Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong disease characterized by high blood sugar levels due to the inability of the body to utilize available insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas to help decrease blood sugar levels. Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in the fats in the blood. The body needs cholesterol to help build healthy cells, but high cholesterol can increase the risk of heart disease.
Type 2 Diabetes and Oral Medications
Type 2 diabetes is mainly treated using oral medications such as glucophage, acarbose, repaglinide, glyburide and rosiglitazone, according to MayoClinic.com. Glucophage lowers blood sugar levels by helping muscle and fat cells absorb more glucose. Arcabose decreases the absorption of carbohydrates, which lowers blood glucose levels. Repaglinide triggers the pancreas to make more insulin. Rosiglitazone helps muscle and fat cells absorb more glucose from the bloodstream. Some people with Type 2 diabetes may no longer require insulin if they lose weight and exercise.
Type 2 Diabetes and Insulin
Some with Type 2 diabetes with poor blood sugar control require insulin. Insulin injections or insulin pumps may be used. Types of insulin include rapid-acting lispro, regular insulin, intermediate-acting NPH and long-acting glargine. Insulin is administered as a subcutaneous injection in the stomach, arm or thigh. An insulin pump is a device the diabetic wears on the outside of the body that is programmed to deliver specific amounts of insulin. Insulin use may cause symptoms of low blood sugar levels. Patients should monitor hypoglycemia symptoms such as sweating, headache and blurred vision.
High Cholesterol and Statins
High cholesterol is mainly treated using drugs called statins, according to MayoClinic.com. Statins lower cholesterol by blocking a substance in the liver needed to make cholesterol. Statins also help reabsorb cholesterol from built-up deposits in blood vessels. Examples of statins include lovastatin, atorvastatin, fluvastatin, simvastatin and pravastatin. Common effects of statins include constipation, abdominal cramps and pain. Adverse effects of statins include muscle pain and liver damage.
Other Drugs to Treat High Cholesterol
High cholesterol is also treated using niacin, bile acid sequestrants and fibrates, according to MayoClinic.com. Niacin is a B vitamin that helps decrease triglycerides by preventing the liver from producing cholesterol. Prescription Niacin is preferred for treating high cholesterol because it causes fewer side effects. Bile acid sequestrants drugs lower high cholesterol by binding to bile acids, which prompts the liver to use excess cholesterol to make more bile acids, thereby lowering high cholesterol. Fibrates lower high cholesterol by preventing the liver from making low-density lipoprotein cholesterol.
