DIABETES MEDICATIONS
By Jeff Staats

                                                            MEDICATIONS

Diabetes Medications work best in people with Type 2 who have had high blood sugar for less

than ten years with normal weight or obesity.  medications are attempted when normal diabetic

diet, weight loss and exercise fail to bring blood sugar to a normal range.  medications depend

on many things such as blood glucose level, blood pressure, insulin production, mode of living, genetic

factors and the immune system of patients.  Currently there are five classes of oral

medications, all of which help in lowering blood glucose levels.  Many people with type 2 take

diabetes pills (oral medications).  It is not safe for pregnant women to take oral

medications.

Drugs

Drugs are prescribed as soon as a patient fails to achieve diet control and often provide a false sense

of security that the problem is being handled.  All pills sold today in the United States are

members of five classes of drugs: sulfonylureas, meglitinides, biguanides, thiazolidinediones, and

alpha-glucosidase inhibitors.  Sulfonylurea drugs

have been in use since the 1950s.  All sulfonylurea

drugs have similar effects on blood glucose levels, but they differ in side effects, how often they are

taken, and interactions with other drugs.

When taken properly, medications can lower your blood sugar level, reduce your symptoms, and

lessen your risk of diabetic complications, such as nerve damage and vision loss.  Using

medications to keep blood sugar at just the right level can be a tricky balancing act.  Lifestyle

changes are essential -- a healthy diet, regular exercise, and weight loss -- in letting

medications do their job, says David Nathan,MD, chief of the Center at Massachusetts General

Hospital and a professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.  Research is ongoing to fully explore

all the additional benefits of medications. If you have any questions about diabetes, talk to

your doctor immediately!