What Is Minidiab Used For?

Minidiab contains glipizide and belongs to a group of medicines called sulphonylureas. It is used alongside diet and exercise to help control blood sugar levels in people with Type II diabetes.

Primary Uses

Minidiab is used to control blood sugar in patients with Type II diabetes mellitus (also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or NIDDM). It is prescribed when diet and exercise alone are not enough to control blood glucose levels. It can be used alone or together with insulin or other diabetes medicines.

How It Works

Minidiab works by lowering blood glucose levels through increasing the amount of insulin produced by your pancreas. This helps prevent serious complications that can occur with poorly controlled diabetes, including problems with your heart, eyes, circulation, or kidneys.

How to Take Minidiab

The dose of Minidiab varies from patient to patient, and your doctor will recommend how many tablets to take each day based on your individual needs and blood glucose levels.

Dosage Instructions

The usual starting dose is 1 tablet taken before breakfast, though a lower starting dose may be needed for older people or those with liver problems. Your doctor may increase or decrease the dose depending on your blood glucose levels. For best control of blood sugar, take Minidiab about half an hour before meals. Swallow tablets with a glass of water. Do not skip meals while taking Minidiab.

What If You Miss a Dose?

If it is almost time for your next dose, skip the missed dose and take your next dose when scheduled. Otherwise, take it as soon as you remember, then return to your normal dosing schedule. Missed doses can cause high blood glucose. If you miss more than one dose or are unsure what to do, check with your doctor or pharmacist.

Available Tablet Strengths

Side Effects

Like all medications, this medicine can cause side effects. Most are mild and temporary, but some require medical attention.

Common Side Effects

These side effects occur relatively frequently and usually don’t require emergency care:

• Low blood glucose symptoms (weakness, trembling, sweating, light-headedness, headache, dizziness, sleepiness, irritability, tearfulness, hunger, lack of concentration)
• Confusion and feeling generally unwell
• Stomach upset (nausea, vomiting, stomach cramps or pain)
• Diarrhea or constipation
• Skin reactions (rashes, sores, redness, itching, eczema)
• Visual disturbances (blurred vision, double vision)
• Increased sensitivity to sunlight

Important Warnings

There are several important conditions and situations where Minidiab should not be used, and others where special caution is needed.

Who Should Not Take Minidiab

Do not take Minidiab if you are allergic to glipizide, other sulphonylureas, sulfur antibiotics (sulphonamides), or thiazide diuretics. Do not use if you have Type I diabetes, diabetic ketoacidosis, severe kidney or liver disease, severe thyroid disease, severe or unstable diabetes, infection or high temperature, gangrene, severe trauma, or are about to undergo major surgery. Do not take during pregnancy.

Medical Conditions to Discuss

Tell your doctor if you have kidney or liver problems, adrenal, pituitary or thyroid problems, haemolytic anaemia or G6PD deficiency. Also inform your doctor if you drink alcohol, don’t eat regular meals, do heavy exercise, or are feeling ill or unwell, as these factors strongly affect diabetes control.

Pregnancy and Breastfeeding

You should not take Minidiab if you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant. Insulin is more suitable for controlling blood glucose during pregnancy, and your doctor may replace Minidiab with insulin. You should also not take Minidiab if you are breastfeeding, as it is not known whether the medicine passes into breast milk and could affect your baby.

Drug Interactions

Some medicines can interfere with Minidiab, either increasing the risk of low blood sugar or reducing its effectiveness in controlling diabetes.

• Alcohol
• Blood pressure medicines (beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, diazoxide)
• Pain and inflammation medicines (aspirin, NSAIDs)
• Antibiotics (chloramphenicol, sulphonamides)
• Antifungal medicines (miconazole, fluconazole, voriconazole)
• Blood thinners (coumarin derivatives)
• Cholesterol medicines (clofibrate)
• Other diabetes medicines (biguanides)
• Gout medicine (probenecid)
• Depression medicines (MAO inhibitors)
• Ulcer medicines (H2 receptor antagonists like cimetidine)
• Cancer medicines (cyclophosphamide)
• Calcium channel blockers
• Glucagon
• Corticosteroids (prednisone, cortisone)
• TB medicine (isoniazid)
• Nicotinic acid
• Hormones (estrogens, progestogens, oral contraceptives, danazol)
• Mental health medicines (phenothiazines)
• Epilepsy medicine (phenytoin)
• Diuretics (thiazides)
• Asthma medicines and decongestants
• Thyroid hormones
• Barbiturates

Alcohol & Driving

Special precautions are needed when consuming alcohol or operating vehicles and machinery while taking Minidiab.

Alcohol

Tell your doctor if you drink alcohol. Drinking alcohol while taking Minidiab may make you feel sick and can cause headache, stomach pains, flushing, breathing difficulties, or rapid heartbeat. Alcohol can also affect your diabetes control.

Driving and Operating Machinery

Be careful before driving or using machines until you know how Minidiab affects you. The medicine may cause dizziness and drowsiness in some people. Low blood glucose levels may also slow your reaction time and affect your ability to drive or operate machinery safely.

Sun Sensitivity

Minidiab may make your skin more sensitive to sunlight than normal. Protect your skin when outdoors, especially between 10am and 3pm. Wear protective clothing and use a minimum SPF 30+ sunscreen. Tell your doctor immediately if your skin appears to be burning, as exposure may cause skin rash, itching, redness, or severe sunburn.

Storage

Store Minidiab below 30°C in a cool, dry place away from moisture, heat, and sunlight. Keep tablets in the blister pack until it’s time to take them, as the packaging helps protect the tablets. Do not store in the bathroom, near a sink, in the car, or on window sills. Keep out of reach of children. Take any unwanted or expired medicine to a pharmacy for safe disposal.

Overdose Information

If you think you have taken too much Minidiab, seek urgent medical attention immediately. Call the Poisons Information Centre (13 11 26), contact your doctor, or go to the nearest hospital Emergency Department, even if you feel fine. Taking too much Minidiab may cause symptoms of low blood glucose (hypoglycaemia). At the first signs of low blood sugar, raise your glucose quickly by taking sugar, honey, non-diet soft drink, or glucose tablets. If symptoms progress to loss of coordination, slurred speech, loss of consciousness, or fitting, get medical help immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions