How does diabetes get treated

 

If my blood glucose level is high, what will happen?

Hyperglycemia is a condition in which your blood sugar levels are too high. A hyperglycemic state is a glucose level in the blood that is greater than 125 mg/dL when the person is fasting (no food or drink for at least eight hours).

or a glucose level in the blood that is higher than 180 mg/dL within one to two hours of eating

How does diabetes get treated?

The type of diabetes you have, how well you manage your blood glucose levels, and any other health conditions you have are all factors in diabetes treatment.

Diabetes mellitus: You are required to take insulin every day if you have this type. Insulin is no longer produced by your pancreas.

Diabetes mellitus: Treatments for this type of diabetes can include insulin, medications (for both diabetes and conditions that are risk factors for diabetes), and changes to one's lifestyle, such as eating healthier foods, exercising more, and losing weight.

Prediabetes: The objective is to prevent you from developing diabetes if you have prediabetes. Treatments focus on risk factors that can be treated, like losing weight by exercising for at least 30 minutes five days a week and eating a healthy diet like the Mediterranean diet. As can be seen in the prevention section of this article, many of the methods used to prevent diabetes are also used to treat it.

Diabetes at birth: If you have this type and your glucose level isn't too high, changing your diet and getting regular exercise might be your first course of treatment. Your healthcare team may start you on insulin or medication if your glucose level is extremely high or the target goal is still not met.

Diabetes can be treated in one of the following ways with oral medications and insulin:

stimulates insulin production and release in your pancreas. Slows down the liver's release of glucose (the liver stores extra glucose).

Blocks the breakdown of carbohydrates in your stomach or intestines, thereby making your tissues more insulin-responsive.

enables you to eliminate glucose from your body through increased urination.

Which diabetes medications can be taken orally?

The Food and Drug Administration has granted approval to over 40 diabetes medications. To discuss all of these drugs is beyond the scope of this article. Instead, we'll talk about the most common drug classes, how they work, and the names of a few drugs in each one. If you are a good candidate for medication, your healthcare team will decide. If that is the case, they will select the best diabetes medication.

The following drug classes treat diabetes:

Sulfonylureas: By increasing insulin production in the pancreas, these medications lower blood glucose levels. Glyburide (Micronase®, DiaBeta®), glimepiride (Amaryl®), and glipizide (Glucotrol®) are examples.

Glinides—also known as meglitinides—are by increasing insulin production in the pancreas, these medications lower blood glucose levels. Randin®'s repaglinide and Starlix®'s nateglinide are two examples.

Biguanides: The liver produces less glucose as a result of these drugs. It also slows down the process by which carbohydrates become sugar and makes insulin work better in the body. An example is Metformin (Glucophage®).

Anti-alpha-glucosidase drugs: By slowing down the breakdown of carbohydrates and reducing glucose absorption in the small intestine, these medications lower blood glucose levels. Precose®'s acarbose is one example.

Thiazolidinediones: By allowing more glucose to enter muscles, fat, and the liver, these medications improve the way insulin works in the body. Pioglitazone (Actos®) and rosiglitazone (Avandia®) are two examples.

GLP-1 analogs, which are also known as incretin mimetics or glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists, are the following: These medications delay the stomach's emptying of food, reduce liver glucose release after meals, and increase insulin release. Byetta® exenatide, Victoza® liraglutide, Tanzeum® albiglutide, Rybelsus® semaglutide, and Trulicity® dulaglutide are all examples.

Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors, also known as DPP-4 inhibitors: These medications assist your pancreas in producing more insulin after meals. Additionally, they reduce the amount of glucose produced by the liver. Alogliptin (Nesina®), sitagliptin (Januvia®), saxagliptin (Onglyza®), and linagliptin (Tradjenta®) are, among others, examples.

Substances that block SGLT2, also known as sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors: Utilizing your kidneys, these medications enable you to eliminate glucose from your body through urine. Canagliflozin (Invokana®), dapagliflozin (Farxiga®), and empagliflozin (Jardiance®) are a few examples.

Sequestrants of bile acid: Cholesterol and blood sugar levels are reduced by these drugs. Colestipol (Colestid®), cholestyramine (Questran®), and colesevelam (Welchol®) are all examples.

Agonist of dopamine: The amount of glucose released by the liver is reduced by this medication. Bromocriptine (Cyclocet®) is one example.

For optimal blood glucose management, many oral diabetes medications can be combined with insulin. Some of the above medications are available as a pill that combines two medications. Other medications, such as the GLP-1 agonists semaglutide (Ozempic®) and lixisenatide (Adlyxin®), can be injected.

 

Always take your medication exactly as prescribed by your doctor. With them, discuss your specific inquiries and concerns.