Only people with type 2 diabetes can use pills to control their diabetes; people with type 1 diabetes must use insulin. These pills work best when used in conjunction with meal planning and exercise. This way, you have three therapies that work together to lower your blood glucose levels. Diabetes pills don't work for everyone. Metformin is the most common oral medication for type 2 diabetes.
It has been around for a long time and is very well studied. Because of this, healthcare providers often recommend trying metformin first. Everyone has different treatment goals, risk factors, and health conditions that can determine which type 2 diabetes treatments are right for them. Oral medication options include metformin, sulphonylureas, and DPP-4 inhibitors.
SGLT2 inhibitors, the oral GLP-1 agonist Rybelsus, and TZDs are some other examples. Most medications for type 2 diabetes are oral. However, insulin or injectables can also be used. Some of these medicines are combinations of more than one diabetes medication.
Providers also prescribe metformin as a first choice for gestational diabetes if medications are needed. Treatment for type 2 diabetes can focus on controlling blood sugar, taking prescription medications, working with a healthcare team, and more. However, some people can't tolerate oral diabetes medications or they don't work well enough. Rybelsus (semaglutide) is the oral version of Ozempic, a popular injectable medication for type 2 diabetes. Health care providers recommend stopping all oral medications for type 2 diabetes during pregnancy, except metformin.
There are several factors that your healthcare provider may consider when deciding which oral diabetes medication is right for you. Whatever oral medication your doctor prescribes, you should combine it with a healthier lifestyle. In this case, your healthcare provider may choose a shorter-acting sulphonylurea (such as glipizide) or prescribe a different medication. And if you take metformin with another oral diabetes medication, there's a chance they're available together in a combination pill.
While taking oral diabetes medications, you should check with your provider before you start taking anything new. However, for many people, oral diabetes medications can be a good next step if lifestyle changes alone aren't enough. The departments of Medicine and Microbiology of the UAB and the Comprehensive Diabetes Center of the UAB are part of Marnix E. Patients taking oral blood pressure medication not only needed less insulin per day two years after the first diagnosis of the disease, but they also showed evidence of surprising immunomodulatory benefits. People with gestational diabetes may also need to take oral medications (metformin) if changes in diet and exercise don't help enough to keep their blood sugar levels within the right range.
Treatment goals, health history, and risk factors may make certain medications more appropriate. than others. They will tell you if you should keep taking your medication or if you need a new prescription.
