Treatments and Medications for Diabetes

With diabetes becoming an ever growing problem in today’s society, it’s no wonder that there are more and more treatments available. Science is constantly coming up with ways to manage this lifelong disease, making it more feasible for people to live long and productive lives that aren’t constantly interrupted by medical duties. Ideally, you will want to keep your blood sugar in the healthy range of 4 and 8 mmol/L. When you deviate from this level, you can cause more troubles than that extra sugary snack is worth.

Here are just some of the current treatments and medications that might be able to help you:

• Insulin – Treatment of type I diabetes almost always involves a daily
injection of insulin, usually a combination of short-acting insulin such
as regular (Lispro or Aspart) and a longer acting insulin (NPH, Lente,

Glargine, Detemir, or Ultralente). This will need to be given by
injection as insulin that enters the stomach will be destroyed before it
reaches the bloodstream. There are current trials to see if insulin can
be inhaled, but the effectiveness isn’t clear as of yet. This medication
works by helping to break down the excess sugars in your diet in order
to prevent medical complications.

• Oral medications – These are prescribed for those with type II diabetes
that can not be controlled by diet or exercise. These medications help
the body to break down sugars more effectively, thus producing a
stable and healthy blood sugar level.

• Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors – such as Precose and Glyset – work
to slow down the absorption of sugar in the digestive tract. They
are often used in conjunction with other diabetes medications,
such as Sulfonylureas (see below). Side effects can include
stomach or bowel problems.

• Biguanides – such as Metformin (Glucophage) help a body utilize
insulin more effectively. Often used by people who are
overweight, these medications also help with weight control to
help the body become healthier. Side effects can include nausea
or diarrhoea.

• Meglitinides – seen as Repaglinide (Prandin) works by
controlling blood sugar levels after eating, so it will need to
taken in accordance to your eating schedule, number of meals
you eat, etc. Side effects are few.

• Sulfonylureas – such as Glucotrol and Micronase. These
medications work to help your body make its own insulin. Side
effects are few, but these medications cannot be used by those
allergic to sulfa.

• Thiazolidinediones – commonly prescribed medications include
Avandia and Actos. These prescriptions make cells more
sensitive to insulin, increasing the processing of sugar in the
bloodstream. Rezulin was the first thiazolidinedione, but it was
taken off the market due to problems with liver toxicity. Avandia
is currently being studied for dangerous side effects as well.

It can also be said that commonly prescribed treatments for diabetes also include diet management, weight loss, and exercise regiments. Together, these therapies can help to increase the body’s ability to metabolise sugars in the bloodstream as well as limit the amount of sugars that are present in the first place.

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