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5 Things You Need to Know About
Diabetes Pills
People with diabetes suffer from too
much sugar (glucose) in their blood, a condition caused by
problems in insulin production due to any of the following: the
pancreas produce too little insulin, produce it too late, or the
cells develop a resistance to insulin. Either way, the result is the
same: a dangerous imbalance in blood sugar levels that could be
fatal to the person affected.
The most common form of diabetes
(diabetes milletus) is Type 2 diabetes or non-insulin dependent
diabetes milletus (NIDDM). It often affects people around the age of
40-50 with a family history of diabetes and overweight or leading a
sedentary lifestyle. The disease can lead to several complications,
including heart disease, kidney problems, blindness, and stroke.
Even as insight into diabetes
mellitus grows deeper with countless research and double blind
studies conducted, scientists have yet to find a cure for the
disease, so the best chance that a patient has is on prevention and
what treatment methods are available. For some, constant insulin
injections are required in order to avoid any fatal consequences due
to extremely unstable blood sugar levels. This could make living
with diabetes a very difficult and trying time that does not help
ease the patient’s suffering.
But fortunately, Type 2 diabetes, the
most common form of diabetes as mentioned, is easily treated with
oral medications or diabetes pills, often without need of insulin
shots. Combine that with proper diet and regular exercise and
doctors agree that this is the best form of prevention for diabetes.
But what are diabetes pills? And what
do you need to know about them?
Here’s what:
1. When do you need them? When do
you NOT need them?
Diabetes pills are the first line of
treatment that people diagnosed with diabetes have. However, these
medications are only prescribed if you have Type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 almost always requires insulin
while diabetes medications are generally discouraged in Type 3
patients, who are usually women during pregnancy.
The pills are often prescribed by
doctors along with a healthy eating plan and a physical activity
program. There is no single “best” treatment for Type 2 diabetes but
a recent study by the American Diabetes Association shows that
diabetes medications combined with diet and exercise can increase
your chances of battling the pre-diabetes, a precursor of the
full-fledged Type 2 diabetes.
Furthermore, a combination of more
than one pill might prove to be an effective treatment as some of
the drugs are specifically formulated to target one aspect of the
disease while neglecting the rest.
However, it is best if you consult
your doctor about treatment combinations rather than take your own
initiative. Some drugs may react with the other pills or some other
medication you are taking.
2. How do you know if it’s
working?
Just as there is no one way to treat
diabetes, there is also no way one way of testing whether your
diabetes pills are doing. The closest your are going to get to
testing the effectiveness of drugs is by constant monitoring of
blood glucose.
You can do this either by self
monitoring blood glucose (SMBG) or by urine testing, depending on
what your doctor recommends.
For SMBG, you may be required to test
at various times of the day (usually one to four times), using the
following equipment:
Some SMBG test kits include optional
equipment composed of a computer and software that allows you to
analyze results which are then stored for reference in the future.
3. What specific type of diabetes
pills are you taking?
The Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) has divided diabetes pills into six categories, to wit (along
with their generic names):
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Sulfonylureas – acetohexamide,
chlorpropamide, glimepiride, glipizide, glyburide, tolazamide,
tolbutamide
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Meglitinides - repaglinide
-
Biguanides – combination drug (Glucovance),
metformin HCI
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Thiazoliddinediones –
pioglitazone HCI, rosiglitazone maleate
For a detailed comparison chart about
all six categories, visit the Consumer Information page of the FDA
website.
4. How do these drugs work?
Each of the six categories of
diabetes pills work differently from the other, which is precisely
why a combination therapy can be the best choice you have. But
before you do anything drastic, know first what each of these drugs
do and discuss with your doctor how best to approach treatment of
the disease.
A diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes means
that your pancreas does not produce enough insulin. The function of
sulfonylureas is to stimulate insulin production so that glucose may
enter the cells and be utilized as energy for the body, resulting in
lowered glucose levels in the blood.
Some potential side effects of this
drug are: constipation, heartburn, low blood glucose (only if the
dose of pills is too high), nausea, skin rash or itching, upset
stomach, and weight gain. But not everyone who takes sulfonylureas
will experience these side effects.
These drugs work by: decreasing
production of glucose in the liver, decreasing absorption of glucose
in the small intestine, and improving your ability to use insulin by
improving insulin sensitivity of cells.
One of the many reasons why blood
glucose levels in the body is abnormally high in the body of a
diabetic is that the cells do not respond to the insulin produced by
the pancreas. Therefore, even though your insulin production is
normal, because of your cell’s insensitivity to the hormone, it
results to the same thing: high blood sugar levels.
By improving your body’s response to
insulin, biguanides can help lower sugar levels in the bloodstream.
Some potential side effects include:
diarrhea, stomach upset, metallic taste in mouth, diminished
appetite, weakness, tiredness, dizziness, and irregular heartbeat.
If you experience any of these, consult your doctor immediately.
-
Alpha-Glucosidase
Inhibitors
Alpha-glucosidase is the main
digestive enzyme that breaks down starch into glucose. So when you
eat or right after, your blood glucose levels are usually high
because of the action of this particular enzyme.
The function of alpha-glucosidase
inhibitors is to stop alpha-glucosidase from breaking down starch
right away, allowing for a much slower breakdown of food and lower
rise of sugar in your blood throughout the day.
Potential side effects of this drug
include: abdominal pain, bloating, diarrhea, gas, and skin rash.
Persons with a history of stomach or bowel problems are not advised
to use this particular drug.
Thiazolidinediones works in two ways:
increasing the sensitivity of insulin receptors found in cell
membranes and decreasing the production of glucose in the liver.
This results in better response to insulin, allowing the glucose to
enter the cells for energy use, which would in turn lead to lowered
glucose levels in the blood.
Taking thiazolidinediones may result
in the following side effects: jaundice or the yellow discoloration
of the skin and eyes, headache, anemia, loss of appetite, diarrhea,
nausea and vomiting, weight gain, stomach pain, edema (swelling of
legs, ankles, and feet), cough, fatigue, and dark colored urine.
Meglitinides is recommended taken
after meals. The drug works quickly, allowing for flexibility, which
makes it ideal also for people who do not follow a regular meal
schedule.
The function of this drug is to
increase the production of insulin in the pancreas. This will help
glucose move from the bloodstream into the cells so that it may be
used for energy production of the body.
The potential side effects of
meglitinides include: body aches, constipation, weight gain,
hypoglycemia (or low blood glucose, as a result of too high a
dosage), and diarrhea. If you experience any of these effects while
taking meglitinides, talk with your doctor.
5. What are package inserts?
Package inserts or labels are
documents that are often included in several types of diabetes
pills. The FDA often includes them with the medications to serve as
guides for healthcare providers. However, since these package
inserts contain detailed information about the drug you are taking,
including drug interactions, potential side effects, and general
effects, you might also want to read them to familiarize yourself.
It is the manufacturer who makes the
package inserts and FDA only approves it. The FDA website has copies
of package inserts of several diabetes pills in downloadable PDF
format.
Now, that you know the five salient
facts about diabetes pills, you have a better foothold in the fight
against this disease that medical practitioners call ‘the silent
killer.’ Again, it is always best to speak with your doctor about
your treatment options before trying any combination therapy of two
or three of these drugs. And if you are taking other prescription or
over the counter drugs, inform your doctor to avoid any unpleasant
drug interactions.
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