Medications for Blood Sugar

Medications for blood sugar are taken to prevent blood sugar levels from becoming too high or too low and to control medical conditions such as diabetes. Some medications are taken orally and others are injected into the skin by hand or by a pump. Medications for blood sugar are prescribed by a doctor and require careful monitoring for effectiveness and may be more useful when used in combinations of two or more different types.

Insulin

• Insulin is a hormone produced by the body that lowers or maintains blood sugar levels. Insulin is taken as a medication if the body cannot produce enough by itself, and it is injected with a syringe or used in a pump.

Sulfonylureas

• Sulfonylureas are the most common type of medication for blood sugar, are taken orally and help the pancreas make more insulin.

Metformin

• Metformin controls blood sugar by helping the body use insulin more effectively and lowers the amount of sugar the body gets from food.

Meglitinides

• Meglitinides help the body make more insulin and is taken with food to help with the processing of sugar.

Thiazolidinediones

• Thiazolidinediones help the body use insulin more effectively and reduce the amount of sugar that the body makes from digesting food.

Alpha-glucosidase Inhibitors

• Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors slow the body's absorption of sugar from foods to lower blood sugar and are taken with every meal.

Warning

• Insulin may lower blood sugar too much and cause weight gain, which may complicate other conditions such as heart disease and diabetes.