24 | Living with Diabetes
THE ROLE OF ORAL
MEDICINES
ome diabetes medicines are
5 oral medicinespills that you take by mouth.
SOral medicines don’t work
for everyone, though. They are Your doctor may prescribe a combination of two or even three types of
medicine to help control your blood sugar levels. Some combinations are
not effective in the treatment of
available together in one pill. Some of these include a combination of a
type 1 diabetes. Insulin therapy is thiazolidinedione and a biguanide (Avandamet and Actoplus Met) or a
sulfonylurea and a biguanide (Glucovance and Metaglip).
necessary for all people who have
type 1 diabetes and for some people
Sulfonylureas
who have type 2 diabetes. Most
people who have type 2 diabetes
Sulfonylureas (Amaryl, Diabeta, Diabinese, Dymelor, Glucotrol, Glynase,
Micronase, Orinase, Tolinase) are the most commonly prescribed start with an oral medicine.
diabetes medicines. These medicines help your pancreas make insulin.
They are inexpensive and have few side effects. Side effects may
include weight gain and low level of sodium in the blood. Sulfonylureas
can be taken alone or with metformin (a biguanide), pioglitazone (a
Five kinds of diabetes medicine
thiazolidinedione) or insulin. If you’re allergic to sulfa, you can’t take a
sulfonylurea.
are available in pill form:
sulfonylureas, meglitinides,
Meglitinides
biguanides, thiazolidinediones
and glucosidase inhibitors. Each
Meglitinides help your pancreas make insulin. Repaglinide (Prandin)
medicine has good and bad
is taken with meals to control your blood sugar. Your doctor can tell
points. Your doctor will decide
you how to adjust the dose according to the number of meals you eat.
Repaglinide can be taken alone or with metformin. Nateglinide (Starlix)
which medicine is right for you. is taken with meals to keep your blood sugar level from getting too high
after you eat. Side effects may include weight gain. Nateglinide can be
taken alone or with metformin.
Biguanides
Metformin (Glucophage) may be prescribed for people who have
diabetes and are overweight, because it may help with weight problems.
Metformin does not cause your pancreas to make insulin, but it helps
your body use insulin better. Metformin can cause side effects such as
nausea or diarrhea in some people. It can be taken with a sulfonylurea.
Thiazolidinediones
This class of medicines includes rosiglitazone (Avandia) and pioglitazone
(Actos). These medicines help your body respond better to insulin. An
older medicine, troglitazone (Rezulin) is no longer available because of
the risk of liver problems. Rosiglitazone and pioglitazone appear less
likely to cause liver problems, but people taking them need periodic liver
tests. Other side effects may include weight gain and fl uid retention.
Rosiglitazone and pioglitazone can be used alone or in combination with
other diabetes medicines.
Glucosidase Inhibitors
Glucosidase inhibitors (Precose, Glyset) work in your stomach and
bowels to slow down the absorption of sugar. This medicine can cause
stomach pain, diarrhea and bloating, so it may not be a good choice if
you have a history of stomach or bowel trouble. It can be taken alone or
with a sulfonylurea.
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