Introduction:

The medications are the main therapeutic inputs in the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. When properly used, they allow disease control and reduction of morbidity and mortality, resulting in improvements in quality of life. Thus, the purpose of this article is to characterize the use of medications for type 2 diabetes mellitus with emphasis on gender differences.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study performed in Family Health Units in Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brazil, with 100 men and 100 women. Sociodemographic characteristics, clinical data, lifestyle and use of medications were the variables of interest.

Results:

Mean number of diabetes medications referred by study participants was 1.6 (SD = 0.7) for women and 1.5 (SD = 0.6) for men (p = 0.40). The use of metformin was mentioned by 70% of women and 65% of men, and adverse reactions were reported by 15% of women and 2% of men (p < 0.01). Medications were obtained mainly from public health system pharmacies in both genders.

Conclusions:

Gender differences in the use of diabetes medications were found in reported adverse reactions, with more cases among women.