Dangerous and common drug interactions in patients with diabetes mellitus

The choice of medications for the patient with diabetes presents the provid er with a plethora of special problems not encountered in the nondiabetic p atient. In addition to the potential for adverse interactions caused by pre scription medications, the practitioner must also be cognizant of the poten tial for interactions with over-the-counter medications. This article provi des a brief discussion concerning the importance of and pharmacologic basis of drug interactions, and also reviews some of the more common and potenti ally dangerous interactions encountered in the management of patients with diabetes.