Blood sugar refers to the amount of glucose currently circulating in your bloodstream. Glucose is the form of sugar your body uses for energy. Typically, problems develop when blood sugar becomes too high or too low. Sugary snacks or medical glucose administration can treat low blood sugar levels. High glucose levels in the blood are usually treated with a variety of medications. These medications help control blood sugar levels and are essential in the treatment of chronic hyperglycemia and diabetes.
Insulin
Insulin is a common medication used to control blood sugar levels. Patients with either type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus use insulin to treat their disease. In normal cases, the body makes enough insulin hormone to control blood glucose levels, but in diabetes patients there is not enough insulin to meet the body's needs. This lack of functioning insulin leads to an elevation of blood sugar levels. An injection of insulin provides the body with the insulin it needs to use the glucose in the blood.
Sulfonylureas
Sulfonylureas, such as medications like glipizide and glyburide, are oral drugs that can increase the body's insulin production. Sulfonylureas can be safely combined with other diabetes medications and work quickly. However, sulfonylureas can cause low blood sugar, nausea and weight gain.
Meglitinides
Meglitnides also help control blood sugar. This group of drugs, which includes nateglinide and reapglinide, helps the body produce more insulin. With meglitinides, the pancreas is able to produce much more insulin in response to increased levels of glucose in the blood. This process helps lower blood sugar levels.
Metformin
Sometimes diabetes reduces the effectiveness of any insulin the body produces. Metformin is a drug that can reverse this effect and increase the potency of any insulin in the body. Unlike most diabetes medications, metformin does not cause weight gain and can improve cholesterol levels. However, this drug can cause side effects such as nausea and diarrhea.
Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors
After eating, the body takes the sugars ingested and absorbs them into the bloodstream. In healthy patients this causes only a transient elevation in blood sugar. In some cases, the glucose in the blood stays elevated for a long period of time. To reduce the high blood sugar levels seen after a meal, a physician may prescribe alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, such as acarbose. This type of medication decreases the body's ability to absorb carbohydrates and therefore decreases the amount of sugar in the bloodstream.
