According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), nearly eight percent of the United States' population is afflicted with diabetes mellitus. This includes both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, which have some overlap in the medications used to treat them. While there is no cure, numerous medications exist to treat and control diabetes.
Sulfonylureas
The ADA notes that the first of these medications came about in the 1950s. They work to stimulate the pancreas to release insulin. There are now two generations of sulfonylureas available to treat diabetes. Some of the more common are glipizide, glyburide and glimepiride. These drugs are generally taken by mouth once or twice a day. Due to their mechanism of action, each of these agents has the potential to cause low blood sugar. They are often used in combination with other antidiabetic medicines.
Meglitinides
The two drugs in this category also work by causing the pancreas to release insulin, but should only be given just before meals. Repaglinide and nateglinide also may cause hypoglycemia.
Metformin
This is a powerful drug taken orally, usually twice a day. It works by decreasing the amount of sugar or glucose produced in the liver and by making the muscle cells more sensitive to the effects of insulin, according to MedlinePlus. Metformin is often used in combination with other agents to treat diabetes. It is notorious for causing gastrointestinal upset, so it is often started slowly.
Thiazolidinediones
This group of drugs is often abbreviated TZDs. Pioglitazone and rosiglitazone make up this category. The ADA describes their mechanism of action as increasing the body's sensitivity to insulin and decreasing glucose output from the liver. They are taken by mouth once or twice a day. Caution must be exercised as these drugs may cause or worsen heart failure, as noted on Drugs.com.
Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors
These medications for diabetes mellitus, acarbose and miglitol, are taken orally three times a day with meals. They block the absorption of sugar from the intestine, according to MedlinePlus. Neither of these medications is particularly potent, but they do have their place.
Dipeptidyl Peptidase 4 Inhibitors
The DPP-4 inhibitors sitagliptin and saxagliptin prevent the breakdown of a substance in the body that helps to lower blood glucose levels. One advantage of these medications is that they do not cause a low blood sugar reaction.
Incretin Mimetic
The drug exenatide mimics the action of a chemical in the blood that stimulates the release of insulin, as mentioned on Drugs.com. Unfortunately, this diabetes medication requires twice daily injections.
Insulin
Insulin is a naturally occurring hormone that helps cells absorb and use glucose. Synthetic insulin preparations are injected one to four times a day. Types vary by their onset and length of action, from rapid to long-acting. Care must be taken to minimize the chances of dangerous hypoglycemia.
