A COMPLETE LIST OF DIABETES MEDICATIONS
Diabetes is a condition that leads to high levels of blood sugar in the body. When the body is unable to use insulin properly then diabetes happens.
Insulin is a substance that helps the body to use the sugar properly from the food anyone eats.
There are two different types of diabetes :
- Type 1 diabetes.
- Type 2 diabetes.
People with either type of diabetes need medications to maintain blood sugar levels normal.
The types of drugs depend on the type of diabetes a person has. This blog gives you information about medicines that treat both types of diabetes.
MEDICATIONS FOR TYPE 1 DIABETES
Insulin
The most common type of medication used in type 1 diabetes treatment is Insulin.
If you have type 1 diabetes, the body can’t make its own insulin. In the treatment, more insulin is produced.
Different types of insulin are :
Short-acting insulin
- Regular insulin (Humulin and Novolin)
Rapid-acting insulins
- Insulin as part (NovoLog, FlexPen, Fiasp)
- Insulin glulisine (Apidra)
- Insulin lispro (Humalog)
Intermediate-acting insulin
- Insulin isophane (Humulin N, Novolin N)
Long-acting insulins
- Insulin degludec (Tresiba)
- Insulin detemir (Levemir)
- Insulin glargine (Lantus)
- Insulin glargine (Toujeo)
Combination insulins
- NovoLog Mix 70/30 (insulin aspart protamine-insulin aspart)
- Humalog Mix 75/25 (insulin lispro protamine-insulin lispro)
- Humalog Mix 50/50 (insulin lispro protamine-insulin lispro)
- Humulin 70/30 (human insulin NPH-human insulin regular)
- Novolin 70/30 (human insulin NPH-human insulin regular)
- Ryzodeg (insulin degludec-insulin aspart)
Amylinomimetic drug
Pramlintide is an example of an amylinomimetic drug. It’s a type of injection, an injectable drug is used before meals. It works by delaying the stomach empty time. The secretion of glucagon is reduced by it after meals. Thus, it lowers blood sugar. It also reduces appetite.
Medications for type 2 diabetes
If any one has type 2 diabetes, then the body of the patient makes insulin but is not able to use it properly. The goal of the treatment of type 2 diabetes is to help the body to use insulin properly.
Oral drugs are often used for type 2 diabetes. However, a few come as injections. Some people with type 2 diabetes may also need to take insulin for lowering blood sugar levels.
Other medications are :
Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors
This helps the body to break down starchy foods and table sugar and lowers blood sugar levels.
These drugs should take before meals for better results. These drugs include :
- acarbose (Precose)
- miglitol (Glyset)
Biguanides
Biguanides decreased the quantity of sugar that the liver makes. They decrease the amount of sugar absorbed by the intestines, make the body more sensitive to insulin, and help muscles to absorb glucose.
Metformin is the most common biguanide.
Metformin can also be combined with other medicines to care for type 2 diabetes. Some are :
- metformin-alogliptin (Kazano)
- metformin-canagliflozin (Invokamet)
- metformin-dapagliflozin (Xigduo XR)
- metformin-empagliflozin (Synjardy)
- metformin-glipizide
- metformin-glyburide (Glucovance)
- metformin-linagliptin (Jentadueto)
- metformin-pioglitazone (Actoplus)
- metformin-repaglinide (PrandiMet)
- metformin-rosiglitazone (Avandamet)
- metformin-saxagliptin (Kombiglyze XR)
- metformin-sitagliptin (Janumet)
Dopamine agonist
Bromocriptine is an example of a dopamine agonist. It prevents insulin resistance in the body to treat type 2 diabetes.
Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors
DPP-4 inhibitors help the body to make insulin more frequently and reduce blood sugar without causing hypoglycemia. The drugs also help the pancreas make more insulin.
These drugs include:
- alogliptin (Nesina)
- alogliptin-metformin (Kazano)
- alogliptin-pioglitazone (Oseni)
- linagliptin (Tradjenta)
- linagliptin-empagliflozin (Glyxambi)
- linagliptin-metformin (Jentadueto)
- saxagliptin (Onglyza)
- saxagliptin-metformin (Kombiglyze XR)
- sitagliptin (Januvia)
- sitagliptin-metformin (Janumet and Janumet XR)
- sitagliptin and simvastatin (Juvisync)
Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists
These drugs are very similar to the natural hormone called incretin.
They increase B-cell growth and appetite. They also decrease the quantity of glucagon used by the body. The stomach does not get empty soon.
Some of these drugs are :
- albiglutide (Tanzeum)
- dulaglutide (Trulicity)
- exenatide (Byetta)
- exenatide extended-release (Bydureon)
- liraglutide (Victoza)
- semaglutide (Ozempic)
Meglitinides
Through the use of these medications, the body release more insulin.
These drugs aren’t for everyone. They include :
- nateglinide (Starlix)
- repaglinide (Prandin)
- repaglinide-metformin (Prandimet)
The ADA recommends SGLT2 inhibitors
Some of these drugs are :
- dapagliflozin (Farxiga)
- dapagliflozin-metformin (Xigduo XR)
- canagliflozin (Invokana)
- canagliflozin-metformin (Invokamet)
- empagliflozin (Jardiance)
- empagliflozin-linagliptin (Glyxambi)
- empagliflozin-metformin (Synjardy)
- ertugliflozin (Steglatro)
Sulfonylureas
Sulfonylureas are among the oldest drugs used for diabetes. They stimulate the pancreas with the help of beta cells. They also increase insulin formation.
These drugs include :
- glimepiride (Amaryl)
- glimepiride-pioglitazone (Duetact)
- glimepiride-rosiglitazone (Avandaryl)
- gliclazide
- glipizide (Glucotrol)
- glipizide-metformin (Metaglip)
- glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase, Micronase)
- glyburide-metformin (Glucovance)
- chlorpropamide (Diabinese)
- tolazamide (Tolinase)
- tolbutamide (Orinase, Tol-Tab)
Thiazolidinediones
Thiazolidinediones work by decreasing glucose in the liver by using insulin better by fat cells. But these drugs have the risk of heart disease so not often prescribed by doctors.
Examples of these drugs are :
- rosiglitazone (Avandia)
- rosiglitazone-glimepiride (Avandaryl)
- rosiglitazone-metformin (Amaryl M)
- pioglitazone (Actos)
- pioglitazone-alogliptin (Oseni)
- pioglitazone-glimepiride (Duetact)
- pioglitazone-metformin (Actoplus Met, Actoplus Met XR)
Other drugs
Patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes need to treat conditions that are common with diabetes by taking other medications
These drugs are :
- Aspirin for heart health
- Drugs for high cholesterol
TAKEAWAYS
There are many different types of medications are used to treat both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Working of different medications are different to treat diabetes.
Ask our Specialty Care Clinic doctors about the best fit medications for you to treat diabetes. Our doctor will make recommendations based on the type of diabetes you have, your health, and other factors.
As we understand how important medication is for diabetic patients. Our experts at Specialty Care Clinics are always there to help you to maintain your blood sugar level by providing the best medications for diabetes. If any of you need medications for diabetes and consultation, connect with us at 469-545-9983.