Diabetes medicines

Medicines for My Diabetes:

Diabetes is a disease that occurs when a person’s body doesn’t make enough of the hormone insulin or can’t use insulin properly. There are 2 types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes occurs when your body’s pancreas doesn’t produce any insulin. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas either doesn’t produce enough insulin or your body’s cells ignore the insulin. Between 90% and 95% of people who are diagnosed with diabetes have type 2 diabetes.

Seven type of  medicines:

Insulin

Insulin is a naturally occurring hormone secreted by the pancreas. Many people with diabetes are prescribed insulin, either because their bodies do not produce insulin (type 1 diabetes) or do not use insulin properly (type 2 diabetes). There are more than 20 types of insulin sold in the United States. These insulins differ in how they are made, how they work in the body, and how much they cost. Your doctor will help you find the right type of insulin for your health needs and your lifestyle

Metformin:

 
Metformin is a type of biguanide and it is currently the only biguanide available in the United States. It is often the first oral medicine prescribed for someone newly diagnosed with diabetes. It has the advantage of not causing low blood sugar. Metformin does not cause your pancreas to make insulin, but it helps your body use insulin better. Metformin can cause side effects such as nausea or diarrhea in some people. Your doctor may prescribe metformin in combination with another oral diabetes medicine.

Sulfonylureas:
 
Sulfonylureas are the most commonly prescribed diabetes medicines. These medicines help your pancreas make insulin. They are inexpensive and have few side effects. There are 3 types of sulfonyureas: glipizide, glimepiride and glyburide. Side effects may include weight gain and low level of sodium in the blood. Sulfonylureas can be taken alone or with metformin, pioglitazone (a thiazolidinedione) or insulin. If you're allergic to sulfa, you can't take a sulfonylurea.

Thiazolidinediones:
This class of medicines includes rosiglitazone and pioglitazone. These medicines help your body respond better to insulin. Rosiglitazone and pioglitazone can be used alone or in combination with other diabetes medicines. Side effects may include weight gain, fluid retention and an increase in LDL ("bad") cholesterol. People taking rosiglitazone and pioglitazone also need periodic liver tests.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has restricted the use of rosiglitazone. Studies have found that rosiglitazone can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. If you are currently taking rosiglitazone, your doctor will talk to you about the risks and whether or not you should keep taking it. If you have never taken rosiglitazone before, you will only be able to begin taking it if you are unable to control your diabetes with other medications.

Meglitinides:
 
Meglitinides help your pancreas make insulin. There are 2 types of meglitinides: repaglinide and nateglinide. Repaglinide is taken with meals to control your blood sugar. Your doctor can tell you how to adjust the dose according to the number of meals you eat. Repaglinide can be taken alone or with metformin. Nateglinide is taken with meals to keep your blood sugar level from getting too high after you eat. Side effects may include weight gain. Nateglinide can also be taken alone or with metformin.

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors:
 
Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors work in your stomach and bowels to slow down the absorption of sugar. There are two types of alpha-glucosidase inhibitors: acarbose and miglitol. This medicine can cause stomach pain, diarrhea and bloating, so it may not be a good choice if you have a history of stomach or bowel trouble. It can be taken alone or with a sulfonylurea.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4):
 
This class of medicine includes sitagliptin and saxagliptin. These drugs help your body make more insulin after you eat. Side effects of DPP-4 inihibitors include upper respiratory tract infection, urinary tract infection (UTI) and headache.

Your doctor may prescribe a combination of 2, or even 3, types of medicine to help control your blood sugar levels. Some combinations are available together in one pill. Some of these include the following:

• A thiazolidinedione and metformin        
• A sulfonylurea and metformin
• A DPP-4 inhibitor and metformin
• A sulfonylurea and a thiazolidinedione
• A meglitinide and metformin

Aspirin:

Studies have shown that taking a low-dose aspirin every day significantly lowers the risk of heart attacks. Aspirin can benefit people at high risk of a heart attack, such as those with diabetes and other risk factors such as high blood pressure. It can also help people with diabetes who have had a heart attack or a stroke, or who have heart disease. However, aspirin's effects have not been studied in people under age 30.

Medicines for My Diabetes

Ask your doctor what type of diabetes you have and write down your answer.

I have

• type 1 diabetes
• type 2 diabetes
• gestational diabetes
• another type of diabetes:

Medicines for Type 1 Diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes, once called juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is usually first found in children, teenagers, or young adults. If you have type 1 diabetes, you must take insulin because your body no longer makes it. You also might need to take other types of diabetes medicines that work with insulin.

Medicines for Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes, once called adult-onset diabetes or noninsulin-dependent diabetes, is the most common form of diabetes. It can start when the body doesn’t use insulin as it should, a condition called insulin resistance. If the body can’t keep up with the need for insulin, you may need diabetes medicines. Many choices are available. Your doctor might prescribe two or more medicines. The ADA recommends that most people start with metformin, a kind of diabetes pill.

For more details contact us:

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