According to the American Diabetes Association, type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes, affecting millions of Americans. Insulin is a hormone that signals the body to metabolize glucose into energy. People with type 2 diabetes do not respond normally to insulin, and the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to keep up with the high demand. Without treatment, these people develop high blood glucose levels, which causes damage to multiple organ systems. The goal of medication for type 2 diabetes is to lower the patient's blood sugar.
Sulfonylureas
Sulfonylureas are medications that signal the pancreas to produce more insulin. The medication include the drugs glipizide and glyburide. According to the Mayo Clinic these are some of the oldest and most effective drugs for lowering blood glucose in people with type 2 diabetes.
Meglitinides
Meglitinides are short-acting drugs that also signal the pancreas to increase insulin production. According to Drugs.com, this class of drugs includes the drugs repaglinide and nateglinide. The efficacy of meglitinides in lowering blood glucose is lower than that of sulfonylureas.
Biguanides
Biguanides, which include the popular drug Metformin, were originally used to fight malaria. Unlike some other classes of diabetes medications, biguanides lower blood sugar levels without increasing insulin production. That aspect makes them safer, as they do not cause dangerously low glucose levels.
Biguanides can cause kidney damage, and people with kidney abnormalities are more likely to benefit from other medications for type 2 diabetes, according to the Massachusetts General Hospital Handbook of Internal Medicine.
Glitazones
Glitazones are a fairly new class of drugs for type 2 diabetes. They act on the cells that are resistant to insulin to lower their insulin resistance. The glitazones include the drugs rosiglitazone and pioglitazone.
Glitazones offer the best efficacy when combined with other drugs such as insulin or Metformin. According to the Massachusetts Handbook of Internal Medicine, glitazones have dangerous side effects, including liver toxicity, weight gain and swelling.
References
- American Diabetes Association: Diabetes Basics
- Drugs.com: Meglitinides
- Mayo Clinic: Type 2 Diabetes
- "Massachusetts General Hospital Handbook of Internal Medicine"; Marc Sabatine; 2004
