Being diagnosed with diabetes may have a significant impact on your life. Although some people can successfully manage their diabetes through weight control, exercise, and diet alone, many others will also need some form of medication.
It is important to work in partnership with your doctor so you can establish your treatment goals early, recognize when the therapeutic pathway isn’t working, and change treatment before your diabetes is allowed to deteriorate.
Depending on your individual health profile, your doctor may recommend medication in addition to nutrition and exercise to help reduce potential complications that can occur in the early stages of the diabetes. This combined therapy may also result in almost normal glycemic (blood sugar) control.
Several classes of drugs have become available for use in the past decade. The most common diabetes medicines are divided into groups according to their site of action and their effect.
| Classes of oral and injectable agents | Mechanism of action | Effect |
| Sulfonylureas | Stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin | Increases insulin secretion |
| Meglitinides | Stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin | Stimulates insulin production in response to a meal |
| Thiazolidinediones -TZDs | Decrease insulin resistance in muscle and fatty tissue | Better response of the body to the existing insulin |
| Biguanides | Prevent the liver from producing excess glucose and help the body better respond to insulin | Decreases insulin resistance in the liver, increases insulin sensitivity, and encourages weight loss |
| SGLT-2 Inhibitors | Cause excess glucose to be removed in the urine | Lowers blood glucose and promotes weight loss |
| DPP-4 inhibitors | Stimulate the release of insulin when blood glucose is rising and decrease the amount of glucose released by the liver | Lower blood glucose levels and help keep levels stable |
| GLP-1 analogs | Stimulate the release of insulin from the pancreas, slow food moving through the stomach, increase the feeling of satiety, and decrease the amount of glucose released by the liver | Lower blood glucose and promote weight loss |
| Insulin short and long acting | Increase insulin secretion and help the body’s cells use glucose from the blood for energy | Lower blood glucose |
The type of medication your doctor may prescribe will depend on factors such as your blood glucose levels and other health conditions.
DAR-0269 RevA
https://mydario.com/ what-medications-are-available-for-the-treatment-of-type-2-diabetes/
https://www.mayoclini cproceedings.org/ article/S0025-6196(11)62825-5/fulltext