What is the initial dosing schedule for glipizide when starting therapy for type 2 diabetes?

• A. Once daily with breakfast
• B. Twice daily with meals
• C. At bedtime
• D. Once weekly

Answer: (A)

Starting glipizide therapy is approached with a low, single daily dose taken with the first meal to reduce hypoglycemia risk and align the drug’s insulin-releasing effect with the post-meal rise in glucose. The typical initial dose is 5 mg once daily with breakfast (often taken about 30 minutes before the meal). If needed, it can be titrated every 1–2 weeks in small increments up to a usual maximum of around 40 mg per day. Using a single daily dose with breakfast helps simplify the regimen and provides steady glycemic control as oral intake begins. Taking it at bedtime or on a weekly schedule is not appropriate because it increases the risk of nocturnal hypoglycemia and does not fit how the drug works with meals. For extended-release formulations, the same once-daily-with-breakfast approach is used, with gradual dose adjustments as needed.