Sometimes people with type 2 diabetes are able to bring their
blood-glucose levels under control through a combination of weight
loss, diet, and exercise. However, many people with diabetes take
medication to manage their condition. For some, a single medication is
effective. In other cases, a combination of medications works better.
There are many medications available to treat type 2 diabetes. Your
diabetes-care team can help you understand the differences among the
medications on this long list and will explain how you take them, what
they do, and what side effects they may cause. Your doctor will discuss
your specific situation and your options for adding one or more
medications to your treatment.
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Types of Medication
The various type 2 diabetes medicines work in different ways to lower
blood glucose. Here’s an overview of the types of medications now
available and how they work. Note that these types of drugs have many
different names depending on what company manufactures them. In
addition, ongoing research is being done to find new and effective
medications for type 2 diabetes.
The most commonly prescribed medication for type 2 diabetes is metformin,
the product name for a family of drugs called the biguanides. Metformin
works by decreasing the amount of sugar your liver releases and by
helping your body use its own available insulin more efficiently. It is
prescribed frequently because it has been found to help prevent many of
the long-term complications of diabetes.
Here are the other types of drugs your doctor may choose to prescribe to treat your type 2 diabetes:
Alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, which slows the
absorption of carbohydrates into the blood after meals. While it doesn't
cause weight gain, side effects may include stomach pain, gas, and
diarrhea.
Biguanides decrease the release of glucose from the
liver and helps improve sensitivity to insulin. While this type of drug
may promote modest weight loss and modest decline in "bad" cholesterol,
side effects may include nausea, diarrhea, and (rarely) the harmful
buildup of lactic acid.
DPP-4 inhibitor stimulates the release of insulin
and inhibits the release of glucose from the liver. Known side effects
include upper respiratory tract infections, sore throat, headache, and
inflammation of the pancreas.
Meglitinide works quickly to stimulate the release
of insulin. Possible side effects include severe low blood sugar, weight
gain, nausea, back pain, and headache.
Sulfonylurea stimulates the release of insulin from
the pancreas. While the medication does work quickly, it may cause
severe low blood sugar, weight gain, nausea, and skin rashes.
TZD, or Thiazolidinedione, helps improve the body’s
sensitivity to insulin and may slightly increase "good" cholesterol
levels. Side effects may include heart failure, heart attack, stroke,
and liver disease.
Injectible medications include:
Amylin mimetic, which stimulates the release of
insulin and is used along with insulin injections, may help suppress
hunger and promote weight loss. It may also cause low blood sugar,
nausea or vomiting, headache, and redness and irritation at the
injection site.
Incretin mimetic stimulates the release of insulin
and is used with biguanides and sulfonylureas. The drug may suppress
hunger and promote modest weight loss, but could cause nausea, vomiting,
headache, dizziness, and kidney damage or failure. (Source: Joslin Diabetes Center)
Although lifestyle changes are essential for people with type 2
diabetes, your doctor may prescribe one or more medications as well.
Getty Images
Sometimes people with type 2 diabetes are able to bring their
blood-glucose levels under control through a combination of weight
loss, diet, and exercise. However, many people with diabetes take
medication to manage their condition. For some, a single medication is
effective. In other cases, a combination of medications works better.
There are many medications available to treat type 2 diabetes. Your
diabetes-care team can help you understand the differences among the
medications on this long list and will explain how you take them, what
they do, and what side effects they may cause. Your doctor will discuss
your specific situation and your options for adding one or more
medications to your treatment.
Types of Medication
The various type 2 diabetes medicines work in different ways to lower
blood glucose. Here’s an overview of the types of medications now
available and how they work. Note that these types of drugs have many
different names depending on what company manufactures them. In
addition, ongoing research is being done to find new and effective
medications for type 2 diabetes.
The most commonly prescribed medication for type 2 diabetes is metformin,
the product name for a family of drugs called the biguanides. Metformin
works by decreasing the amount of sugar your liver releases and by
helping your body use its own available insulin more efficiently. It is
prescribed frequently because it has been found to help prevent many of
the long-term complications of diabetes.
Here are the other types of drugs your doctor may choose to prescribe to treat your type 2 diabetes:
Alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, which slows the
absorption of carbohydrates into the blood after meals. While it doesn't
cause weight gain, side effects may include stomach pain, gas, and
diarrhea.
Biguanides decrease the release of glucose from the
liver and helps improve sensitivity to insulin. While this type of drug
may promote modest weight loss and modest decline in "bad" cholesterol,
side effects may include nausea, diarrhea, and (rarely) the harmful
buildup of lactic acid.
DPP-4 inhibitor stimulates the release of insulin
and inhibits the release of glucose from the liver. Known side effects
include upper respiratory tract infections, sore throat, headache, and
inflammation of the pancreas.
Meglitinide works quickly to stimulate the release
of insulin. Possible side effects include severe low blood sugar, weight
gain, nausea, back pain, and headache.
Sulfonylurea stimulates the release of insulin from
the pancreas. While the medication does work quickly, it may cause
severe low blood sugar, weight gain, nausea, and skin rashes.
TZD, or Thiazolidinedione, helps improve the body’s
sensitivity to insulin and may slightly increase "good" cholesterol
levels. Side effects may include heart failure, heart attack, stroke,
and liver disease.
Injectible medications include:
Amylin mimetic, which stimulates the release of
insulin and is used along with insulin injections, may help suppress
hunger and promote weight loss. It may also cause low blood sugar,
nausea or vomiting, headache, and redness and irritation at the
injection site.
Incretin mimetic stimulates the release of insulin
and is used with biguanides and sulfonylureas. The drug may suppress
hunger and promote modest weight loss, but could cause nausea, vomiting,
headache, dizziness, and kidney damage or failure. (Source: Joslin Diabetes Center)
Some of the medications above are available in combination form.
Combination medications can be highly effective and may make it easier
to stick to your diabetes treatment plan. If you experience side effects
though, it can be tougher to figure out which medication is to blame.
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