Your Guide to Type 2 Diabetes Treatments
Most Type 2 diabetics still naturally produce some insulin. However, the body reacts in different ways to insulin in Type 2 diabetics, so a variety of different ways of treating it has been developed.
Inhaled Insulin
Exubera from Pfizer burst onto the scene promising an end to insulin injections. Unfortunately the only end in sight is to Exubera itself.
As of October 18th 2007, Pfizer announced Exubera is no longer on sale due to "poor acceptance".
Drugs that boost insulin production
Sulphonylureas are the group of medications that attempt to boost the amount of insulin that the pancreas produces. Sulphonylureas are one of the oldest diabetes drugs available, first being discovered in the 1940s. By stimulating the pancreas, they reduce your blood glucose level. They will typically reach their peak level around 2 to 4 hours after absorption and their effect is not dependent on your weight or age.
For some people, Sulphonylureas do not work at all, or work, but then stop after months or years for no apparent reason. People with kidney or liver conditions should not use Sulphonylureas based medication. Side effects include Hypos (because of the glucose lower effect) and occasionally some weight gain, usually up to about 10lbs max. Women who are pregnant should only take these drugs under exceptional circumstance, under the supervision of their Doctor. Breastfeeding whilst taking these drugs is also inadvisable.
Meglitinides are another group of drugs that cause your pancreas to produces more insulin. Meglitinides differ from sulphonylureas drugs as they are shorter acting. Meglitinides are typically taken 30 minutes before a meal, they start to stimulate the pancreas and are finished quickly, so one needs to be taken with each meal. If you have irregular meal times and can remember to take them before each meal, meglitinides may offer you some advantages. Your doctor, as ever, can advise.
Drugs that suppress Glucose production
The liver will normally produce glucose as the body requires it. This is called the Haepatic glucose output. Metaformin is the oral medication that works on the liver to reduces its glucose output and hence reduce your blood glucose levels. Metaformin is the most commonly prescribed drug to treat Adult Onset diabetes. A Metaformin tablet is taken before each meal. As with other Adult Onset oral drugs, some people simply do not react to them. In the case of Metaformin, around 10% of patients see no benefit and of those that do, a further 5% will stop seeing a benefit after a year and will have to switch to a new medication.
Pregnant women and breast feeding mothers should not take Metaformin. Those with kidney conditions, heart or liver problems must seek their doctor's advice. Alcoholics should not take the medication, but should enrol on a programme to combat alcoholism, which will make Adult Onset diabetes much harder to manage.
Drugs that Slow Glucose Absorption
Another way to reduce the rate of glucose getting into your blood, is to slow the action of your intestines as they break down your food and absorb the glucose. The Acarbose group of drugs attempt to prevent your intestine from breaking down glucose. The glucose IS eventually absorbed in a lower intestine, but it is much slower, so helps keep glucose levels from peaking quickly. Acarbose drugs are taken between one and three times a day, dependent on their effects.
The main problem with Acarbose drugs is their side effects. Because the glucose absorption is moved down to a lower intestine, large amounts of wind can be produced and loose stools and diarrhoea are also fairly common. If you have any sort of irritably bowel, colitis or other related problems, Acarbose drugs are probably not for you. Pregnant or breastfeeding mothers or those with liver of kidney disease should not take Acarbose.
Drugs that Reverse Insulin Resistance
Thiazolidinediones drugs change the way muscle and fat cells react to insulin, in order to reverse this insulin resistance. Only minute quantities of the drug (between 2 and 15mg) are required to be taken either once or twice a day.
Thiazolidinediones take between 2 and 3 months to take full effect in the body, so they should normally be given in conjunction with another medication. Thiazolidinediones are a fairly new drug, so the failure rates are not as well established, but initial results look very promising, with only a few patients seeing no benefit or seeing a failure after a period of taking the drug.
Thiazolidinediones can cause some weight gain, of around the same amount as Sulphonylureas, normally 10lbs max, dependent on your body weight. Weight gains level off after a few months. Thiazolidinediones have also been shown to increase fertility in women whose normal fertility has been reduced by insulin resistance.
Vinegar
If you want to try an alternative to the treatments offered by the pharmaceutical industry, or supplement there use, look in your kitchen cupboard! More information can be found here.
Recommended Supplier
Diabetic Supplies from DiabetesStore.com
DiabetesStore.Com is a leading online retailer of all types of diabetes-related products at the lowest prices you'll find anywhere.
More Resources
[ www.jdrf.org ]
[ www.diabetes.ca/type2 ]
[ www.mayoclinic.com ]
[ www.diabetes.org/type2
]
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