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Diabetes Medication |
Diabetes MedicationOne of the ways of curing diabetes is through the diabetes medicine prescribed by a doctor/ diabetologist. A specific regimen of diabetes medication is laid down to suit the patients’ case, need and type of diabetes.
Medicines for diabetes can be taken in type 2 diabetes along with exercise and appropriate diet care.
However, there are certain common medicines for diabetes that are observed across the whole plethora of diabetes drugs available in the market. These diabetes drugs do the work of bringing the blood sugar levels to normalcy. The diabetes medicines belong to different categories.
Sulfonylureas drug has been in use for a long time. The main function of this drug is to stimulate beta cells present in the pancreas to release more insulin.
This drug has been developing generation wise. Chlorpropamide is the first form of sulfonylureas after which Glipizide, Glyburide and Glimepiride have come in the market. These diabetes medicines can be consumed once or twice daily before having meals.
Meglitinide is another type of diabetes drug that enhances insulin release by stimulating the beta cells. It is taken before breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Regaglinide and Nateglinide are the two forms of meglitinides.
These drugs may also lead to low blood sugar levels. Alcohol intake and diabetes drug consumption simultaneously may cause vomiting, nausea, sickness, etc.
Biguanides is available in the form of Metformin in the market. It lowers the blood sugar levels by reducing the amount of glucose that is produced in the liver. It works by making the muscle tissue more sensitive to insulin present in the body which in turn enables the absorption of glucose.
Like the other drugs, this is also taken twice daily. Metformin may lead to diarrhea but the side effect reduces if this drug is taken with food.
Thiazolidinediones facilitate the work of insulin in the fat and muscles. It also decreases the production of glucose in the liver. Rosiglitazone, troglitazone, pioglitazone better known as Avandia, rezulin, actos respectively are the different forms of Thiazolidinediones.
Consumption of this drug may rarely cause liver malfunction.
Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors are the diabetes drugs that restrain the breakdown of starches present in the body found in foods like pasta, bread, potatoes, etc. This lowers the blood sugar levels. It also helps to breakdown sugar.
The best time to have this drug is with the first bite of your meal because the sugar levels generally rise after meals. However, there may be side effects such as gas, diarrhea, etc.
Your diabetes medication regime can include more than one drug. For eg. Biguanide and sulfonylureas can be had together to control the sugar levels. This may lead to added side effects. Adding another tablet to the existing one can be more effective than adding another type of diabetes drugs.
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