It's normal to feel a little scared and anxious when you find out you have diabetes. But the best part is that there are better treatments available today than ever before to help you manage your diabetes and live a healthy life. Together, you and your doctor will develop a plan to help you manage your blood glucose levels and maintain a healthy weight.
Sometimes, one medication may not be enough to keep your blood sugar levels normal. In such cases, your doctor may add other medications. Let's talk about these treatments one by one.
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Oral Medications
Most people with Type 2 Diabetes start treatment with a medication called Metformin. This mainly works by reducing the amount of sugar your liver makes. Metformin also helps your muscles absorb the hormone insulin better, which helps your body use the sugar it receives.
This medicine is usually taken twice a day. The most important thing is to take this pill with food. This can greatly reduce side effects such as stomach upset, especially diarrhea.
If metformin alone doesn't control your blood sugar levels, your doctor may increase your dose or add a new type of medication. Let's take a look at what these other medications are.
Remember, all of these medications should only be used under the advice of your doctor. You shouldn't just take them just because a friend is using them, because everyone's body conditions are different.
| Type of medicine and simple explanation | Examples (brand names) |
|---|---|
| Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors These work by stopping the body from breaking down the starchy foods we eat, such as bread and potatoes, thereby reducing the sudden spike in blood sugar. | Acarbose (Precose), Miglitol (Glyset) |
| Bile acid sequestrants These are actually medications that lower bad cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) in the body. But they have also been found to lower blood sugar levels. This may be safe for people who cannot take other diabetes medications due to liver disease. | Colesevelam (Welchol) |
| DPP-4 inhibitors These help control diabetes by reducing blood sugar levels. | Alogliptin (Nesina), Linagliptin (Tradjenta), Saxagliptin (Onglyza), Sitagliptin (Januvia) |
| GLP-1 receptor agonists These tell the body to produce more insulin. They also slow down the rate of digestion and make you feel full. Some of these are also available as injections. | Dulaglutide (Trulicity), Exenatide (Byetta), Liraglutide (Victoza), Semaglutide (Ozempic, Rybelsus) |
| GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist This is a new type of medication. These help increase insulin production only when blood sugar levels are high. | Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) |
| Meglitinides These help the body produce more insulin. These medications are usually taken before main meals. | Nateglinide (Starlix), Repaglinide (Prandin) |
| SGLT2 inhibitors This type of medication is very special. It works by removing excess sugar from your blood through your kidneys and urine. Some medications (like Empagliflozin) also help reduce the risk of heart attacks in people with heart disease. | Canagliflozin (Invokana), Dapagliflozin (Farxiga), Empagliflozin (Jardiance) |
| Sulfonylureas These stimulate your pancreas to produce more insulin. | Glimepiride (Amaryl), Glipizide (Glucotrol), Glyburide (Diabeta) |
| Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) What these do is make muscle and fat tissue more responsive to insulin. That is, they increase the effectiveness of insulin. | Pioglitazone (Actos), Rosiglitazone (Avandia) |
Insulin treatment
Insulin is an essential hormone produced by our own bodies that helps move sugar in the blood into cells to be used for energy.
Now, if you have to take an insulin injection, never think, "Oh, I'm going to lose control of my disease." That's not the case. Everyone's body is different. Maybe if you've had diabetes for a long time, if your blood sugar is very high, or if you have other health problems that make it difficult to control your blood sugar with pills alone, your doctor may recommend that you use insulin along with pills.
Most people inject insulin into the fatty layer under the skin. Your doctor will decide how much you need per day.
There are also different types of insulin.
- Rapid-acting: These work within minutes of being injected and last for several hours.
- Short-acting: Takes effect within half an hour and lasts for 3-6 hours.
- Intermediate-acting: Takes effect in 2-4 hours and lasts 12-18 hours.
- Long-acting: These help keep blood sugar levels stable throughout the day.
You can get insulin with a syringe, a prefilled pen, or a small device that is implanted under the skin (insulin pump). Your doctor will tell you exactly how to do this.
How to use the medicine correctly?
This is the most important part.
- Follow your doctor's instructions: Take your medicine exactly as your doctor tells you, at the time and in the amount prescribed. Some medications should be taken with food to reduce side effects. Be sure to follow those instructions.
- Storing your medication: Your doctor or pharmacist will advise you on how to store your medication. Especially things like insulin need to be kept at the right temperature. This will help preserve the quality of the medication.
- Be careful with alcohol: Drinking alcohol is not recommended while taking certain medications, such as metformin. People with diabetes may be more sensitive to the effects of alcohol than others. So, be very careful if you drink alcohol. It's best to talk to your doctor about it.
💡 Take-Home Message
- Diabetes is a manageable condition, so don't be too afraid of it.
- Work with your doctor to develop the best treatment plan for you. Don't be afraid to ask questions if you have any.
- Many people start treatment with a pill called metformin. Taking it with food can reduce side effects.
- Having to use insulin does not mean that your disease is out of control. It is a necessary and very effective treatment.
- It is very important to take the medication prescribed by the doctor, at the right time, in the right dosage, and exactly as prescribed.
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