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Role of Medical Therapy in Diabetes
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What are the medicines available for type I diabetes?
Patients with type 1 diabetes lack insulin. Their pancreas no longer produces insulin. Hence, in order to facilitate glucose utilization in body, insulin has to be provided externally or from outside the body. Insulin is taken as injections as prescribed by the physician. The latest development in this field is inhalation insulin which will be available very shortly. Inhaled form of insulin could help people get rid of the painful insulin shots.
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11.
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What are the medicines available for type II diabetes?
People with type 2 diabetes can control their blood sugar through proper diet, exercise and lifestyle change. However, when these measures are not effective, medicines should be taken to ensure proper utilization of blood glucose.
Many types of diabetes medicines or pills are available to help people with type 2 diabetes lower their blood glucose. The medicines are categorized on the basis of their specific actions. Medicines available for type 2 diabetes are:
- Sulfonylureas: These drugs stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin. e.g. glibenclamide or daonil
- Biguanides: Biguanides reduces the amount of glucose made by liver. e.g. metformin, glucophage.
- Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors: These drugs have the property of slowing down the absorption of the starches consumed. e.g. acarbose, migitol.
- Thiazolidinedione: Medicines belonging to this category make the body more sensitive to insulin. e.g. Rosiglitazone, Pioglitazone, Troglitazone.
- Meglitinides: Meglitinides group of drugs fuels pancreas to make more insulin. e.g. Nateglinide, Repaglinide
- D-phenylalanine: Derivatives of this compound helps pancreas make more insulin quickly.
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Can one take more than one diabetes pill at a time?
Diabetes medicines are prescribed according to the blood sugar of the person. If the blood sugar is not adequately controlled with one drug, a second pill may be added to bring about effective results. Some diabetes medicines work well when given in combination with other blood-glucose-lowering drugs. Each type of pill has its own way of acting to lower blood glucose. All the combinations do not suit everybody; hence it needs to be re-prescribed.
Some popular combinations are:
- pioglitazone and a sulfonylurea
- pioglitazone and metformin
- rosiglitazone and metformin
- rosiglitazone and a sulfonylurea
- metformin and acarbose
- repaglinide and metformin
- nateglinide and metformin
- a sulfonylurea and metformin
- a sulfonylurea and acarbose
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How to know if the medicines for diabetes are working?
Patients with diabetes can check whether the medications are working for them. Blood sugar should be checked regularly to confirm if the medications are effective. Learn to test your blood glucose and record the blood glucose test results. Take an opinion from the physician regarding the blood test result. A good blood glucose reading before meals is between 70 and 140 mg/dL.
Another test to determine the effectiveness of diabetes medicines is the result of a blood test called the A1C. It shows your blood glucose control during the past 2 to 3 months. For most people, the target for A1C is less than 7 percent.
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