In addition to alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, biguanides, bile acid sequesters and DPP-4 inhibitors, mentioned in part 1, there are four other main classes of drugs prescribed for lowering blood sugar in people with type 2 diabetes. Some drugs can lower the level of blood sugar, but if you take medicine without changing your meal plan, your pancreas continues to not work great ...
1. Meglitinides. Drug names: Prandin and Starlix
- What are they doing: These drugs act on the beta cells of the kidneys, which allows them to release more insulin to help lower blood sugar levels.
- How to take them: They are taken three times a day - once before each meal.
- Side effects: Since these drugs cause you to release more insulin, it is possible that your blood sugar level will become too low (hypoglycemia). Check your blood sugar levels often and be aware of the symptoms of low blood sugar.
2. Inhibitors of SGLT2. Drug names: Invokana and Farxiga
- What are they doing: When blood glucose passes through your kidneys, it can either be excreted in the urine or absorbed in the body. SGLT2 inhibitors make the sugar excreted from the body, so the blood sugar level will be lower.
- How to take them: These drugs are taken once a day, usually in the morning.
- Side effects: Because these drugs increase the amount of sugar in the urine, side effects are urinary tract infections and yeast infections.
3. Sulfonylureas. Drug names: Diabinese, Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL, Micronase, Glynase, Diabeta and Amaryl
- What are they doing: These drugs also act on the beta cells of the pancreas, helping them release more insulin. It lowers blood sugar levels.
- How to take them: They are usually taken before meals two to three times a day.
- Side effects: Side effects vary depending on the type of drug. These include nausea, diarrhea and indigestion.
4. Thiazolidinediones. Drug names: Avandia and ACTOS
- What are they doing: These drugs work in two ways. They make muscles and fat cells more sensitive to insulin, so they take glucose from the blood. They also make it so that the liver does not produce as much glucose.
- How to take them: Avandia is taken once or twice a day, and ACTOS is taken once a day.
- Side effects: In general, there are several side effects. With these drugs, the risk of heart problems and liver problems can be increased, so careful monitoring is necessary.
These drugs for the treatment of type 2 diabetes along with the other four classes described in part 1 are often more effective if they are taken as a combination than one. Therefore, if you start taking one medicine and do not see the results, your doctor may ask you to take the second medicine in combination with the first one.
