How Type 2 Diabetes Medication Works

How Type 2 Diabetes Medication Works

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease that affects how your body turns food into energy. Insulin is a hormone that helps glucose, or sugar, get from your blood into your cells. With type 2 diabetes, your body either doesn't make enough insulin or doesn't use insulin well. This can cause your blood sugar levels to get too high.

Medication can help lower your blood sugar levels by:

* Increasing the amount of insulin your body makes

* Helping your body use insulin better

* Slowing down the breakdown of carbohydrates in your food

* Blocking the absorption of carbohydrates from your food

There are many different types of diabetes medications. The type that's best for you will depend on your individual needs. Your doctor will work with you to develop a treatment plan that's right for you.

Here are some common types of diabetes medications:

* Metformin (Glucophage): Metformin is a biguanide that helps your body use insulin better. It can also slow down the breakdown of carbohydrates in your food.

* Sulfonylureas: Sulfonylureas, such as glipizide (Glucotrol) and glyburide (DiaBeta, Glynase PresTab), cause your body to release more insulin.

* Meglitinides: Meglitinides, such as repaglinide (Prandin) and nateglinide (Starlix), also cause your body to release more insulin. They work quickly, so they're often taken just before meals.

* Thiazolidinediones: Thiazolidinediones, such as pioglitazone (Actos) and rosiglitazone (Avandia), help your body use insulin better. They can also slow down the breakdown of carbohydrates in your food.

* DPP-4 inhibitors: DPP-4 inhibitors, such as sitagliptin (Januvia), saxagliptin (Onglyza), and linagliptin (Tradjenta), help your body produce more insulin and slow down the breakdown of carbohydrates in your food.

* SGLT2 inhibitors: SGLT2 inhibitors, such as empagliflozin (Jardiance), canagliflozin (Invokana), and dapagliflozin (Farxiga), block the absorption of carbohydrates from your food. They also cause your body to produce more insulin.

* GLP-1 receptor agonists: GLP-1 receptor agonists, such as exenatide (Byetta), liraglutide (Victoza), semaglutide (Ozempic), and dulaglutide (Trulicity), mimic the effects of a hormone called glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1). GLP-1 helps control blood sugar levels by slowing down the emptying of the stomach, increasing insulin production, and decreasing the production of glucagon.

You may need to take medication to control your blood sugar levels for the rest of your life. By taking your medication as prescribed and following your doctor's recommendations, you can help manage your type 2 diabetes and keep your blood sugar levels in a healthy range.