Azukon-M Tablet belongs to a class of medicine known as an anti-diabetic. It is primarily used to treat Type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is a chronic or lifelong condition affecting how your body processes glucose. People with type 2 diabetes either do not produce enough insulin, or if at all the insulin is produced, it is unable to perform its function in the body (insulin resistance). Due to this, the blood glucose level increases and symptoms such as frequent urination, increased thirst and increased hunger start. It can lead to serious complications like skin infection, eye problems (retinopathy), nerve damage (neuropathy), diabetic foot (foot ulcer), kidney disease (nephropathy), high blood pressure, and even stroke.

Azukon-M Tablet is a combination of two anti-diabetic drugs: Gliclazide and Metformin. Gliclazide is a 'sulfonylurea' which acts by increasing the amount of insulin released by the pancreas. On the other hand, Metformin, which is a 'biguanide', works by lowering the glucose production in the liver, delaying glucose absorption from the intestines and increasing the body's response to insulin. In a nutshell, the two medicines prevent blood glucose levels from rising to very high levels, thus keeping your Diabetes under control. Azukon-M Tablet act together to keep your blood sugar levels under check. The strict control of blood sugars is especially important to mention the many disabling side effects of Diabetes. Azukon-M Tablet shows optimum effects when taken along with healthy lifestyle changes like weight loss, regular exercise, a healthy diet etc. 

Azukon-M Tablet should be taken with food to avoid an upset stomach. Azukon-M Tablet should be taken at the same time of the day each time for best results. For better advice, your doctor will decide what dose should be taken, which can change quickly depending on your condition. A common side effect of Azukon-M Tablet is hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose levels) characterized by dizziness, sweating, palpitations, hunger pangs, dry mouth and skin etc. So, to avoid hypoglycaemia, you should not miss meals and also should carry some form of sugar along with you. Other side effects include taste change, nausea, diarrhoea, stomach pain, headache, and upper respiratory symptoms.

You should not take the Azukon-M Tablet if you have diabetic ketoacidosis (excess acids in your blood). Azukon-M Tablet should not be stopped even if you feel better without consulting your doctor as sugar levels change. If you stop taking Azukon-M Tablet abruptly, it may increase your sugar levels which could further increase the risk of eyesight loss (retinopathy), kidney (nephropathy) and nerve damage (neuropathy). Azukon-M Tablet should not be taken if you have type 1 diabetes mellitus or severe kidney or liver disease. Tell your doctor before prescribing the Azukon-M Tablet if you are a pregnant woman or nursing mother.

Azukon-M Tablet plays a vital role in decreasing the blood sugar level in the body as metformin lowers glucose production in the liver, whereas the other increases the amount of insulin released by the pancreas. Azukon-M Tablet also helps to prevent serious complications of diabetes such as kidney damage (diabetic nephropathy), blindness (diabetic retinopathy), loss of sensation in your hands and feet (diabetic neuropathy) or even loss of the foot. Azukon-M Tablet also helps to reduce your chance of having a heart attack or stroke. Being a combination of two drugs, it reduces the need to take multiple pills and hence makes it easier to remember to take the drugs.

• Hypoglycaemia (low blood glucose level)

• Dizziness

• Sweating

• Palpitations

• Hunger pangs

• Dry mouth

• Dry skin

• Taste change

• Nausea

• Diarrhoea

• Stomach pain

• Headache

Some diabetic patients taking Azukon-M Tablet  may develop a rare but serious condition called lactic acidosis. In this condition, too much lactic acid is accumulated in the blood. So, your liver and kidney's proper functioning is required to eliminate excess lactic acid from the blood. You should not take Azukon-M Tablet if you have kidney disease, as measured by a blood test. Azukon-M Tablet may lower vitamin B12 levels, so try to have blood tests annual blood and vitamin. Azukon-M Tablet , when used with or without insulin, tends to lower the blood sugar level extremely. So, the doctor may reduce the dose of insulin. Azukon-M Tablet may lower your thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), so an annual check-up of TSH is suggested.

• Fill your half plate with starchy veggies, a quarter with proteins, and a quarter with whole grain.

• Eat at regular intervals. Do not take the long gap between a meal or snack.

• Monitor your blood sugar level regularly, especially when there are a lot of fluctuations.

• Invest at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity and 15 minutes of high-intensity exercise weekly.

• Lose weight gradually to achieve a healthy body mass index (18.5 to 24.9).

• Replace refined carbohydrates-containing foods with whole grain foods and increase intake of fruits, veggies, and other fibre-enriched foods.

• Reduce saturated fat intake (or hidden fats) in food like chips, crisps, pastries, biscuits and samosas. Choose omega-3 fatty acid-containing oils for daily cooking. For frying, you may use palm oil, mustard oil, groundnut oil, rice bran oil, and safflower oil.

• Do not take stress as it may elevate your blood sugar level. You may adopt stress management techniques like mindfulness, yoga or meditation to control pressure related to blood sugar changes.

• Opt for low-fat dairy products (low-fat yoghurt, fat-free milk and cheese etc.).

• Keep your blood pressure as normal (120/80) as possible as it reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases in diabetes patients.