Articles Index
Everything You Need to Know about Insulin
Insulin is the only treatment for type 1 diabetes. It replaces what the body can no longer produce on it's own. Some people with type 2 diabetes also benefit from insulin therapy. Understanding insulin can be complicated. There's a lot to learn and a lot to know.
Metformin: Oral Medication for Type 2 Diabetes
Metformin (brand names Fortamet, Glucophage, Glumteza, Glucophage XR, Riomet) is an oral medication used alone or with other medications to treat type 2 diabetes. It is also available as the combination drug rosiglitazone/metformin (Avandamet).
Medications for Diabetes
For many who have been diagnosed with diabetes, healthy habits can’t do it all. Medications are also required to help manage the disease and its associated effects. Diabetics require anywhere from zero to six or more medications.
ACE Inhibitors: Blood Pressure Control in Diabetes
Angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors are oral medications that lower blood pressure. ACE inhibitors are used to treat hypertension (high blood pressure), coronary artery disease and heart failure, and to help to control the progression of diabetes and kidney disease.
Advances in Diabetes Care
It’s possible for the person with diabetes today to live a full and healthy life. Advances in treatment have made control and management of the disease easier, and have taken much of the guesswork out of it.
Meglitinides: Oral Medication for Type 2 Diabetes
Meglitinides are oral medications used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Medications in this class include Prandin (repaglinide) and Starlix (nateglinide).
Sulfonylureas: Oral Medication for Type 2 Diabetes
Sulfonylureas are oral medications that help lower blood sugar in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Diabetes and Insulin
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are conditions in which the body lacks a normal supply of insulin to remove glucose from the blood. This creates two problems: high blood glucose levels and a depletion of stored glucose, the body’s major fuel source. A health care professional is probably the best person to help a patient assess whether he or she needs insulin.
Thiazolidinediones: Oral Medication for Type 2 Diabetes
Thiazolidinediones are oral medications that help lower blood sugar in type 2 diabetes. In addition to a healthy diet and exercise, they are another way to control blood sugar levels. Thiazolidinediones currently available in the United States include Actos (pioglitazone), Avandia (rosiglitazone) and a combination drug, Avandamet (rosiglitazone and metformin).
Medication Reference Chart for Type 2 Diabetes
There are new medications approved to treat Type 2 diabetes. They are completely new categories of drugs. Januvia, Byetta, and Symlin work in completely different ways than the standard medications. The older classifications of drugs are still being used, sometimes in combination with the newest ones.
Treatments for Diabetes
A diagnosis of diabetes can bring on many new challenges. Depending on what type of diabetes you have, you may need medication or insulin. You may need to make dietary and other lifestyle changes. There are glucometers, and insulin pumps to learn about. How do you know what to do to manage your diabetes successfully?
Insulin Action Reference Chart
Doctors may prescribe several different types of insulin. This chart will help you understand how the various insulin medications work, and why your doctor has prescribed them for you.