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Different Types of Medicine for Type 2 Diabetes

The bodies of Type 2 diabetics do not make enough insulin or take in glucose correctly. There are a number of different medications for type 2 diabetics. Often, it takes a while to find the right combination of these medications (along with diet) to control the patient's sugar.

  1. Thiazolidinediones

    • Thiazolidinediones help make insulin work better within the muscles and fat. They also reduce the glucose production throughout the liver. Avandia and Actos are both thiazolidinedione drugs.

    Biguanides

    • Glucophage is a biguanide. It lowers blood glucose levels by decreasing the total glucose that is produced by the liver.

    Sulfonylureas and Meglitinides

    • Both sulfonylureas and meglitinides stimulate beta cells in the pancreas, releasing more insulin. Diabinese, Glucotrol, Micronase, Glynase, Diabeta and Amaryl are all sulfonylureas drugs. Prandin and Starlix are meglitinides.

    DPP-4 and Alpha-glucosidase Inhibitors

    • DDP-4 inhibitors help with the breakdown of GLP-1, a compound in the body, and help lower glucose levels with more stability. Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors actually lower glucose levels by acting as a block in the breakdown of starches and sugars. Januvia is a DPP-4, and Precose and Glyset are alpha-glucosidase inhibitors.

    Incretin Mimetics

    • Incretin Mimetics is a new class of drugs for Type 2 diabetics. Byetta is the first of these drugs, and is a synthetic of the hormone exendin-4, which lowers blood sugar by increasing insulin.

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