Diabetes affects your body's ability to process glucose, the main source of fuel for your body. There are three types of diabetes: type 1, usually diagnosed in childhood; type 2, also called non insulin-dependent diabetes; and gestational diabetes, occurring during pregnancy. Treatment for all types of diabetes includes consuming a healthy diet, healthy weight maintenance, increased exercise and often, medication.
Insulin
The most common diabetes medication, insulin, is prescribed to many people with diabetes. A diabetic's body may not use insulin properly or many not produce enough insulin. Insulin must move directly into the bloodstream, therefore it is injected rather than taken as a pill. In the United States, more than 20 different types of insulin are sold.
Diabetes Pills
Some individuals with type 2 diabetes may use pills to help control their diabetes by lowering their blood glucose levels. Blood glucose pills work best for people who have had diabetes for less than 10 years and who take less than 20 units of daily insulin. Pills often work at first, but may become less effective or ineffective over time; doctors do not know why this happens.
Exenatide
Exenatide, an injectable drug with the brand name Byetta, treats type 2 diabetes by lowering blood glucose levels while increasing insulin secretion. This medication falls within a new class of drugs for treating type 2 diabetes called incretin mimetics. The primary side effect of Exenatide is nausea, which generally subsides over time.
Pramlintide
Another injectable medication, pramlintide, brand name Symlin, lowers blood glucose levels in some type 1 and type 2 diabetics. This medicaion is a synthetic form of amlyin, one of the hormones that works with insulin to maintain normal blood glucose levels. Nausea, the primary side effect, tends to diminsh over time.
Aspirin
Some people with diabetes benefit from taking a low-dose, daily aspirin. Doctors may recommend aspirin for a diabetic who is at risk of heart disease or who has suffered a stroke or heart attack.
