Managing type 2 diabetes can require various changes to your lifestyle.
In addition to checking your blood sugar, you have to incorporate a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Your doctor may also prescribe medications to help you treat and manage your type 2 diabetes.
These medications and how they work can be confusing.
So, we've created the following infographic to help you understand each of your medications and how they work to improve your blood glucose levels.
One Drop's Guide to Type 2 Diabetes Treatment
Check out One Drop's Guide to Type 2 Diabetes Medications to learn:- the differences between the 9 classes of diabetes meds and how they work to lower blood glucose
- the pros and cons of the 9 different meds
There's no one set diabetes treatment plan. The way in which you combine lifestyle modifications, healthier eating habits, and diabetes meds into your life are what will ultimately lead you to better diabetes management.
Metformin is regarded as the most effective first-line of defense in type 2 diabetes treatment. But there are many other medications out there that may work just as well, if not better, for you and your situation.
Type 2 Diabetes Treatments
Examples of common medications used to treat and manage type 2 diabetes include:
- Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (AGIs), like Precose or Glyset.
- Biguanides, like metformin or Glucophage.
- Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4 inhibitors), like Januvia or Tradjenta.
- Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 receptor agonists), like Trulicity or Victoza.
- Sodium-glucose transporter (SGLT) 2 inhibitors, like Jardiance or Invokana.
- Sulfonylureas, like Glucotrol or Amaryl.
- Thiazolidinediones, like Actos or Avandia.
Depending on the person and the stage of their type 2 diabetes, some medications can be used in combination to reduce blood glucose levels, increase insulin sensitivity, or decrease absorption of carbohydrates.
If you're confused about your medications or just want to learn more about the options available to you, read on!
