Oral & Injectable Antidiabetic Medications
Drug
Class
Action Type
Route /
Form
Key Use
Nursing Considerations
Memory Tip
Acarbose
(Precose)
Alpha-glucosidase
inhibitor
Short-acting
Oral tablet
Type 2 diabetes
(post-meal
glucose control)
Take with first bite of food,
may cause flatulence,
diarrhea, monitor liver
“A-carb blocks
carbs”
Metformin
(Glucophage)
Biguanide
Long-acting
Oral tablet
Type 2 diabetes
(first-line)
Monitor kidneys, hold
before contrast dye, no
hypoglycemia risk
“Metformin =
Maintains sugar
steady”
Rosiglitazone
(Avandia)
Thiazolidinedione
(TZD)
Long-acting
Oral tablet
Type 2 diabetes
(insulin
sensitizer)
Watch for heart failure,
liver function, weight gain
“Rosi = Roses for
the heart (but may
fail!)”
Repaglinide
(Prandin)
Meglitinide
Short-acting
Oral tablet
Type 2 diabetes
(post-meal
glucose spikes)
Take before meals, skip if
meal skipped, may cause
hypoglycemia
“Repa = Rapid
meal control”
Sitagliptin
(Januvia)
DPP-4 inhibitor
Intermediate
Oral tablet
Type 2 diabetes
Watch for pancreatitis,
upper resp. infection,
monitor blood sugar
“Sita = Sits sugar
steady”
Exenatide
(Byetta)
GLP-1 receptor
agonist
Long-acting
(injection form)
SubQ
injection
Type 2 diabetes
Give before meals, causes
weight loss, risk for
pancreatitis
“Exenatide = Exit
sugar + pounds”
