There are lots of non-insulin medications that are used to treat type 2 diabetes. There’s a need for us to be able to identify the difference between these medications.
There are several classes of medications used to treat type 2 diabetes.
- Advertisement -
Metformin
This is generally the preferred first medication for treating type 2 diabetes unless there are other specific reasons which will warrant not to use it. It is safe, effective, and quite affordable.
- Advertisement -
This medication also has been of great benefit when it comes to reducing A1C results. It may also help with weight management. It helps the liver to reduce the production of glucose.
Aside from this, we also have other classifications of diabetes medications available, however, each class has its benefits and risks.
- Advertisement -
Sulfonylurea
This is another class of type 2 diabetes. Examples of this include glyburide, glipizide, and glimepiride. These medications can be effective and affordable but an excess of them could cause low blood sugar levels and excess fats.
Insulin Sensitizer
This is effective and has no risk of low sugar levels in the blood. However, it can lead to the accumulation of fats.
Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists
There are numerous of these classes of medications available, including liraglutide (also known as Victoza), exenatide (also known as Byetta), and dulaglutide (Trulicity). Some of these medications are of daily prescription while others are by weekly prescription.
It could also be an oral form that can be taken once per day. This type of medication is effective, and also beneficial for the heart, and helps with burning excess fats. But it also has side effects, such as diarrhea and nausea.
Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors ( in short DPP-4 inhibitors)
This entails many medications which are available in this class. They all are brand-name drugs, including saxagliptin, sitagliptin (Januvia), vildagliptin (Galvus), and linagliptin (Tradjenta).
They all are oral medications prescribed to be taken once per day, easy-to-use, and well-tolerated. They have reduced blood sugar levels and post-meal blood sugar levels.
Alpha-glucosidase Inhibitor
This medication, acarbose, is rarely used. It causes flatulence and decreases carbohydrate absorption.
Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors (also known as SGLT-2 inhibitors)
This is the latest class of diabetes medications. It lowers blood sugar levels by removing sugar from the body through urine. It also has the benefits of improved blood sugar management.
Medications in this class are all brand names, including dapagliflozin (farxiga), empagliflozin (Jardiance), ertugliflozin (steglatro), and canagliflozin (Invokana).
Factors to be considered when recommending treatment for type 2 diabetes
Effective Management of type 2 diabetes involves the use of multiple risk-reduction strategies and also for blood sugar control.
Factors to be considered to decide the treatment plan are as follows:
- The presence or absence of heart disease includes strokes, heart failure, or congestion.
- The presence or absence of chronic kidney disease.
- The risk of low blood sugar with any particular therapy option.
- Potential side effects of treatment.
- Your weight and the potential for the treatment to affect weight.
- Cost of the medication and insurance coverage.
- Your individual preferences and if you think you’ll be able to stick with the treatment plan.
The Reasons Why Some People with Type 2 Diabetes need to take insulin while Others Don’t?
The chronic disease, Type 2 diabetes occurs as a result of the combination of two issues.
First, the insulin resistance which means that the body cannot effectively use insulin as it once did. Secondly, relative insulin deficiency means the body’s inability to produce enough insulin to compensate for the degree of insulin resistance that an individual is experiencing.
Insulin deficiency can be in different degrees;
- Insulin may be introduced earlier in a person’s medication, if the symptoms of high blood sugar are discovered along with weight loss, urgent attention is needed.
- While People whose symptoms of blood sugar level are low, usually do achieve target glucose control with non-insulin medications. Meaning that they don’t need insulin therapy at this point in their medications.
What are the Measures for Lifestyle Changes for The Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes
Lifestyle Measures are important therapies recommended for Type 2 Diabetes. They ought to be incorporated into all treatment plans and decisions.
As much as a person changes their diet, maintains weight, and engages in physical activity, they’re more likely to achieve good management of their blood sugar levels. At that point, their medication plan can be modified and simplified.
Many patients who need to take insulin can put a stop to it if they’re consistently enough in maintaining healthy lifestyle habits. However, ensure you visit the doctor before you stop taking the g your medithe catch the one.
The Right Medications to take for the right diabetes condition
Surely, there are side effects to taking certain medications for another condition but you must take the right medication for the right health condition.
On the other hand, many chemotherapy medications can also affect the choice of which diabetes medication is right for an individual.
Many patients who live with type 2 diabetes also need the right treatment to get rid of cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. The most common medications used to treat these conditions don’t interact with diabetes therapies.
Symptoms to experience when treatment isn’t working effectively
When there is any fault in the medication taken, the patient may experience progressively increasing blood sugar levels. The most common symptoms that you may experience if your blood sugar levels are rising are:
- Feeling thirsty.
- Frequent Urinating.
- Blurry vision.
- Weight loss.
Anyone who experiences these symptoms, it’s a sign that urgent attention is needed for elevated blood sugar levels that need to be addressed immediately. It’s very important to visit your doctor about these symptoms as soon as possible. And if these symptoms seem severe before you can see your doctor, consider going to the emergency room for an evaluation.
IN CONCLUSION
Type 2 diabetes shouldn’t be taken with levity as if any symptoms have been experienced, action should be taken urgently.