Diabetes is a condition in which the body's tissues do not effectively use glucose or the pancreas does not effectively produce insulin, which control blood glucose levels. Untreated diabetes can cause serious complications that include cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, kidney damage, eye damage, foot damage, skin and mouth conditions and bone and joint problems, states MayoClinic.com. Thus, a patient with diabetes may need to take medications to ensure strict blood glucose control. A doctor may choose from different classes of diabetes medications to treat a patient.
Metformin
Metformin is a common medication used to treat type 2 diabetes mellitus. Increased insulin sensitivity and decreased insulin production by the pancreas are characteristic features of type 2 diabetes. Metformin is an oral diabetes medication designed to improve insulin resistance. Specifically, metformin decreases liver production of glucose, decreases absorption of glucose and improves insulin sensitivity in the body's cells that need glucose to function, according to Drugs.com. Furthermore, metformin does not cause hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, like other classes of diabetes medications. Side effects of metformin include GI upset in 53 percent of patients, nausea and vomiting in 25 percent of patients and excessive gas in 12 percent. In rare cases, a patient may have a serious reaction to metformin that results in lactic acidosis, or a dangerous imbalance of the body's electrolytes. A patient should seek immediate medical treatment if he or she experiences malaise, muscle pain, shortness of breath or abdominal distress.
Acarbose
Often, a doctor will prescribe acarbose, which is another pharmaceutical therapy for type 2 diabetes. Drugs.com states acarbose delays the digestion of carbohydrates that ultimately cause a rise in blood sugar levels. Specifically, acarbose affects enzymes in the digestive tract that digests carbohydrates and starches. Inhibiting these enzymes prevents the breakdown of carbohydrates and starches into glucose, which results in lower blood glucose levels. Because it does not act on other organs, it can be used in combination with other diabetes drugs. Side effects of acarbose include abdominal pain, diarrhea and flatulence in 19 percent, 31 percent and 74 percent of patients respectively.
Insulin
Insulin can be used to treat both type 1 insulin-deficient or type 2 insulin-resistant diabetes mellitus. Multiple forms of insulin are available that have varying times of onset and duration of action. For example, human insulin lispro acts quickly, but has a short duration of effect on blood glucose. On the other hand, NPH insulin takes longer to take effect, but acts for a longer duration. The major side effect of insulin is hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. This causes a patient to feel dizzy, fatigued, weak and lightheaded.
