Drug Treatment for Type II Diabetes

Oral drug treatment for Type II diabetes currently comes in four types. The type of drug suitable for you will depend in great part upon the severity of your condition, what kind of lifestyle you lead and, of course, whether or not you have any other health-related problems. The most commonly prescribed drug for treating Type II diabetes are those with sulfonylurea and repaglinide. Brand name medications include Prandin, Orinase, and Tolinase. These drugs work by facilitating the body’s ability to secrete more insulin. The good news here is that with so many different brands on the market, you can shop around should you experience any unpleasant side effects. Common side effects of these drugs include nausea and hypoglycemia so if you do experience any side effects, don’t despair. Try another and it may work better in your system.

Medication can be used to treat diabetes by enhancing the effects of insulin. Some drugs, such as Glucophage, work by reducing the production of glucose by the liver. Another drug, Precose, acts to obstruct enzymes that metabolize food into sugars. Precose should be taken before eating, and it essentially works by hindering the absorptions of carbohydrates. In this way it acts to moderate the glucose rise experienced after meals. Be aware, however, that this produces certain socially undesirable side effects such as flatulence and diarrhea. Then there are drugs such as Avandia and Actos that actually increase the body’s resistance to insulin.