Not all patients who are diagnosed with diabetes need medication, but there are those who do. Medications that treat diabetes are used to control blood glucose levels that cannot be stabilized otherwise. It is important to realize that every person is different, so your medication regimen may differ from others you know. Never take a medication that has not been prescribed for you.

The majority of people with type 2 diabetes still have the ability to produce insulin and oral diabetic medicines are used to help bring their blood sugar levels under control. Sometimes a combination of medications will be prescribed for optimal results.


There are several categories of diabetic pills and each does something different. The first is sulfonylureas, These pills actually stimulate the pancreas to release more insulin to lower the body’s blood sugar. These types of medications are known to cause a 1 – 2% decrease in the hemoglobin A1c. Your doctor may prescribe Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL, DiaBeta, Micronase, Glynase PresTab, or Amaryl.

Biguanides work by boosting insulin’s effectiveness within the muscle and fat tissues. They reduce the amount of sugar released by the liver while making fat cells more sensitive to insulin’s effect. If your doctor decides you need a biguanide, he may prescribe Actos or Avandia. People who have a history of heart failure should not use these types of pills.

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors are used to block enzymes that help digest starches thereby slowing the increase in blood sugar. Precose and Glyset are often the medications prescribed and they may cause some diarrhea and gas.

Meglitinides, like Prandin and Starlix, work by stimulating the pancreas to produce more insulin. These pills are thought to be glucose dependent, so their effectiveness depends on the levels of glucose in the body.

Dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors increase the insulin secretion from the pancreas and reduce sugar production to lower a person’s blood sugar. Pills like Januvia and Onglyza work in two ways by signaling the liver to stop producing sugar if there is an excess in the system or increasing insulin secretion when sugar levels are too high.

Not everyone will need medication to control their diabetes. If your doctor decides medication is the best option for you, be sure to stick with your schedule to maximize the benefits.

Filed under: Diabetic Medications

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