Diabetes Pills

Some people with type 2 diabetes manage their blood glucose with changes to their diet and physical activity. However, many people need medications to keep their blood glucose in the target range.

Q When you are sick should you continue to take your diabetes pills?
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When sick, you still need to continue to take medicine for your diabetes. Even if you are throwing up, don't stop your medicines. You need them because your body makes more glucose when you are sick.

If you have type 2 diabetes, you may be able to take your pills, or you may need to use insulin for a short time. Check with your care team to develop your sick-day plan.

Wrong

When sick, you still need to continue to take medicine for your diabetes. Even if you are throwing up, don't stop your medicines. You need them because your body makes more glucose when you are sick.

If you have type 2 diabetes, you may be able to take your pills, or you may need to use insulin for a short time. Check with your care team to develop your sick-day plan.

Classes of Diabetes Pills

There are several classes of diabetes pills in the market, as well as combination pills.

  1. Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors

    They lower blood glucose by slowing the digestion of carbohydrates after meals. They are taken with the first bite of each meal.

    Advantages of Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors:

    • Do not tend to cause weight gain
    • Do not usually cause low blood glucose when used alone. When used in combination with another medication, glucose is required to treat low blood glucose, if it should occur.
  2. Biguanides

    Include only one medication - Metformin. They lower blood glucose by stopping the liver's release of stored glucose. Metformin may lower insulin resistance in the muscles. It is usually taken twice a day, although extended-release Metformin is taken once a day.

    Advantages of Metformin:

    • Risk of hypoglycemia is low
    • Can sometimes lower high lipid levels and promote weight loss
    • Can be used along with other classes of pills or insulin; Often prescribed with sulfonylureas
  3. DPP-4 inhibitors

    They increase insulin secretion and decrease the liver's release of glucose. They are taken once a day.

    Advantages of DDP-4 inhibitors:

    • Do not usually cause low blood glucose when used without insulin
  4. Meglitinides

    They lower blood glucose by stimulating the pancreas to release insulin. They may be helpful for people who have high blood glucose immediately after a meal. They are taken before each of the three meals.

  5. Sulfonylureas

    They lower blood glucose levels by stimulating the pancreas to produce and release more insulin. Generally, people take sulfonylureas once or twice a day before meals.

  6. Thiazolidinediones (TZDs)

    They lower blood glucose by lowering insulin resistance in the muscles and liver and reduce the liver's production of glucose. They are taken once or twice a day.

    Advantages of TZDs:

    • May lower triglyceride levels and increase HDL cholesterol levels.
  7. Combination Pills

    They can be more effective than a single medication and more convenient than taking three or four pills. Talk to your doctor about advantages, disadvantages, and side effects of combination pills.

    Examples:

    • Metformin and glyburide
    • Metformin and glipizide

This information is a summary from the "Complete Guide to Diabetes" and is provided with the permission of the American Diabetes Association.

It is a comprehensive book and recommended by the American Diabetes Association for those people that want to learn more about diabetes.

Click on the image to go to the American Diabetes Association bookstore.

Note: Care4life has no commercial interest in any of the books or resources it recommends.