Medication Management in Diabetes: Types, Usage, and Side Effects

Diabetes is a serious, complex disease, often requiring multiple medications. It is helpful to know the different types of diabetes medications and what they do. Your diabetes specialist can help you manage your diabetes medications. Dr. Juan Carlos Zubieta at North Houston Diabetes Institute in Humble, TX, offers comprehensive diabetes services, including medication management.

What You Need To Know About Diabetes Medication Management

At North Houston Diabetes Institute, diabetes specialists manage medications using two strategies. In many cases, diabetes management will require a combination of drugs to stabilize and maintain glucose levels. Your diabetes specialist will provide an individualized diabetes assessment and medication regimen. Factors your doctor will consider when developing your medication regimen are:

• The effectiveness of the medication
• Your overall physiological health
• Any additional diseases or medical conditions you have
• Your preference of administration method, medication preference, and other factors

These are the common medications prescribed for diabetes:

Insulin, which is available in various forms, including rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting, and long-acting insulin, each differing in how quickly they start to work and how long their effects last. Insulin administration takes some practice, but once you can self-administer without difficulty, glucose levels may stabilize and maintain with insulin.

Meformin, which is often the first medication to treat diabetes. Metformin improves the body's sensitivity to insulin, and reduces the amount of glucose released by the liver.

Sulfonylureas, which work by stimulating the pancreas to increase insulin production which lowers blood glucose levels. Sulfonylureas are often prescribed for type 2 diabetes. Common sulfonylureas include glipizide, glyburide, and glimepiride.

Meglitinides, which work similarly to sulfonylureas, to increase insulin production. These medications work more quickly and have a shorter duration than sulfonylureas. These properties are helpful to control spikes in glucose levels which occur after eating. Meglitinides include repaglinide and nateglinide.

Thiazolidinediones, which increase insulin sensitivity and are used in treatment of type 2 diabetes. Pioglitazone and rosiglitazone are examples of thiazolidinediones.

DPP-4 inhibitors, which are a mild medication to help to reduce blood sugar levels. They are often used in combination with other diabetes medications. Sitagliptin and linagliptin are examples of DPP-4 inhibitors.

GLP-1 receptor agonists, which mimic the effects of the GLP1 hormone that stimulates the release of insulin in response to high blood sugar. Examples include exenatide, liraglutide, and dulaglutide.

SGLT2 inhibitors, which work by preventing the kidneys from reabsorbing glucose back into the blood, so glucose is excreted in the urine. Canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and empagliflozin are types of SGLT2 inhibitors.

Want To Know More About Diabetes Medication Management?

To discover more about diabetes medication management and how your diabetes expert can help, call Dr. Juan Carlos Zubieta at North Houston Diabetes Institute in Houston and Humble, TX. You can reach him in the office by calling (832) 644-9595, so call today.