insulin secretion, so you should take steps to prevent low blood sugar while taking glipizide.<\/p>\n\n\n\nHow glipizide works for diabetes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Side effects of glipizide<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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![\"glyco](\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Glucose-Control-Inline-1.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nPotential complications of taking glipizide<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Treating low blood sugar on glipizide<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Ways to reduce the side effects of glipizide<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Take glipizide as prescribed<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Eat consistent meals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you decide to switch to a very low carbohydrate diet, seek medical advice from your healthcare provider so they can advise you on what to do as far as your glipizide dose.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTake glipizide with meals<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Educate friends and family on the symptoms of hypoglycemia <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Keep glucose tablets or juice boxes in your car, while traveling, etc.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Precautions <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t take glipizide if you\u2019re allergic to it<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tell your pharmacist of any other medications you\u2019re taking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Be cautious with your alcohol intake <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you choose to drink alcohol while on glipizide, avoid binge drinking or drinking on an empty stomach. Drink plenty of fluids and eat a meal before or during your drink to help reduce the chances of developing hypoglycemia.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAvoid during pregnancy <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t take it with insulin (unless directed by your healthcare provider)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Explore More<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
![\"glipizide](\"https:\/\/blog.bensnaturalhealth.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/glipizide-vs-metformin-1024x217.jpg\")
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