When your meal plan and exercise routine can no longer keep your blood glucose levels in target, your doctor may recommend that you begin to take pills for your diabetes. Some pills help your body use glucose better, while others force your pancreas to make more insulin. In fact, several different medications may be needed because each works a different way. Contact your healthcare professional to learn what is appropriate for your specific diabetes management program.
 

Types of Oral Medication

There are many different medicines that can help people with diabetes control their blood glucose levels:

• Sulfonylureas increase insulin secretion from the beta cells in the pancreas. Low blood glucose levels can occur in people taking sulfonylureas.

• Glinides also increase insulin secretion from the beta cells in the pancreas, but have a shorter duration of effect, so glinides are good at targeting post-meal blood sugar. Low blood glucose levels can occur in people taking glinides.

• Biguanides (Metformin™) lower blood glucose levels by reducing the amount of glucose produced by the liver.

• Thiazolidinediones target the liver and tissues to help them use blood glucose more effectively to lower blood glucose levels.

• Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors delay the absorption of glucose from the gut and lower post-meal blood glucose levels.

 

Newer Agents That Target the Post-Meal Blood Glucose Levels

Incretins are a group of hormones released from the intestines as a post-meal response to food intake. There are a number of incretin-based therapies that target postprandial (after meal) control:
 

• Pramlintide (Symlin™) is an injectable form that slows the rate at which food leaves your stomach and can be used for type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

• Exenatide (Byetta™) is an injectable form that stimulates the utilization of insulin, delays stomach emptying, helps you feel full and is used in people with type 2 diabetes.

• Sitagliptin (Januvia™) is a pill that is a DPP-4 inhibitor than can help to increase insulin release from your pancreas.

Remember, you need to test your blood sugar levels regularly and work with your healthcare team to make sure your medication is working the way it should. For products that can help you test your blood sugar and track your results, click here.
 

Source: WebMD, American Diabetes Association
Metformin GR is a trademark of DepoMed, Inc.
Symlin and Byetta are trademarks of Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Januvia is a trademark of Merck & Co., Inc.