Diabetic Medications: If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, then you are probably on a specific set of medications designed to control your condition and ward off conditions that are closely related to diabetes. Doctors usually take into consideration factors such as a patient’s type of diabetes, age, other current conditions, and any other medication that they may be taking, when prescribing diabetic medication. The most common and well known of these is insulin there are several other types of diabetic medications. Although we will not be able to cover all of these, we will discuss some of the more common diabetic medications.
Pioglitazone hydrochloride or Actos, as it is more commonly known, is used primarily in patients with type 2 diabetes. Actos is used to decrease a person’s insulin resistance by improving sensitivity to insulin in the muscles and adipose tissues. Despite its benefits, Actos has been known to cause and/or increase an individual’s chances of having congestive heart failure. So, if you are on Actos, it is important that you watch out for symptoms of congestive heart failure including excessive and/or rapid weight gain, dyspnea, or edema.
Lantus is most commonly used in individuals with type 1 diabetes. While regular insulin is a natural substance, Lantus a manmade solution of insulin glargine and is taken as an injection. Unlike regular insulin it lasts longer and begins to work more slowly. Lantus lowers your blood sugar by replacing the insulin that your body does not produce, instead of helping your body use sugar productively like natural insulin. Hypoglycemia is one of the most common conditions that have been directly linked to Lantus.
Rosiglitazone maleate also known as Avandia is typically used in patients with type 2 diabetes. Avandia is used to help lower your blood sugar, by facilitating your body’s natural response to insulin. If you are showing signs of congestive heart failure it is important that you know that Avandia is not recommended for people like you. The clinical studies for Avandia are contradicting and some have even compared Avandia to a placebo.
Like the other medications mentioned, Metformin or Glucophage is used to lower blood sugar by restoring your body’s response to the insulin that you naturally produce. However, unlike the medicines mentioned above, Glucophage also decreases the amount of sugar that your liver makes and that your intestines absorb. It is important to note that the main condition to be directly linked to Glocophage is Lactic Acidosis. Yet, this is pretty rare. Side effects most commonly caused by Glucophage are diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and indigestion.
Sitagliptin also known as Januvia is commonly used with other diabetic medications, such as Glucophage, when it has not proven to be as effective as the doctor had hoped. Januvia is mainly used in patients with type 1 diabetes. People who are taking or may start taking Januvia should be cautious if they have or are showing signs of renal failure and/or hypoglycemia.
Prandin the common name for Repaglinide typically used in individuals with type 2 diabetes. Prandin assists the body by getting it to produce more insulin naturally. Hypoglycemia is one of the main conditions that have been directly linked with Prandin. However, it is important that women who are pregnant, nursing, or plan to get pregnant speak with there doctors first and take Prandin with caution.
There are many other diabetic medications. Yet, not only do these medications come with their own warnings, they may also have an effect on other medications that you may be taking. However, diabetes is a serious condition; so do not start or stop any type of diabetic medication without speaking with your doctor first.