Diabetes is a condition that results in high levels of blood glucose (or sugar) in the body. This occurs when your body cannot make or use insulin like it’s supposed to. Insulin is a compound that helps your body use the sugar from the food you eat.
There are two different types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. People with both types of diabetes require medications (oral drugs and intramuscular injections) to help keep their blood sugar levels normal. The types of drugs that can treat you depend on the kind of diabetes you have. This post offers you info about drugs that treat both types of diabetes to assist give you a concept of the treatment alternatives readily available to you.
Diabetic Medications List for Type 1 Diabetes
Insulin
Insulin is the most common type of medication used in type 1 diabetes treatment. It’s likewise used in type 2 diabetes treatment. It’s offered by injection and can be found in different types. The kind of insulin you require depends upon how severe your insulin depletion is. Choices include:
Short-acting insulin
- routine insulin (Humulin and Novolin).
Rapid-acting insulins
- insulin aspart( NovoLog, FlexPen).
- insulin glulisine (Apidra).
- insulin lispro (Humalog).
Intermediate-acting insulin
- insulin isophane (Humulin N, Novolin N).
Long-acting insulins
- insulin degludec (Tresiba).
- insulin detemir (Levemir).
- insulin glargine (Lantus).
- insulin glargine (Toujeo).
Mix insulins
- NovoLog Mix 70/30 (insulin aspart protamine-insulin aspart).
- Humalog Mix 75/25 (insulin lispro protamine-insulin lispro).
- Humalog Mix 50/50 (insulin lispro protamine-insulin lispro).
- Humulin 70/30 (human insulin NPH-human insulin regular).
- Novolin 70/30 (human insulin NPH-human insulin regular).
- Ryzodeg (insulin degludec-insulin aspart).
Amylinomimetic drug
Pramlintide (SymlinPen 120, SymlinPen 60) is an amylinomimetic drug. It’s an injectable drug used prior to meals. It works by postponing the time your stomach takes to empty itself. It reduces glucagon secretion after meals. This lowers your blood sugar. It also reduces cravings through a main mechanism.
Diabetic Medications List for Type 2 Diabetes
Many medications for type 2 diabetes are oral drugs. Nevertheless, a few come as injections. Some people with type 2 diabetes may also have to take insulin.
Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors
These medications help your body break down starchy foods and table sugar. This effect lowers your blood sugar levels. For the very best results, you should take these drugs before meals. These drugs include:
- acarbose (Precose).
- miglitol (Glyset).
Biguanides
Biguanides decrease how much sugar your liver makes. They reduce how much sugar your intestines take in, make your body more sensitive to insulin, and help your muscles absorb glucose. The most common biguanide is metformin (Glucophage, Metformin Hydrochloride ER, Glumetza, Riomet, Fortamet).
Metformin can likewise be combined with other drugs for type 2 diabetes. It’s an ingredient in the following medications:
- metformin-alogliptin (Kazano).
- metformin-canagliflozin (Invokamet).
- metformin-dapagliflozin (Xigduo XR).
- metformin-empagliflozin (Synjardy).
- metformin-glipizide.
- metformin-glyburide (Glucovance).
- metformin-linagliptin (Jentadueto).
- metformin-pioglitazone (Actoplus).
- metformin-repaglinide (PrandiMet).
- metformin-rosiglitazone (Avandamet).
- metformin-saxagliptin (Kombiglyze XR).
- metformin-sitagliptin (Janumet).
Dopamine agonist
Bromocriptine (Parlodel) is a dopamine agonist. It’s not known exactly how this drug works to treat type 2 diabetes. It may impact rhythms in your body and prevent insulin resistance.
DPP-4 inhibitors
DPP-4 inhibitors assist the body continue to make insulin. They work by reducing blood sugar without triggering hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). These drugs can likewise help the pancreas make more insulin. These drugs consist of:
- alogliptin (Nesina).
- alogliptin-metformin (Kazano).
- alogliptin-pioglitazone (Oseni).
- linagliptin (Tradjenta).
- linagliptin-empagliflozin (Glyxambi).
- linagliptin-metformin (Jentadueto).
- saxagliptin (Onglyza).
- saxagliptin-metformin (Kombiglyze XR).
- sitagliptin (Januvia).
- sitagliptin-metformin (Janumet and Janumet XR).
- sitagliptin and simvastatin (Juvisync).
Glucagon-like peptides (incretin mimetics)
These drugs resemble the natural hormonal agent called incretin. They increase B-cell growth and how much insulin your body uses. They decrease your appetite and how much glucagon your body uses. They likewise slow stomach emptying. These are all important actions for people with diabetes. These drugs consist of:
- albiglutide (Tanzeum).
- dulaglutide (Trulicity).
- exenatide (Byetta).
- exenatide extended-release (Bydureon).
- liraglutide (Victoza).
Meglitinides
These medications help your body release insulin. Nevertheless, sometimes, they might lower your blood sugar excessive. These drugs aren’t for everyone. They include:
- nateglinide (Starlix).
- repaglinide (Prandin).
- repaglinide-metformin (Prandimet).
Salt glucose transporter (SGLT) 2 inhibitors
These drugs work by avoiding the kidneys from hanging on to glucose. Rather, your body eliminates the glucose through your urine. These drugs consist of:
- dapagliflozin (Farxiga).
- dapagliflozin-metformin (Xigduo XR).
- canagliflozin (Invokana).
- canagliflozin-metformin (Invokamet).
- empagliflozin (Jardiance).
- empagliflozin-linagliptin (Glyxambi).
- empagliflozin-metformin (Synjardy).
Sulfonylureas
These are among the earliest diabetes drugs still used today. They work by stimulating the pancreas with the aid of beta cells. This causes your body to make more insulin. These drugs consist of:
- glimepiride (Amaryl).
- glimepiride-pioglitazone (Duetact).
- glimeperide-rosiglitazone (Avandaryl).
- gliclazide.
- glipizide (Glucotrol).
- glipizide-metformin (Metaglip).
- glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase, Micronase).
- glyburide-metformin (Glucovance).
- chlorpropamide (Diabinese).
- tolazamide (Tolinase).
- tolbutamide (Orinase, Tol-Tab).
Thiazolidinediones
These medications work by reducing glucose in your liver. They likewise help your fat cells use insulin much better. These drugs include an increased risk of heart disease. If your doctor offers you among these drugs, they will enjoy your heart function during treatment. These drugs include:
- rosiglitazone (Avandia).
- rosiglitazone-glimepiride (Avandaryl).
- rosiglitizone-metformin (Amaryl M).
- pioglitazone (Actos).
- pioglitazone-alogliptin (Oseni).
- pioglitazone-glimepiride (Duetact).
- pioglitazone-metformin (Actoplus Met, Actoplus Met XR).
Other drugs
People with type 1 and type 2 diabetes typically have to take other medications to treat conditions that are common with diabetes. These drugs can include:
- aspirin for heart health.
- drugs for high cholesterol.
- high blood pressure medications.
Talk with your doctor
There are numerous medications available to treat both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. They each work in different ways to assist you manage your blood sugar. Ask your doctor which diabetes drug may be the best fit for you. Your doctor will make suggestions based on the type of diabetes you have, your health, and other aspects.
