Insulin resistance and sensitivity can both lead to a multitude of issues in type 2 diabetes. Keep in mind that persons with type 1 diabetes eventually stop producing any insulin. People with type 2 diabetes typically produce some insulin. However, individuals with type 2 diabetes may produce insufficient insulin, develop an insulin resistance, or a combination of both.

Basics of Type 2 Diabetes

• Insulin resistance develops throughout your body, especially in your muscle and liver.
• Insufficient insulin is produced by your pancreas to overcome this insulin resistance.
• Muscle cells are unable to properly absorb glucose, hence blood glucose remains in the blood.

Additionally, the liver improperly discharges glucose.

Diabetes Medication Classes

On the market, there are many classes of diabetes medications as well as combination medications. Others are only offered under brand names, while some are sold both generically and under brand names. Each drug class has a distinct target in the body as well as benefits and drawbacks.

• Inhibitors of alpha-glucosidase
• The Biguanides (metformin)
• DPP-4 blockers
• Meglitinides
• Sulfonylureas
• Thiazolidinidinediones (TZDs)

Selecting a Diabetes Drug

A medical practitioner needs to write the prescription for any diabetes medication. Before prescribing a certain prescription or medication combination, your diabetic care provider will inquire about your lifestyle, physical health, insurance coverage, and personal preferences.

Oral or injectable diabetic treatments won’t help everyone with type 2 diabetes. In patients with diabetes who have had the disease for less than ten years, who are adhering to a good eating regimen, and who have some insulin secretion by their pancreas, oral drugs are more likely to lower blood glucose levels. Being extremely thin can reduce the effectiveness of several medications.

Your neighborhood retail drugstore may take orders for your medicines. You might choose to order your prescription by mail. Mail order is practical and might cost less. Frequently, when you get your prescriptions by mail, the cost of a 90-day supply of the drug is lower.

Hospitalization and Diabetes Medication

You might need to switch your oral diabetes meds to insulin injections, at least temporarily, during serious infections, surgery, or hospital stays.

Advice about ordering medications

• Before beginning a new medication, purchase it from your neighborhood drugstore. You might need to alter the type or dosage, or you might decide to stop using it entirely.
• Purchase medication in little doses only after determining the right dosage for you. This is especially true if you’ve never taken the medication before.
• Purchase from the pharmacist any medications you require immediately or only temporarily. Buy your prescription medications from mail-order companies.

Ask about generic medications. Mail-order businesses frequently provide discounts by using generic medications instead of name-brand ones.

• When your prescription medications arrive, thoroughly inspect them. Make sure by calling your supplier if they appear different. For your records, get the name of the maker.
• When taking prescription medications, always abide by the directions. if the guidelines

If the directions that come with your drugs change from what you recall, call your provider and ask which ones to follow.

• Verify each item’s expiration date as soon as it is received. Make sure the item doesn’t expire in two months if you need it in six. All items with approaching expiration dates should be returned.

The risk of hypoglycemia is increased by all sulfonylurea medications and, to a lesser extent, by meglitinides, particularly if you skip meals or consume too much alcohol. Talk to your doctor about the symptoms to look out for and any safety measures you should take while taking your oral prescription. Inform your loved ones and friends of the symptoms of hypoglycemia. Together, develop a strategy for handling unforeseen lows.

Other negative effects of oral medications are possible. Tell your doctor right away if you have any changes in behavior or physical appearance after beginning a course of oral diabetic drugs. Do not immediately stop taking your prescription if you experience side effects; instead, call your doctor.

Drugs Taken Together

Your doctor will be able to advise you on which diabetic drugs you can take together without risk. Keep in mind that FDA permission for the use of multiple medications must be obtained through clinical trials. Ask your doctor if you have any questions because the list of authorized drug combinations is subject to change.

Adverse drug reactions

All of your prescription and non-prescription medications should be disclosed to your healthcare providers and pharmacist. This covers herbal and vitamin goods.

Drugs that are generally safe when used alone can interact to produce illness or problems that might be challenging to identify. Drugs may cause blood glucose levels to rise or fall. This needs to be taken into consideration in order to prevent overly high or low blood sugar levels. If a pharmacological interaction is the underlying cause of what appears to be hypoglycemia, it may be misdiagnosed and addressed.

Numerous medications affect how the body absorbs and excretes oral diabetes treatments. High or low glucose levels may be indirectly caused by certain medications.

Discuss Potential Drug Interactions

• Do you take any medications when you start to get a cold? Ill and confined to bed?
• Do you take any medications for headaches that come on suddenly?
• Do you take aspirin or medications for high blood pressure, thyroid, or cholesterol?

As a result,

After taking diabetic medication for some time, you might discover that your blood glucose levels are constantly within the normal range. That’s wonderful news!

If they regularly experience low blood glucose levels while taking the medicine, some patients might be able to take a lower dose of the drug. Ask your medical staff if they advise starting a trial of taking your medications at a lower dose.

Keep checking your blood sugar levels during this trial time, and keep in touch with your medical team.

It’s possible that diabetic medications won’t do you any good at all. They might assist, but only temporarily. Within a year, sulfonylureas stop working for 5–10% of users.

They eventually quit doing so for an additional 50% of people. The next stage in managing your diabetes is typically adding insulin or other injectable treatments if oral medications are no longer effective in lowering your blood glucose levels.