Question

why does the patient need to be aware that they should not take an oral hypoglycemic medication if they are not able to eat within approximately 30 minutes?

Answer 1

Oral hypoglycaemic agents increases the body's sensitivity to insulin thereby reducing the blood glucose levels.

If the person takes oral hypoglycaemic agents and doesn't eat food within 30 minutes then the person is at risk of hypoglycaemia. Hypoglycaemia is reduced amount of blood glucose below 70 mg /dl which can lead to hypoglycaemic shock leading to coma and death. Therefore, to avoid complications of hypoglycemia the patient need to aware to eat food within 30 minutes of taking oral hypoglycaemic medications.

Thank you.