Drug Treatment for Type II Diabetes

Oral drug treatment for Type II diabetes currently comes in four types. The type of drug suitable for you will depend in great part upon the severity of your condition, what kind of lifestyle you lead and, of course, whether or not you have any other health-related problems. The most commonly prescribed drug for treating Type II diabetes are those with sulfonylurea and repaglinide. Brand name medications include Prandin, Orinase, and Tolinase. These drugs work by facilitating the body’s ability to secrete more insulin. The good news here is that with so many different brands on the market, you can shop around should you experience any unpleasant side effects. Common side effects of these drugs include nausea and hypoglycemia so if you do experience any side effects, don’t despair. Try another and it may work better in your system.

Medication can be used to treat diabetes by enhancing the effects of insulin. Some drugs, such as Glucophage, work by reducing the production of glucose by the liver. Another drug, Precose, acts to obstruct enzymes that metabolize food into sugars. Precose should be taken before eating, and it essentially works by hindering the absorptions of carbohydrates. In this way it acts to moderate the glucose rise experienced after meals. Be aware, however, that this produces certain socially undesirable side effects such as flatulence and diarrhea. Then there are drugs such as Avandia and Actos that actually increase the body’s resistance to insulin.

When taking either insulin injections or oral medications that control your blood sugar, there is always the risk involving the amount of medication you ingest. It is not unusual for patients to faint by pushing their levels dangerously low. Taking too much insulin can result in hypoglycemia, as can not eating enough, or drinking too much alcohol. If you are taking these medications and you begin feeling hungry, tired, nervous or confused you should waste no time in checking your blood sugar level. If you discover that your level is too low, try to consume something with sugar as soon as possible. Even if you aren’t able to actually check your blood sugar level, but you still feel as though something isn’t quite right, it is advisable to eat something sweet.

As with any other kind of drug, long term complications are always a possibility. Among the potential long term concerns to discuss with a physician before taking any diabetes medication are kidney and cardiovascular diseases, blindness, and even dental diseases. Be sure to let your doctor know of any family history involving health problems such as these.

Although drug treatment for Type II diabetes can be of tremendous benefit when it comes to getting glucose levels to where they should be, they should not be considered as an alternative to maintaining a healthy diet. As of yet, there is no single treatment for diabetes that can beat diet and exercise. For that matter, even these medications will be of essentially no use unless you are also taking steps to help yourself naturally.