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Check Your Blood Sugar
It's very important to check your blood sugar. That way, you know if your diabetes management plan is working.
There are two types of blood sugar tests:
- Home Tests: The blood sugar test you do at home shows your blood sugar level just at the time of the test. Use the Blood Sugar Tracker (PDF format) to record your blood sugar levels as often as your doctor suggests.
- A1C Tests: The test your doctor gives you is called the HbA1c test or the "A1C test." It shows your average blood sugar level over the past 2 to 3 months. This test helps you and your doctor get the “big picture” on your blood sugar — how you’re doing over time.
Together, these tests can help your doctor decide how to adjust your diabetes management plan, if needed. Your doctor may recommend changes to your diet and activity plans, add medicine, or change the medicine you may currently be taking.
Your body and your diabetes change over time. Remember, most people with type 2 diabetes take medicine, and many take more than one medicine. Avandia is one medicine which is often used in combination with other medicines to help control blood sugar in different ways.
A1C is important – what you can do to help
It's so important to set and meet your A1C goal. That’s because high blood sugar can increase your risk of diabetes-related complications.
The following questions can help when you talk to your doctor about diabetes and your A1C:
- What should my blood sugar level be in the morning? After meals? At night?
- What is my A1C goal? Where am I now?
- How can I reach my A1C goal?
The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists recommends reaching an A1C level of 6.5 percent or less. However, A1C goals are individual, so your doctor will tell you where you need to be. Healthy eating, staying physically active and, if needed, the medicine that's right for you, all play a part.
Please see important safety information below for Avandia, Avandamet and Avandaryl, including who should not take Avandia, Avandamet or Avandaryl. See also link to Medication Guide for Avandia and links to Patient Information Leaflets for Avandamet and Avandaryl.
Prescription Avandia, along with diet and exercise, helps improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes. Taking Avandia with insulin or nitrates is not recommended.
Avandia can cause or worsen heart failure. If you have severe heart failure (very poor pumping ability of the heart) you cannot be started on Avandia. Avandia is also not recommended if you have heart failure with symptoms (such as shortness of breath or swelling) even if these symptoms are not severe.
Avandia may increase your risk of other heart problems that occur when there is reduced blood flow to the heart, such as chest pain (angina) or heart attack (myocardial infarction). This risk appeared higher in patients taking medicines called nitrates or insulin.
If you have chest pain or a feeling of chest pressure, you should seek immediate medical attention, regardless of what diabetes medicines you are taking. If you take Avandia tell your doctor right away if you: have swollen legs or ankles, a rapid increase in weight or difficulty breathing, or unusual tiredness; experience changes in vision; become pregnant.
Before taking Avandia, review your medical history and tell your doctor if you:
- Have heart failure or other heart problems, or are on any medicines for high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart failure, or for prevention of heart disease or stroke.
- Take insulin or nitrate medicines.
- Have a type of diabetic eye disease called macular edema.
- Have liver problems or had liver problems while taking REZULIN®(troglitazone).
- Are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
- Are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed.
Women taking Avandia should know that Avandia may increase the risk of pregnancy. More fractures have been observed in women taking Avandia. Other possible side effects of Avandia include anemia and hypoglycemia. Your doctor should do blood tests to check your liver before you start Avandia and during treatment as needed.
For more information about Avandia, please see Medication Guide. For further information on Avandia, please see full Prescribing Information.
Avandamet, along with diet and exercise, helps improve blood sugar control in patients with type 2 diabetes. It is a combination of two drugs - rosiglitazone maleate and metformin HCl.
Avandamet can cause or worsen heart failure. If you have severe heart failure (very poor pumping ability of the heart), you cannot be started on Avandamet. Avandamet is also not recommended if you have heart failure with symptoms (such as shortness of breath or swelling) even if these symptoms are not severe.
Rosiglitazone, a component of Avandamet, may increase your risk of other heart problems that occur when there is reduced blood flow to the heart, such as chest pain (angina) or heart attack (myocardial infarction). This risk appeared higher in patients taking medicines called nitrates or insulin. Taking rosiglitazone with insulin or with nitrates is not recommended.
If you have chest pain or a feeling of chest pressure, you should seek immediate medical attention, regardless of what diabetes medicines you are taking.
A small number of people who have taken metformin, one of the components of Avandamet, have developed a rare yet serious condition called lactic acidosis (a buildup of lactic acid in the blood). Lactic acidosis occurs most often in people with kidney problems and can be fatal in up to one half of the cases. You should not take Avandamet if you have kidney problems. Tests should be used to check your kidneys before and while taking Avandamet. You should not drink alcohol excessively when taking Avandamet. If you are taking medicines for heart failure, you may be at increased risk of lactic acidosis.
If you take Avandamet, tell your doctor right away if you:
- Have swollen legs or ankles, a rapid increase in weight or difficulty breathing, or unusual tiredness
- Experience changes in vision
- Become pregnant
Review your medical history and tell your doctor if you:
- Have heart failure or other heart problems
- Have liver problems or liver disease
- Are pregnant or are nursing
Women taking Avandamet should know that Avandamet may increase the risk of pregnancy
More fractures have been observed in women taking Avandamet.
For more information about Avandamet, please see Patient Information. For further information on Avandamet, please see full Prescribing Information.
Avandaryl, along with diet and exercise, helps improve blood sugar control in patients with type 2 diabetes. Avandaryl is a combination of two drugs - rosiglitazone maleate and glimepiride.
Avandaryl can cause or worsen heart failure. If you have severe heart failure (very poor pumping ability of the heart), you cannot be started on Avandaryl. Avandaryl is also not recommended if you have heart failure with symptoms (such as shortness of breath or swelling) even if these symptoms are not severe.
Rosiglitazone, a component of Avandaryl, may increase your risk of other heart problems that occur when there is reduced blood flow to the heart, such as chest pain (angina) or heart attack (myocardial infarction). This risk appeared higher in patients taking medicines called nitrates or insulin. Taking rosiglitazone with insulin or with nitrates is not recommended.
If you have chest pain or a feeling of chest pressure, you should seek immediate medical attention, regardless of what diabetes medicines you are taking.
Avandaryl may cause low blood sugar. Lightheadedness, dizziness, shakiness or hunger may mean that your blood sugar is too low. If you have kidney problems, you may need a lower dose of Avandaryl to reduce problems with low blood sugar. Talk to your doctor if low blood sugar is a problem for you.
If you take Avandaryl, tell your doctor right away if you:
- Have swollen legs or ankles, a rapid increase in weight or difficulty breathing, or unusual tiredness
- Experience changes in vision
- Become pregnant
Review your medical history and tell your doctor if you:
- Have heart failure or other heart problems
- Have liver problems or liver disease
- Are pregnant or are nursing
Women taking Avandaryl should know that Avandaryl may increase the risk of pregnancy
More fractures have been observed in women taking Avandaryl .
For more information about Avandaryl, please see Patient Information. For further information on Avandaryl, please see full Prescribing Information.
