For type 1 diabetes, patients must take insulin as their bodies can no longer make it. Insulin is of different types that work at different speeds and have other effects which last for varying lengths of time. To understand what insulin you need, ask your healthcare provider to measure your blood glucose and suggest your insulin type.
Insulin is mainly taken with a needle and a syringe, an insulin pen, or an insulin pump. You need to take insulin several times a day with a needle and a syringe, even with meals. However, you can take small doses with an insulin pump throughout the day. Few people use inhalers, injection ports, and jet injectors to take insulin.
What are the different medicines to manage Type 2 Diabetes?
After you are diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, you need to change your lifestyle. Type2 diabetes management includes healthy eating, regular exercise, weight loss, diabetes medication or insulin therapy, and blood sugar monitoring.
A few diabetes medications are listed below:
Metformin (Fortamet, Glumetza): lowers glucose production in the liver and allows your body to use the insulin effectively.
Possible side effects: B-12 deficiency, nausea, abdominal pain, bloating and diarrhoea
Sulfonylureas (Glyburide, Glipizide, Glimepiride): helps to secrete more insulin in the body.
Possible side effects: low blood sugar and weight gain
Glinides (Repaglinide, Nateglinide): help to stimulate the pancreas to secrete more insulin.
Possible side effects: low blood sugar and weight gain
Thiazolidinediones (Rosiglitazone, Pioglitazone): help the body tissues to become sensitive to insulin.
Possible side effects: congestive heart failure, bladder cancer (on consuming Pioglitazone), bone fractures, high cholesterol (on the consumption of Rosiglitazone), and weight gain
DPP-4 inhibitors (Saxagliptin, Sitagliptin, Linagliptin) brings the blood sugar levels down.
Possible side effects: pancreatitis and joint pain
GLP-1 receptor agonists (Exenatide, Liraglutide, Semaglutide): These are injectable medicines that slow down digestion and lower blood sugar levels.
Possible side effects: pancreatitis, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhoea
SGLT2 inhibitors (Canagliflozin, Dapagliflozin, Empagliflozin) disrupt the blood filtering function in your kidney by restricting the flow back of glucose to the bloodstream.
Possible side effects: amputation and bone fractures (on the consumption of Canagliflozin), gangrene, vaginal yeast infections, urinary tract infections, low blood pressure, and high cholesterol
However, before you start taking medicine for diabetes, you need to understand your treatment plan and talk with your health provider. Ask them about your target blood sugar level, what to do if your blood glucose level goes extreme high or low, and any risks associated with your medicines.
If you have started taking medicines or insulin, you still need to maintain a healthy diet and quit smoking. Additionally, get regular physical activities that will help you manage your diabetes.
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