The medical science defines diabetes or diabetes mellitus as a medical disorder marked by changing or persistent hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels), especially after eating. The common symptoms of all types of diabetes mellitus include excessive urination and persistent thirst.
The hyperglycemia can cause dehydration and ketoacidosis. The longer-term risks include cardiovascular disease (doubled risk), chronic renal failure (it is the main cause for dialysis), retinal damage that can cause blindness, nerve damage that can cause erectile dysfunction (impotence), gangrene with risk of amputation of toes, feet, and even legs.
The type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes are mainly two types of diabetes. The insulin production decreases or completely ceases in type 1 diabetes. The type 2 diabetes is the more common form of diabetes. The body tissues become more resistant to insulin, and the body often produces less insulin in the type 2 diabetes.
The type 1 diabetes always requires insulin jabs for survival, but type 2 diabetes can be controled by dietary monitoring, weight loss, exercise, and oral medication. The insulin is administered if oral treatment fails or has intolerable side effects. The majority of type 2 diabetes cases are treatable with medication.
The major goal of diabetes treatment is to keep the blood sugar to normal levels. The combination therapy is an effective diabetes treatment. It uses combination of two medications to help control blood sugar level. The therapy is effective for the people with high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels, or overweight. The therapy may combine 2 oral medicines, or 1 oral medicine plus insulin.
The diabetes medication is available in form the of pills. The six recognized diabetes medications include sulfonylureas, metformin, thiazolidinediones, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, repaglinide and nateglinide.
Sulfonylureas (Glucotrol, Micronase) is commonly diabetes medication. It’s inexpensive and have minor side effects. It helps body in insulin production. It can be taken alone or with metformin, an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, pioglitazone or insulin. The people allergic to sulfa can’t take a sulfonylurea.
Metformin (Glucophage) is the diabetes medication for the overweight people. It helps the body to use insulin better. It can cause side effects like nausea or diarrhea in some people. It can be taken with a sulfonylurea.
Thiazolidinediones, the class of medications such as rosiglitazone (Avandia) and pioglitazone (Actos). These diabetes medications help body respond better to insulin. These can be used alone or in combination with other diabetes medications. The people taking Rosiglitazone and pioglitazone need periodic liver tests.
Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (Precose, Glyset) work in stomach and bowels to slow down the absorption of sugar. These medications can cause stomach or bowel problems. These can be taken alone or with a sulfonylurea.
Repaglinide (Prandin) is taken with meals to control blood sugar. It can be taken alone or with metformin. Nateglinide (Starlix) is taken with meals to keep your blood sugar level from getting too high after you eat. Nateglinide can be taken alone or with metformin.
Biguanides decreases the amount of glucose made by liver. Meglitinides and D-phenylalanine derivatives stimulate pancreas to make more insulin quickly. The following medications can be taken in combination:
• sulfonylurea and metformin
• sulfonylurea and acarbose
• metformin and acarbose
• repaglinide and metformin
• nateglinide and metformin
• pioglitazone and a sulfonylurea
• pioglitazone and metformin
• rosiglitazone and metformin
• rosiglitazone and a sulfonylurea
Insulin can be taken with one of the pills- sulfonylurea, metformin, pioglitazone. The insulins that are available on the counter include Humalog (lispro) Label, Humalog Mix 50/50 Label, Humalog Mix 75/25 Label, Lantus (glargine) Label, Novolin R, N, and 70/30 Label, and NovoLog (aspart) Label.
However, smoking, elevated cholesterol levels, obesity, high blood pressure, and lack of regular exercise may aggravate the diabetic conditions.
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