Oral Medicines That Help Manage Diabetes
People diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes have many medicines available to help control their blood sugar levels. These drugs fall into 3 methods of reducing blood sugar levels:
- Class 1 reduces the amount of glucose the liver releases into the bloodstream.
- Biguanide (Bi-gwa-need) like Metformin
- Class 2 increases insulin releaseed into the bloodstream by the pancreas .
- Sulfonylureas (SUL-fah-nil-YOO-ree-ahs)
- D-Phenylalnine (dee-fen-nel-AL-ah-neen)
- Meglitinides (meh-GLIT-in-ides)
- Class 3 increases the body’s cells sensitive to insulin.
- Thiazolidinedione (THIGH-ah-ZO-li-deen-DYE-owns)
- Class 4 slows the absorption of glucose into the bloodstream after eating carbs.
- Alpha-glucosidase Inhibitors (AL-fa gloo-KOS-ih-dayss in-HIB-it-ers)
- Class 5 (sitagliptin) increases incretin levels which reduces the amount of glucose released into the bloodstream, but also increases insulin secretion by the pancreas decreases stomach emptying.
- DPP-4 Inhibitors
Category |
Action |
Generic Name |
Brand Name |
Manufacturer |
Approval Date |
Comments |
Sulfonylureas |
Stimulates beta cells to release more insulin |
Chlorpropamide |
Diabinese |
Pfizer |
10/58 |
Generally taken one to two times daily, before meals |
Glipizide |
Glucotrol |
Pfizer |
5/84 |
Second generation used in smaller doses than first generation |
||
Glyburide |
DiaBeta/ Micronase/Glynase |
Aventis, Pharmacia and Upjohn |
5/84 |
|||
Glimepiride |
Amaryl |
Aventis |
11/95 |
|||
Alpha-glucosidase Inhibitors | Slows the absorption glucose into your bloodstream. | Acarbose | Precose | Take with the first bite of your meal. | ||
Glycet | Miglitol | Take with the first bite of your meal. | ||||
Meglitinide |
Works with similar action to sulfonylureas |
Repaglinide |
Prandin |
Novo Nordisk |
12/97 |
Taken before each of three meals |
|
|
Nateglinide |
Starlix |
Novartis |
12/00 |
Taken before each of three meals |
Biguanide |
Reduces the amount of sugar released by the liver. |
Metformin |
Glucophage |
|
3/95 |
Taken two or three times daily with food for best results |
Metformin (long lasting) |
Glucophage XR |
|
10/00 |
|||
Metformin with glyburide |
Glucovance |
|
7/00 |
|||
Thiazolidinedione (Glitazone) |
Lowers insulin |
Rosiglitazone |
Avandia |
SmithKline Beecham (now GlaxoSmithKline) |
5/99 |
Taken once or twice daily with food; very rare but serious |
. | . | . | . | |||
Pioglitazone |
Actos |
Takeda Pharmaceuticals |
7/99 |
You need to know:
- Diabetes medicines that lower blood glucose never take the place of healthy eating and exercise.
- If your blood glucose gets too low more than a few times in a few days, call your doctor.
- Take your diabetes pills or insulin even if you are sick. If you cannot eat much, call your doctor.
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