Understanding Medicines: Pills
Pills for Diabetes: At a Glance
Now that I have diabetes, will I need to take medicine?
Not all people who have diabetes take medication. If you have type 1 diabetes you will need to take insulin because your body no longer makes it. If you have type 2 diabetes, there are a number of management tools you can use. Some people with this type of diabetes take no medicine at all and are able to use meal planning and physical activity alone to control their blood glucose (sugar) level. Others need a little more help, in addition to meal planning and exercise, may use pills, insulin or a combination of both or some newer type of non-insulin injections to keep their blood glucose level in target. The type of diabetes you have along with the level of blood glucose (sugar) control you can maintain are factors which will contribute to what management tools you use.
Why are there so many different pills for diabetes?
Because the cause of high blood glucose (sugar) may differ from person to person,
medications that work in different ways and in different areas of the body are necessary.
Diabetes pills work in the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, the liver and
muscle cells, and the digestive system. Your health
care provider will help decide which type of
medication will work best for you. Many people
with type 2 diabetes take more than one kind of
diabetes medicine for example, one medicine may
help your pancreas to make more insulin and a
second medicine may help your body to use that
insulin better.
How will I know if my diabetes medicine is
working?
Self-monitoring your blood glucose (sugar) is one of
the tools that lets you know how your management
plan, including your medicine, is working to control
your blood glucose on a day-to-day basis. People
with type 1 diabetes may check their blood
glucose throughout the day to adjust insulin doses
or food intake while those with type 2 diabetes may
check less frequently depending on the
management tools they are using for their diabetes.
The important thing is that if you have diabetes you
should check your blood glucose (sugar) on a
schedule that meets your needs. Also, having a test
called the A1C test, which measures your blood
glucose control over about the past 2-3 months, can
help your health care provider in making decisions
about changes to your treatment plan.
There are 6 different classes of pills along with several
different combinations to take for diabetes. They
work in different parts of the body and in different
ways to help keep your blood glucose (sugar) levels
in your target range. Some pills work by helping the
cells in your pancreas make more insulin, some work
by helping the insulin to work better in your muscle
and fat cells or by preventing the liver from making
too much glucose; others block the breakdown of
starches in the intestines. There is a new class of
medication that works by preventing the breakdown
of some natural substances in the body and helps to
lower the blood glucose only when the glucose is
elevated. As you can see, diabetes pills work in
many different ways.
Types of Diabetes Pills
Sulfonylureas: Most common are glipizide, glyburide and glimepiride
- Signals the pancreas to make more insulin which may help move glucose (sugar) from the
blood into the cells where it can produce energy
- Can increase the risk of low blood glucose (sugar) — hypoglycemia
- Usually taken once or twice a day before or with meals and the effect lasts all day
Meglitinides: Ñateglinide and Repaglinide
- Signals the pancreas to release insulin in a quick burst that lasts over a few hours
- Taken right before a meal; not taken if you skip a meal
- Increases the risk of low blood glucose (sugar) levels
Biguanides: Metformin
- Stops the liver from making too much glucose
- Helps the muscle cells to use insulin better and move glucose (sugar) from the
blood stream into the cells and lower blood glucose levels
- Doesn't increase the risk of low blood glucose (sugar) when used alone
- Does not cause weight gain and may improve cholesterol levels
- Side effects may include nausea, diarrhea and loss of appetite but taking your
pills with food may help these symptoms and they should get better over time
- Sometimes causes a metallic taste in your mouth
- If you are having a medical or x-ray test or procedure that requires you to
be injected with dye into your vein, be sure you inform the medical personnel that
you are taking this medication.
Thiazolidinediones: Rosiglitazone and Pioglitazone
- Helps insulin work better in the muscle and fat cells
- Takes 4 to 6 weeks to see the effect on your blood glucose
- Does not increase the risk of low blood glucose (sugar) when taken alone
- May cause weight gain and fluid retention
- Need to have blood tests to check your liver periodically
- May decrease the effects of birth control pills
- May increase your risk for heart problems. Discuss concerns with your physician or other health care provider.
Glucose-inhibitors: Acarbose and Miglitol
- Prevent starches from breaking down into sugar and raising the blood glucose after eating
- Take with the first bite of the meal
- Does not increase the risk of low blood glucose when taken alone
- If low blood glucose does occur, you must take glucose pills, gel or fruit juice to
treat
- May cause gas, bloating and diarrhea. You may need to start with a low dose and build
up slowly
- Normally does not cause weight gain
DPPT-4 Inhibitors: Sitagliptin
- Increases insulin when your blood glucose is high, especially after a meal
- Decreases the amount of glucose your liver makes after you eat
- Helps improve your A1C (3-month average blood glucose) without causing low blood glucose
- Does not increase your risk of low blood glucose when taken alone. May
increase the risk if taken along with sulfonylureas.
- Does not cause weight gain
- May cause stomach discomfort and diarrhea
- You may need blood tests from time to time to see how your kidneys are working
You will know how your medicines are working if you check your blood glucose. Talk to your health care provider or diabetes educator to see what are the best times for you to check.
When you check will depend on how and when your diabetes pills are working to lower your
blood glucose.
| Eight Important Things You Should Know About Your Diabetes Pills: |
|---|
- The name of your pills
- The dose you should take
- The time you should take your pills
- The side effects that may occur
- If your pills can cause low blood glucose (sugar) so that you can be prepared
- Instructions for a missed dose
- The best time to check your blood glucose
- If you need to avoid any other medicines, food or drink with your pills
|
TIP
It's often hard to remember to take all of your medications each day.
Taking your medicine as it has been prescribed will help you to get the full
benefit.
Tips for helping you to remember your medicines:
- Use a weekly pill organizer to sort your daily medications.
- Make a chart or calendar to help you keep track of your medicines and check them off
as you take your dose.
- Take your pills at a time when you're used to doing another daily activity such
as meal times, brushing your teeth, checking your blood glucose (sugar) or after
taking your shower or bath.
- Ask a family member or friend to call to remind you.
- Remember to have your prescriptions refilled before the current bottle runs out.
- If you have a watch with an alarm or a small portable alarm clock, set it for
the time you need to take your medicine.
Keep a current list of all of the medicines that you are taking in your wallet or purse.
This can help when you meet with members of your health care team, such as a dietitian,
diabetes educator, dentist, eye doctor or podiatrist.
The information presented here is meant to be strictly for informational and educational
purposes. It is not to be considered as advice, including medical advice, from Liberty
Medical Supply, Inc. None of the information is intended to serve as a substitute for
diagnosis from, or consultation with, a health care professional. Always consult your
doctor regarding any medical questions that you have, as well as before starting or
changing your exercise or diet program, and before adjusting any medication.
†
Meter offer available to qualified beneficiaries with diabetes. Not available to current Liberty
patients. No purchase necessary. Meter shown for illustrative purposes only. Meter offer not
applicable to all brands of meter. Commemorative keychain offer and free HealthMatters subscription dependent
on patient enrollment. Combined offer available while supplies last. Terms and conditions apply.
* Up to 90 days from shipment (a longer period may apply based on law or regulation). Some
restrictions apply. We are unable to accept returns of properly filled prescriptions.
