Diabetes pills (OADs)
There are several different types of diabetes pills (oral antidiabetic drugs or OADs) for people with type 2 diabetes.
Since most people with type 2 diabetes usually make some insulin, diabetes pills can help their bodies work better to lower blood glucose levels. People with type 1 diabetes make no insulin so they must take injected insulin to manage their blood glucose. Diabetes pills work best when you also follow a meal plan and get regular physical activity.
Pills that help you release more insulin
Some pills, (meglitinides) are taken before each meal. These pills help your body release insulin to process the glucose from that meal. They help to keep the postprandial or after meal blood glucose level in the target range. These medications leave the bloodstream quickly causing your insulin levels return to baseline between meals and during the night.
Other pills, (sulfonylureas) help your body make more insulin. They are usually taken once or twice a day and work for up to 24 hours. If you take this type of pill, be sure to eat regularly because your blood glucose can get too low (hypoglycemia) if you wait too long to eat.
Pills that help your insulin work better
Insulin resistance can be a problem for many people with type 2 diabetes. This happens when the cells and tissues in the body can't use insulin properly. Some pills (thiazolidinediones or TZDs) help the cells and tissues use insulin. They are either taken once or twice per day.
Pills that reduce the amount of glucose your liver produces
Another type of diabetes pill, (biguanides) works to reduce the amount of glucose produced by the liver. These pills can also help with insulin resistance. They are commonly taken with meals, twice daily but sometimes are prescribed at one meal or all three meals.
Pills that slow digestion of carbohydrate
Still another kind of pill (alpha-glucosidase inhibitors) helps slow the digestion of food, so that the blood glucose does not rise so high after a meal. They are taken with meals.
Sometimes 2 or more of these pills are prescribed or they are produced as a combination pill. The action of the different types of pills can compliment each other and help to lower blood glucose levels. Diabetes pills don't work for everyone. Although some people find that their blood glucose levels go down when they begin taking pills, they may not go down to the goal range. Some people with diabetes take pills and insulin.
Be sure you know when to take your diabetes pills. It's important that you don't stop taking your pills when you feel better. Pills don't cure diabetes, they work to manage it. And they only work if you take them the way your healthcare provider has recommended. You may want to use a pill organizer or other prompts to help you remember to take your pills as directed.
Other diabetes medications
Pramlintide is a synthetic form of the hormone amylin. Amylin, like insulin, is produced by the pancreas. One way it works in the body is to slow down the movement of food through the stomach. This affects how fast glucose enters the blood after eating. Pramlintide is for people with type 1 and type 2 diabetes who take insulin to help lower blood glucose after meals. Although it is injected similar to insulin, it cannot be mixed with insulin in a syringe and different syringes must be used for each product. Pramlintide is taken before each meal.
Exenatide is an incretin mimetic. Exenatide works by increasing insulin secretion, but only when blood glucose levels are high, so that there's less chance of hypoglycemia. It's for people with type 2 diabetes who have not achieved their target A1C while taking metformin, a sulfonylurea, or a combination of these two medications. Exenatide is injected twice a day at meal time and can lead to improved blood glucose control and help with weight loss.
Tell your Healthcare provider
If you take diabetes pills, tell your healthcare provider if you notice any unexplained rashes on your skin or if your skin seems more sensitive to sunlight or if you think the pills may be causing you any unusual problems.
Be sure you know when to take your pills. Don't stop taking your pills because you feel better. They only work if you take them the way your healthcare provider has recommended. Use a pill organizer or other prompts to help you remember to take your pills as directed.
