Certified Diabetes Educator Practice Exam

Meglitinides, such as Repaglinide, primarily function by stimulating insulin secretion from the pancreas in response to meals, which helps lower blood glucose levels. A common side effect of this mechanism is hypoglycemia, particularly if meals are skipped or delayed after administration. Since these medications act quickly and their effect can wear off within a few hours, they can lead to a significant drop in blood sugar levels, especially if the timing of food intake does not align with the drug's action.

While nausea or gastrointestinal issues like diarrhea can be associated with many medications, they are not the hallmark side effects of Meglitinides. Weight loss is typically not a characteristic side effect of these drugs, which are more associated with weight neutrality rather than intentional weight loss. Skin rashes can occur with various medications but are not a common side effect of Meglitinides specifically. Thus, the notable side effect that practitioners monitor for when using these agents is hypoglycemia.