Your doctor will prescribe you a diabetes tablet if you are unable to maintain blood glucose within a healthy range through diet and exercise three months after diagnosis. There are a variety of pills of varying dosages manufactured by different pharmaceutical companies. The goal of all diabetes tablets is to reduce blood glucose levels to normal, achieving this several different ways. Most either interact with the pancreas or liver.
Diabetes Tablet Interactions – Pancreas & Liver
Sulphonylureas are marketed as Daonil, Euglucon, Glimel, Diamicron, Glyade, Minidiab, Melizide, Rastinon, and Amaryl. All of these function the same way, causing the pancreas to release more insulin as well as making the insulin more effective. Sulphonylureas should be taken once a day half an hour before a meal, though potential hypoglycemia may necessitate the pill to be taken with or immediately after a meal. Care should be taken if you use aspirin or warfarin when using a sulphonylureas as unwanted interactions may occur. Meglitinides also affect the pancreas, causing it to release more insulin. Unlike sulphonylureas, meglitinides only last for four hours. Marketed as NovoNorm, Prandin, and Starlix, meglitinides should only be taken with a meal, as a possible side effect is hypoglycemia.
Biguanide (metformin) delays the absorption of glucose from the bowels, increases insulin sensitivity, and affects the liver by reducing the amount of glucose it releases. The trade names of metformin are Diaformin, Diabex, Glucophage, Glucohexal, and Glucomet. One of the first drugs often prescribed to patients by their doctors, dosage is usually small and gradually increased to reduce digestive side effects. Rare side effects include a metallic taste in the mouth and lactic acidosis.
Acarbose, Glucobay, alters the absorption of glucose from the small intestine and is often used with another drug. Glucobay is taken with the first bite of food and has minimal side effects. A rare but severe side effect of acarbose is liver failure. Thiazolidinidiones are marketed as Actos (piologlitizone) and Avandia (rosiglitizone) and function by reversing insulin resistance in cells, making insulin more effective, and reducing the amount of glucose released by the liver.
Selecting a Diabetes Tablet
Type 2 diabetes is caused by insulin dysfunction, either in the form of insulin resistance or insulin deficiency, making certain drugs more appropriate than others. For those with insulin deficiency Daonil, Glimel, Euglcon, Amaryl, and Starlix, among others, may be the best tablets while insulin resistance may respond better to Diaformin, Actos, Diabex, Glucophage, Avandia, Glucomet, or Glucohexal. For certain individuals a combination of these drugs may be necessary as well as the introduction of insulin therapy. Notify your doctor before starting or discontinuing a diabetes tablet.
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