Type 2 Diabetes: Recently Diagnosed - 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.
Type 2 diabetes is a common and serious disease in the United States and worldwide. However, it’s thought that one-third of those with type 2 diabetes are unaware that they have this serious illness. Because often there are no symptoms with type 2 diabetes, early screening may help people avoid the more serious complications of this disease, including chronic hyperglycemia that’s associated with long-term damage of the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, and blood vessels. Persons with undiagnosed...
Read the Type 2 Diabetes Screening article > >
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 a target range.
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 because 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, and Duetact).
- 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 rosiglitazone (Avandia), pioglitazone (Actos) and combination medicine such as (Actoplus Met).
-
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 that you try one of these
medicines:
- Incretin mimetics, such as exenatide (Byetta) and liraglutide (Victoza). You take this medicine as a shot 1 or 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 rises above what is safe for the body. Most of the time, people who take insulin use a combination of short-acting and long-acting insulin. This helps keep blood sugar within the target range. You may also want to learn more about when insulin is needed for type 2 diabetes.
What to Think About
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 ll receptor blocker (ARB), if you have protein in your urine. Protein in the urine could mean a problem with your kidneys (diabetic nephropathy).
WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise
Last Updated:
November 05, 2010
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor.
Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this
information.
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Type 2 Diabetes: Recently Diagnosed Topics
Is This Normal?
Get the Facts Fast!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.
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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