Blood glucose control is managed by proper meal planning, weight loss and exercising. At times however, these actions are not adequate to bring blood glucose levels down to their normal range. Medication is in the form of oral pills and insulin shots.
Blood glucose levels of diabetic patients are high, as it is not passed onto the cells due to absence of or reduced levels of insulin. In case of individuals suffering from Diabetes 1, insulin shots are the only option for lowering blood glucose, as they do not produce this hormone. Individuals with Diabetes type 2 are found to produce reduced levels of insulin, and hence need to increase the levels to augment the uptake of blood glucose. They can be treated with pills, injections or a combination of both.
Sulfonylureas, thiazolidinediones, biguanides, meglitinides, and alpha-glucosidase inhibitors the five classes of drugs that are used in the manufacture of pills as treatment for diabetes. They function in different ways to lower the blood glucose and enhance insulin production.
Sulfonylureas have been utilized since the 1950's and are found to induce the beta cells of the pancreas to discharge more insulin. Chlorpropamide is the only first generation drug that is still being used. Drugs from the subsequent generations are only required in lesser doses for treatment. Micronase, Glynase, and Diabeta are all examples of trade names of second-generation drugs. Although playing a similar role, they differ in the various side effects, dosages, and interactions with other drugs. Meglitinides are drugs that induce the beta cells to release insulin. As these drugs stimulate the release of insulin, at times it results in hypoglycemia, or low blood glucose levels.
Biguanides decrease blood glucose levels by lowering the amount of glucose produced by the liver. They also make the muscle tissue more responsive to insulin, to increase the absorption of glucose.
Diabetes pills are sometimes found to stop working after some time, without any definite cause. When this ensues, oral combination therapy can help to treat the symptoms of diabetes and control blood glucose levels.
Blood glucose levels of diabetic patients are high, as it is not passed onto the cells due to absence of or reduced levels of insulin. In case of individuals suffering from Diabetes 1, insulin shots are the only option for lowering blood glucose, as they do not produce this hormone. Individuals with Diabetes type 2 are found to produce reduced levels of insulin, and hence need to increase the levels to augment the uptake of blood glucose. They can be treated with pills, injections or a combination of both.
Sulfonylureas, thiazolidinediones, biguanides, meglitinides, and alpha-glucosidase inhibitors the five classes of drugs that are used in the manufacture of pills as treatment for diabetes. They function in different ways to lower the blood glucose and enhance insulin production.
Sulfonylureas have been utilized since the 1950's and are found to induce the beta cells of the pancreas to discharge more insulin. Chlorpropamide is the only first generation drug that is still being used. Drugs from the subsequent generations are only required in lesser doses for treatment. Micronase, Glynase, and Diabeta are all examples of trade names of second-generation drugs. Although playing a similar role, they differ in the various side effects, dosages, and interactions with other drugs. Meglitinides are drugs that induce the beta cells to release insulin. As these drugs stimulate the release of insulin, at times it results in hypoglycemia, or low blood glucose levels.
Biguanides decrease blood glucose levels by lowering the amount of glucose produced by the liver. They also make the muscle tissue more responsive to insulin, to increase the absorption of glucose.
Diabetes pills are sometimes found to stop working after some time, without any definite cause. When this ensues, oral combination therapy can help to treat the symptoms of diabetes and control blood glucose levels.
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