While a number of people with Type 2 diabetes may be able to maintain their disease with the implementation of a nutritious diet and an exercise regimen, some can be helped by oral medicine, whether it be through one medication or a combination of multiple.
Oral medications for T2D help bring glucose levels into the normal range necessary for optimal function. Because those with Type 2 diabetes are resistant to insulin rather than completely insulin deficient, oral medications can assist with the maintaining of proper glucose levels and the stimulating of insulin production, while people with T1D absolutely must rely on insulin injections for their treatment. Most people with T2D do eventually end up utilizing insulin injections along with prescribed medications because it can have a number of benefits or merely becomes a necessary requirement to maintain their condition.
Medications that increase insulin production include
Sulfonylureas:
Help the pancreas produce more insulin, allow the cells to better use insulin
Should be taken daily, at the same time, at mealtime
Can cause low blood sugar
Brand names: Diabinese (chlorpropamide), Diabeta (glyburide), Micronase (glyburide), Glucotrol (glipizide)
Meglitinides:
Stimulate more insulin release from beta cells
Are less likely to cause low blood sugar
Should be taken with meals, do not skip eating and still dose yourself
Brand names: Prandin (Repaglinide), Starlix (Nateglinide)
Medications that increase insulin production and decrease glucose production include
DPP-4 inhibitors:
Stop the release progress of the enzyme that increases insulin while decreasing the amount of glucose in the liver
Should be taken once daily at the same time
Do not cause low blood sugar
Brand name: Januvia (Sitagliptin), Onglyza (Saxagliptin), Tradjenta (Linagliptin)
Medications that increase insulin sensitivity in muscles and decrease glucose production include
Biguanides:
Decrease amount of glucose released by the liver
Should be taken twice a day, with morning and evening meals
Likely to cause low blood sugar
Brand names: Metformin (Glucophage)
Thiazolidinediones:
Increase the amount of glucose absorbed by muscles and keep liver from overproducing glucose
Should be taken once a day, at the same time each day
Do not cause low blood sugar when taken alone
Brand names: Actos (Pioglitazone), Avandia (Rosiglitazone)
Medications that slow the breakdown of carbohydrates
Alpha-glucosidase Inhibitors:
Make it difficult for the intestine to break down starches and work to keep blood sugar down after meals
Should be taken with the first bite of meals, do not take without eating
Do not cause low blood sugar
Brand names: Precose (acarbose), Glyset (miglitol)
Medications that reduce the kidney absorption of glucose
SGLT2 inhibitors:
Block the reabsorption of glucose by the kidneys, increase glucose excretion in urine, and lower blood sugar as a result
Should be taken once at the same time each day, with or without food
Brand names: Sulisent (canagliflozin), Farxiga (dapagliflozin), Jardiance (empagliflozin)