Diabetes is a condition in which patients have chronically elevated blood sugar. Diabetes is caused by problems with insulin, which is a hormone produced by the pancreas in response to carbohydrates. Insulin causes the liver, muscle and fat cells to pull sugar out of the blood. Diabetes can be controlled through the use of medications.
Diabetes Types
There are two main kinds of diabetes and each type is treated somewhat differently, according to Medline. Patients with Type 1 diabetes have a pancreas which is unable to produce insulin, which means that they need synthetic insulin. Patients with Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, still produce insulin. They may produce too little or their body may be resistant to the effects of insulin. Patients with Type 2 diabetes have more options for treating their condition.
Insulin Injections
Insulin is a peptide hormone, which means that it cannot be ingested because the digestive system would break it down. As a result, insulin is usually administered via injection, the Journal of the American Medical Association explains. Insulin is the primary treatment for Type 1 diabetes and it can also be used for patients with Type 2 diabetes. Insulin can be injected using a syringe, a special "insulin pump" or via a pen that injects the insulin using pressurized air.
Oral Medications
Type 2 diabetes can also be treated with oral medications. Patients with Type 2 diabetes often take metformin and/or sulfonylureas, according to Medline. Metformin reduces blood sugar by sensitizing the body to the effects of insulin. Sulfonylureas, such as glyburide, work by increasing the amount of insulin that the pancreas releases. These two medications can be very effective at treating Type 2 diabetes. Other options include thiozolinedones, which also sensitize the body to insulin.
Side Effects
There are a variety of side effects that diabetes medications can cause, according to Life Clinic. Many oral medications can cause irritation of the digestive tract, leading to indigestion, diarrhea and gas. Insulin and other diabetes medications can cause hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, which can cause confusion and unconsciousness if the blood sugar levels get too low.
Monitoring
Patients who are taking medications for diabetes need to regularly check their blood glucose levels to ensure that they have adequate control of the amount of sugar in their blood. One way of doing this is through home monitoring of blood glucose levels. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Disorders notes that patients should aim for levels between 70 and 130 mg of glucose per deciliter of blood before meals, and less than 180 mg of glucose per deciliter of blood after meals. Hemoglobin A1c is another lab test that reflects the average blood glucose level of the patient for the previous three months. The NIDDKD explains that, ideally, patients will have A1c levels under 7 percent.
