Medicines Used to Treat Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes: Living With the Disease - Medications

How medicine helps manage diabetes

Some people with type 2 diabetes need pills (oral medicines) to help their bodies make insulin, decrease insulin resistance, or slow down how quickly their bodies absorb carbohydrate.

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You may take no medicine, one medicine, or a few medicines. Some people need to take medicine for a short time, while others always need to take medicine. How much medicine you need depends on how well you can keep your blood sugar within your target range. You may need more medicine over time, even if you have good control of your blood sugar.

Taking two or more medicines may work better to lower your blood sugar level than taking one medicine alone. Also, taking two or more medicines may mean fewer side effects if you are taking a lower dose of each.

Medicine choices

Oral medicines that help your body make insulin. These include:
- Sulfonylureas, such as glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase, and Micronase), glimepiride (Amaryl), and other medicines that work in combination (Glucovance, Metaglip).
- Meglitinides, such as repaglinide (Prandin), nateglinide (Starlix), and a combination medicine (Prandimet).
- DPP-4 inhibitors, such as sitagliptin (Januvia), saxagliptin (Onglyza), and a combination medicine (Janumet).
Oral medicines that lower insulin resistance. These include:
- Biguanides, such as metformin (Glucophage) and other medicines that are combined with metformin (Prandimet, Avandamet).
- Thiazolidinediones, such as pioglitazone (Actos) and rosiglitazone (Avandia).
Oral medicines that slow down absorption of carbohydrates. These include:
- Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, such as acarbose (Precose) and miglitol (Glyset).
Medicines that help lower blood sugar. If you are having trouble controlling your blood sugar with pills, your doctor may suggest one of these medicines:
- Incretin mimetics, such as exenatide (Byetta). You take this medicine as a shot 2 times a day.
- Amylinomimetics, such as pramlintide (Symlin). This medicine works with insulin and glucagon to help control blood sugar. It is given as a shot before meals.
Insulin . Insulin lets sugar (glucose) in the blood enter cells, where it is used for energy. Without insulin, the blood sugar level gets too high. Most of the time, people who take insulin use a combination of short-acting and long-acting insulin. This helps keep blood sugar within your target range. You may want to learn more about when insulin is needed for type 2 diabetes.

You may also need to take:

A low-dose aspirin every day. Talk to your doctor about whether you should take low-dose aspirin. Daily low-dose aspirin (81 milligrams) may help prevent heart problems if you are at risk for heart attack or stroke.
Medicines that control high blood pressure. For more information, see the topic High Blood Pressure (Hypertension).
Medicines that control high cholesterol, such as statins. For more information, see the topic High Cholesterol.
An ACE inhibitor or an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), if you have protein in your urine. Protein in the urine could mean a problem with your kidneys (diabetic nephropathy).

Managing your medicines

Medicines can help you manage your diabetes and other health problems, but only if you take them correctly. It can be hard to keep track of when and how to take your medicine, especially if you are taking more than one. Maybe you aren't sure why you are taking a medicine or if it is working. Or you might have trouble paying for your medicine. For help, see:

Quick Tips: Taking Medicines Wisely.

Answer:

Your level is currently NormalHigh (hyperglycemia).Low (hypoglycemia).

If the level is below 70 and you are experiencing symptoms such as shaking, sweating or difficulty thinking, you will need to raise the number immediately. A quick solution is to eat a few pieces of hard candy or 1 tablespoon of sugar or honey. Recheck your numbers again in 15 minutes to see if the number has gone up. If not, repeat the steps above or call your doctor.

People who experience hypoglycemia several times in a week should call their health care provider. It's important to monitor your levels each day so you can make sure your numbers are within the range. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.

Your blood sugar level is slightly high. You should call your health care provider and ask if laboratory tests to check for diabetes are needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.

Congratulations on taking steps to manage your health.

However, it's important to continue to track your numbers so that you can make lifestyle changes if needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.

Your level is currently normal. However, if you are concerned about diabetes speak with your physician. There may be other risk factors that increase your risk for diabetes.

Your level is high if this reading was taken before eating. Aim for 70-130 before meals and less than 180 two hours after meals.

Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.

One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.

Your blood sugar level may be high, depending on when you last ate. If you have not eaten for at least 8 hours, your blood sugar should be less than 100. If you've eaten within the last 2 hours, your blood sugar should be less than 140. You should call your health care provider and ask if you need laboratory tests to check for diabetes. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.

Blood sugars consistently above 180 warrant prompt medical attention.

Even if your number is high, it's not too late for you to take control of your health and lower your blood sugar.

One of the first steps is to monitor your levels each day. If you are pregnant always consult with your physician.

Your blood sugar level is high. You should call your health care provider and ask if laboratory tests to check for diabetes are needed. If you are pregnant always consult with your health care provider.

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