Medications that lower blood sugar in Diabetes type 2 – By Dr Harold Gunatillake
Website: www.Doctorharold.com
“Insulin is not a cure for Diabetes; it is a treatment. It enables the diabetic to burn sufficient carbohydrates so that proteins and fats may be added to the diet in sufficient quantities to provide energy for the economic burdens of life.”
– Lee Haney.
The blood sugar level when checked up randomly in a normal person is less than 140 mg/dL or 7.8 mmol/L. A reading of more than 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L) after two hours of having your meal, means you have diabetes. A fasting blood sugar level of 99 mg/dL or lower is normal, 100 to 125 mg/dL indicates you have prediabetes, and 126 mg/dL or higher indicates you have diabetes.
Regardless of when you last ate, a level of 200 mg/dL (11.1 mmol/L ) or higher suggests diabetes, especially if you also have symptoms of diabetes, such as frequent urination and extreme thirst. Blood sugar (also called blood glucose) needs to be tightly controlled in the human body to minimize the risk of complications developing.
What should your blood sugar be when you wake up? Whenever possible, aim to keep your glucose levels in the range between 70 and 130 mg/dL in the morning before you eat breakfast, and between 70 and 180 mg/dL at other times. It is important to know the formula to calculatemmol/l from mg/dl:
mmol/l = mg/dl / 18. Formula to calculate mg/dl from mmol/l: mg/dl = 18 × mmol/l. https://youtu.be/NXzjHk Website: www.Doctorharold.com
When your doctor does a blood sugar test on you fasting or random, if it is slightly on the borderline, with persistent regular exercise and consuming a low glycemic index, plant-based diet, will revert
your blood sugar levels to the normal range without taking medication.
If your diabetes readings are on the high side, still vigorous regular exercise such as walking
intermittently for 2-3 hours with a plant-based diet may revert your blood sugar within the normal
range.
In spite of the above regime, if your blood sugar cannot be controlled, then your doctor will treat you
with an anti-diabetes pill to be taken regularly.
In most situations, your doctor will prescribe metformin as the first line of treatment to bring down
the sugar levels.
Metformin works by helping to restore the body’s response to insulin. It decreases the amount of
blood sugar that the liver produces and that the intestines or stomach absorb. Putting it in another way,
Metformin lowers blood sugars by stopping the production of glucose from the liver, and also increases insulin sensitivity and reduces insulin resistance by prohibiting the body from absorbing all the glucose (sugar) in foods
What is the most serious side effect of metformin?
Although very rare, metformin’s most serious side effect is lactic acidosis. Metformin has a “boxed” — also referred to as a “black box” — warning about this risk. A boxed warning is the most severe warning that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issues. Metformin may have an adverse effect on renal function in patients with type 2 DM and moderate CKD. Other drugs used to control diabetes include-Insulin (long- and rapid-acting) … Glipizide (sulfonylurea class) … Glimepiride (sulfonylurea class) … Invokana (sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor class) … Jardiance (SGLT2 class) … Januvia (dipeptidyl peptidase 4 inhibitors) … Pioglitazone (thiazolidinediones)
Now let’s talk about Glipizide– it is in a class of medications called sulfonylureas, sold under the brand name Glucotrol. Glipizide lowers blood sugar by causing the pancreas to produce insulin (a natural substance that is needed to break down sugar in the body) and helping the body use insulin
efficiently. Side effects of this drug include nausea, vomiting, loss of appetite, diarrhea, constipation, upset stomach, headache, and weight gain may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Now let’s talk about Glimeperide. Glimepiride lowers blood sugar by causing the pancreas to produce insulin, like Glipizide. Side effects may include:
- trembling or shaking
- nervousness or anxiety
- irritability
- sweating
- lightheadedness or dizziness
- headache
- fast heart rate or palpitations
- intense hunger
- fatigue or tiredness
- headache
- nausea
- dizziness
- weakness
- unexplained weight gain
INVOKANA® (canagliflozin) is a prescription medicine used: along with diet and exercise to lower blood sugar (glucose) in adults with type 2 diabetes. to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death in adults with type 2 diabetes who have known cardiovascular disease.
Side effects of this drug include: Frequent urination, unusual dry mouth, dizziness, and lightheadedness may occur. If any of these effects last or get worse, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.
Empagliflozin, sold under the brand name Jardiance among others, is an antidiabetic medication used to improve glucose control in people with type 2 diabetes. It is not recommended for type 1 diabetes. It is taken by mouth Common Jardiance side effects include urinary tract infections (UTIs) and fungal (“yeast”) infections of the genitals. More serious Jardiance side effects include dehydration, low blood sugar, and serious infection. Ketoacidosis (too much acid in the blood) is also possible but rare. Pioglitazone is a drug used in the management of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Pioglitazone, sold under
the brand name Actos Pioglitazone is the third marketed thiazolidinedione group of oral antidiabetics, the first is troglitazone which is no longer available due to hepatotoxicity, and the second is rosiglitazone, still on the market.
What is the main side effect of pioglitazone?
Common side effects may include headache; muscle pain; or. cold symptoms such as stuffy nose, sinus pain, sneezing, and sore throat.
What is the best weekly injection for diabetes?
Type 2 Diabetes & Cardiovascular Disease Treatment … Trulicity is a once-weekly injectable prescription
medicine to improve blood sugar (glucose) in adults and children 10 years of age and older with type 2 diabetes mellitus. It should be used along with diet and exercise. It is not known if TRULICITY can be used in people
who has had pancreatitis?What is insulin for diabetes?
Insulin is an essential hormone. It helps your body turn food into energy and controls your blood sugar levels. If you have diabetes, your body can’t make enough insulin or can’t use it properly. Your provider can prescribe human-made insulin that you take through an injection (shot), injectable pen, or pump.
The common insulins used are the Novo-Rapid, Novomix, and long-acting ones like Lantus. Insulin
glargine (Lantus), lasts up to 24 hours. The main advantage of insulin injections is that you could vary the dosage according to the food you eat.
Hope this video presentation on the types of medications used for diabetes type 2 is useful. There are more never drugs coming out in the market for diabetes that are not all included here. All medications used for diabetes type 2 has their side effects. You could reduce these side effects through proper diet and exercising daily such as a walk for a few hours. That alone may be sufficient to reverse diabetes without medication.
Stay safe and goodbye for now.
Disclaimer:
The information contained in this article is for general information purposes only, and whilst the author will endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct, eLanka makes no representations or warranties of any kind, express or implied, about the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability with respect to the eLanka website or the information, products, services, or related graphics contained in this article for any purpose. Any reliance you place on such information is therefore strictly at your own risk. In other words, eLanka In no event will we be liable for any loss or damage including without limitation, indirect or consequential loss or damage, or any loss or damage whatsoever arising from loss of data or profits arising out of, or in connection with, the use of this website / article. Also please note that through this website / web page articles you are able to link to other websites which are not under the control of eLanka and therefore we have no control over the nature, content and availability of those sites. The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.
