Glyburide vs. Insulin -- please share your experiences

SeaConquest

My fasting numbers have been high this week. We are upping my Metformin dose to 2500 mg. to see if we can bring my fasting levels down, but, if not, I have the choice of Glyburide or Insulin.

Could you please share your experience with taking Glyburide vs. Insulin. Why did you choose one over the other? Did you deliver vaginally or have a c-section? Were you induced? How was baby (and you) after birth? Any other complications?

I really really want to keep the birth as natural as possible and avoid medical interventions. Thanks so much for sharing your experiences.  

emriley84

I haven't had my little guy yet, so I can't answer some of your questions, but I'll share what I've been through so far.

I am on insulin, long acting at bedtime, and have been for about a month. I tried diet control but it didn't work to keep my fastings under control. I was also given the choice of trying oral medications first. However my doctor thinks it is easier to control with insulin because you can get such a specific dose, where as with oral medication, you can't. Also she said sometimes you start with oral meds and need the insulin anyway. I decided just to go ahead and do the insulin. When I have problems with my FBS, we usually go up by 2 units, and see from there. My numbers are under control, baby is big but his growth has slowed since I've gotten everything under control.

I was told I will most likely be induced because of the insulin, and baby being big by 39 weeks. I also had issues delivering DS #1, he was big and his shoulders got stuck, so my OB doesn't want this guy to get bigger than DS#1 was.

rara855

I also haven't had my baby yet but, the plan is to deliver vaginally like I did my son. 

 My fasting numbers never got under control and by adding the glyburide twice daily. Once before breakfast and once before dinner all my numbers have been so much better. It's a tiny pill and hasn't made me feel off or anything. Honestly, I am already doing the P17 shots weekly and didn't want to deal with any more needles. My perinatoligist said as long as the medicine helped and she felt very confident it would. We wouldn't need to look into insulin so for me this was a plus. I started about 5 weeks ago and am 34w this week. So even with getting further along when your insulin resistance can change I've still been able to control that with glyburide. 

 

GL in whatever route your doctors decide is best for you.  

ellenbc

I am about to have to make this decision too.  I am meetings with the Diabetes Resource Center tomorrow and will hopefully have some information to share with you.  

memali26

I've done insulin with both pregnancies, but not glyburide. My doctors felt, and I agreed, that there wasn't enough information to make us feel comfortable using glyburide. We also felt we'd get tighter control with insulin, since it can be adjusted in much smaller increments that glyburide.

I was induced twice, and had two vaginal deliveries. My doctor offered me a c-section about 30 or so hours into labor with my first, but said even though he was offering he advised against it as he felt my progress was good and I didn't need it. That was the only time c-section was discussed, but as soon as I was put on insulin I was told I'd be induced.

After the births my babies and I were both fine. They tested the girls' blood sugar frequently for the first 24 hours (with every feeding, I think) and mine was tested once or twice before I was officially cleared. I also did a 2 hr GTT at 6w PP with DD1 and a regular fasting blood draw at 1 year PP with DD2.

Ann003

I chose insulin because it doesn't cross the placenta and it's easier to "fine tune" the doses. I'm on long-acting insulin for my fasting numbers. I don't mind the needles. I did IVF, so one tiny needle/day is no big deal for me. 

Jezebell26

My MFM offers glyburide first and if that doesnt work, then insulin. They are moving more towards giving glyburide instead of insulin. I was only on met for the first tri and then taken off. They did not want me taking it if I got GD. I started at 2.5 mg glyburide in the am and moved to one in the am and one in the pm. The max dose is 10mg daily so I still have some wiggle room.

As for birth, I was told that I will have a conversation with my OB but probably induced at 39w and will not go passed my due date. I was told they will check me to see if my body is favorable for an induction if it is, we will start something, if not, c section. But as well all know, anything can happen between now and then. GL to you!

sara1817

I took Glyburide with my first pregnancy and don't think it changed my numbers all that much. My Dd developed an arrhythmia the day before she was born. Because of that she was extremely difficult to monitor while I was in labor. When it appeared that her heart rate dropped in the 60s I had an emergency C-section.

This pregnancy I found out I had GD much earlier. I opted to do insulin this time and feel like my sugars are way better controlled.