Totally different oral diabetes medicines work in several methods to assist management diabetes:
- Assist the physique produce insulin
- Enhance the sensitivity of physique tissues to insulin
- Assist with carbohydrate digestion and absorption within the physique
There are eight main courses of oral medicines for diabetes:
- Biguanides
- SGLT2 inhibitors
- Sulfonylureas
- DPP-4 Inhibitors
- Thiazolidinediones
- Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors
- Meglitinides
- Bile acid sequestrants
These medicines could also be used alone or together.
BIGUANIDES
Metformin (Glucophage, Glumetza, Riomet, and Fortamet) is a biguanide. That is usually the primary oral medication well being care suppliers prescribe for sort 2 diabetes.
Metformin is a medication that stops the liver from making glucose. It additionally makes physique tissues extra delicate to insulin.
This medication:
- Might assist enhance levels of cholesterol
- Might assist individuals with diabetes lose some weight
- Has a low threat of low blood sugar
There are two kinds of metformin:
- Fast-release: Taken 2 to three instances a day
- Sustained-release: Taken as a single dose every single day, most frequently with a night meal
The commonest aspect impact of metformin is diarrhea. Typically individuals taking metformin will grow to be poor in vitamin B12. In case you have liver or kidney illness, inform your supplier. Folks with liver or kidney illness or who’re heavy drinkers mustn’t take metformin.
SGLT2 INHIBITORS
SGLT2 inhibitors enhance the quantity of glucose that goes out within the urine. They might additionally result in some weight reduction and decrease blood strain in individuals with diabetes.
SGLT2 inhibitors embody:
- Canagliflozin (Invokana)
- Dapagliflozin (Farxiga)
- Empagliflozin (Jardiance)
In case you have kidney illness, inform your supplier earlier than taking these medicines. Unwanted side effects embody urinary tract infections and yeast infections as a result of presence of extra sugar within the urine.
SULFONYLUREAS
These medicines assist the pancreas produce insulin and assist the physique use glucose (blood sugar) for vitality. Sulfonylureas embody:
- Glipizide (Glucotrol)
- Glyburide (Diabeta, Glynase)
- Glimepiride (Amaryl)
Glipizide is taken half-hour earlier than a meal. Glyburide and glimepiride are taken with meals.
To start with, your supplier will:
- Begin you on a low dose, taken as soon as a day.
- Enhance the dose each 1 to 2 weeks till your blood sugar stage is available in vary.
Whenever you take sulfonylureas:
- Don’t skip meals.
- Restrict alcohol (ask your supplier how a lot is secure for you).
- All the time carry sweet, juice, or sugar in case your blood sugar will get too low.
The commonest aspect impact of sulfonylureas is hypoglycemia. Different unwanted effects embody weight achieve, irritability, abdomen upset, and pores and skin rashes.
Inform your supplier in case your weight adjustments or in case your blood sugar stage is commonly low. Your supplier will alter the dosage of the drugs.
DPP-4 INHIBITORS
These medicines assist the physique launch extra insulin. In addition they decrease the quantity of glucose made by your physique. DPP-4 inhibitors assist decrease blood sugar with out inflicting hypoglycemia.
DPP-4 inhibitors embody:
- Alogliptin (Nesina)
- Linagliptin (Tradjenta)
- Saxagliptin (Onglyza)
- Sitagliptin (Januvia)
These medicines are taken as soon as a day. Widespread unwanted effects are:
- Muscle ache
- Stuffy nostril
- Sore throat
- Respiratory an infection
- Headache
- Abdomen ache
These medicines may also trigger extreme joint ache. In case you discover joint ache, contact your supplier straight away.
THIAZOLIDINEDIONES (GLITAZONES)
Pioglitazone (Actos) and rosiglitazone (Avandia) are on this group of medicines. They decrease insulin resistance by making physique tissues extra delicate to insulin. These medicines are taken 1 to 2 instances a day with or with out meals.
Unwanted side effects embody:
- Weight achieve
- Water retention (edema)
- Decreased bone density
- Elevated threat of coronary heart failure
- Elevated threat for bladder most cancers
In case you have coronary heart illness or liver illness, and are prescribed a thiazolidinedione medication, ask your supplier whether it is secure to take it. In case you have unwanted effects, cease taking the drugs straight away and inform your supplier.
ALPHA-GLUCOSIDASE INHIBITORS
These medicines delay the digestion of carbohydrates (starches and sugars) within the physique. This helps decrease blood sugar after a meal. Acarbose (Precose) and miglitol (Glyset) are alpha-glucosidase inhibitors.
These medicines are taken with the primary chunk of every meal. Unwanted side effects embody bloating, flatulence, and diarrhea.
MEGLITINIDES
Meglitinides similar to repaglinide (Prandin) and nateglinide (Starlix) enhance insulin manufacturing within the pancreas. Keep away from alcohol if you find yourself on these medicines.
These medicines:
- Are helpful should you do not eat meals at common instances
- Will be taken anytime between half-hour earlier than a meal as much as mealtime
Unwanted side effects can embody low blood sugar and abdomen upset.
BILE ACID SEQUESTRANTS
These medicines decrease blood sugar and ldl cholesterol in individuals with diabetes. Bile acid sequestrants had been initially used to deal with excessive LDL (unhealthy) ldl cholesterol. These medicines additionally assist decrease blood sugar.
These medicines are sometimes prescribed for individuals with sort 2 diabetes who even have excessive ldl cholesterol. In addition they could also be used for individuals who have liver issues and might’t take different medicines.
Cholestyramine (Prevalite, Questran) and colesevelam (Welchol) are bile acid sequestrants. Unwanted side effects embody flatulence and constipation.
