Many types of diabetes medication can help people with type 2 diabetes lower their blood glucose. Each type of medication helps lower blood glucose in a different way. The specific drug you take will likely be from one of these groups:

* Sulfonylureas stimulate your pancreas to make more insulin
* Biguanides decrease the amount of glucose made by your liver
* Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors slow the absorption of the starches you eat
* Thiazolidinediones make you more sensitive to insulin
* Meglitinides stimulate your pancreas to make more insulin
* D-phenylalanine derivatives help your pancreas make more insulin quickly.

Your doctor might prescribe one oral medication for diabetes. If this medicine does not lower your blood glucose, your doctor may:

* Ask you to take more of the same pills
* Add a new medicine or insulin
* Ask you to change to another medicine or insulin.

Other Injectable Diabetes Drugs

Besides insulin, there are two other classes of injectable diabetes medicines:

* Incretin mimetics, which includes exenatide (Byetta®)
* Amylin analogues, which includes pramlintide acetate (Symlin®).

Exenatide works by acting like the hormone incretin in the body, increasing insulin production and slowing digestion. It is used to treat type 2 diabetes, either by itself or in combination with metformin, a sulfonylurea, or thiazolidinedione.

Pramlintide is used to treat both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. This medicine works like the hormone amylin in the body, increasing insulin production, slowing digestion, decreasing the production of glucose by the liver, and reducing appetite.

Diabetes Medication and Hypoglycemia
Sulfonylureas, meglitinides, D-phenylalanine derivatives, combination oral medicines, and insulin are the types of drugs for diabetes that can make blood glucose go too low. Hypoglycemia can occur for many reasons, including:

* Delaying or skipping a meal
* Eating too little food at a meal
* Getting more exercise than usual
* Taking too much medicine
* Drinking alcohol.

You know your blood glucose may be low when you feel one or more of the following symptoms:

* Dizzy or lightheaded
* Hungry
* Nervous and shaky
* Sleepy or confused
* Sweaty.

If you think your blood glucose is low, test it to see for sure. If your blood glucose is at or below 70 mg/dL, have one of these items to get 15 grams of carbohydrate:

* 1/2 cup (4 ounces) of any fruit juice
* 1 cup (8 ounces) of milk
* 1 or 2 teaspoons of sugar or honey
* 1/2 cup (4 ounces) of regular soda
* 5 or 6 pieces of hard candy
* Glucose gel or tablets (take the amount noted on the package to add up to 15 grams of carbohydrate).

Test your blood glucose again 15 minutes later. If it is still below 70 mg/dL, eat another 15 grams of carbohydrate. Then test your blood glucose again in 15 minutes.

If you cannot test your blood glucose right away but you feel symptoms of hypoglycemia, eat one of the previously items listed.

If your blood glucose is not low but you will not eat your next meal for at least an hour, have a snack with starch and protein. Here are some examples:

* Crackers and peanut butter or cheese
* Half of a ham or turkey sandwich
* A cup of milk and crackers or cereal.

How Do I Know My Diabetes Medication Is Working?

Learn to test your blood glucose. Ask your doctor or diabetes teacher about the best testing tools for you and how often to test. After you test your blood glucose, write down your test results. Then ask your doctor or diabetes teacher if your medication is working. A good blood glucose reading before meals is between 70 and 140 mg/dL.

Ask your doctor or diabetes teacher about how low or how high your blood glucose should get before you take action. For many people, blood glucose is too low below 70 mg/dL and too high above 240 mg/dL.

One other number to know is the result of a blood test your doctor does called the A1c. It shows your blood glucose control during the past two to three months. For most people, the target for A1c is less than 7 percent.

Potential Side Effects of Medication for Diabetes

Side effects are changes that may happen in your body when you take a medicine. When your doctor gives you a new diabetes medication, ask what the side effects might be. Here are some things to remember about side effects of these medications:

* Some side effects occur just when you start to take the medication. Then they go away.

* Some side effects happen only once in a while. You may get used to them or learn how to manage them.

* Some side effects will cause you to stop taking the medicine. Your doctor may try another one that doesn’t cause you side effects.

Read More

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