People with type 2 diabetes should constantly monitor their blood glucose levels. Only at normal rates can a normal life be led. If the blood sugar rises, the doctor may prescribe a special drug to normalize the patient's condition. Most medicines in this group are made in tablets. All drugs (hypoglycemic) are divided into sulfonylureas, prandial glycemic regulators, biguanides, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, as well as insulin sensitizers. In pharmacies, you can also find combined remedies.
Sulfonylureas
Drug treatment began to be prescribed to patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in the early 60s of the last century. Today sulfonylurea derivatives are very popular. The medications of the first and second generation are divided. The former are rarely used in modern practice. Sugar-lowering drugs from this group are prescribed for patients with large body weight if non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is observed. The lack of compensation for carbohydrate metabolism is a direct indication for the appointment of sulfonylurea derivatives.
A new generation of hypoglycemic agents based on sulfonylurea cannot be used as an independent treatment. Medications only supplement therapy. The main role is played by diet. If the patient will consume prohibited foods and take pills that lower blood sugar, you should not expect a good result.
Note! Sugar-lowering drugs are not prescribed for patients suffering from insulin-dependent, as well as pancreatic diabetes. You can not use medicines from this group for children, as well as pregnant and lactating women.
Glipizide
The drug belongs to the second generation sulfonylurea derivatives. The tool stimulates the release of insulin from functionally active pancreatic beta cells, and also controls the amount of glucose in cells in patients with moderate and severe forms of non-insulin-dependent diabetes. The drug is sold in pharmacies in the form of tablets, each of which contains 0.005 g of the active substance. The drug "Glipizide" begins to act 30 minutes after administration, and after 24 hours it is completely removed from the body.
The dosage of the medication is set by the doctor individually. Any hypoglycemic drugs are prescribed only after a series of tests. The doctor should establish a complete clinical picture. The initial daily dose should not exceed 0.005 g (one tablet). In the most difficult cases, the patient can take 2-3 tablets at a time. The maximum daily dose should not exceed 0.045 g. Tablets are taken 30 minutes before meals. When switching from insulin, the level of glycemia must be controlled for the first few days.
Side effects when using the drug "Glipizid" are practically absent. In rare cases, weakness and dizziness may occur. Such a nuisance is easily eliminated through dosage adjustment. Most often, side effects occur in elderly patients. New generation sugar-lowering drugs are aimed at improving the well-being of patients with diabetes. Any unpleasant reactions disappear a few days after the start of therapy. Contraindication to taking the drug “Glipizid” is pregnancy, as well as individual intolerance to sulfonamides. Children are also not prescribed medication.
Glycvidon
Another sugar-lowering drug that relates to sulfonylurea derivatives. Like the previous tool, it stimulates the production of insulin in the beta cells of the pancreas, and also increases the sensitivity to peripheral tissue insulin. Means "Glykvidon" is characterized by a good and lasting effect. Many drugs (hypoglycemic) cause hyperinsulinemia. What can not be said about the drug "Glycidon."
The drug is offered in pharmacies in the
form of tablets. It is prescribed for patients with type 2 diabetes, as well as elderly patients in whom diet therapy did not give a good result. Dosage is determined based on the individual characteristics of a person, as well as his clinical picture. The minimum daily dose is 15 mg, the maximum is 120 mg. Tablets are taken immediately before meals. In mild forms of diabetes, one tablet per day is sufficient. Less often, the drug is taken 2-3 times a day.
Side effects from taking "Glycvidon" funds exist, but all of them are reversible. At the initial stage of treatment, patients may experience itchy skin and dizziness. Unpleasant symptoms disappear the very next day after the start of therapy. The drug is canceled only in the event of a serious allergic reaction. Individual intolerance occurs quite rarely. Sugar-lowering drugs from this series are not prescribed for patients with type 1 diabetes. During the treatment period, one must not forget to control the level of sugar in the blood. If the indicators exceed the norm, you should consult a doctor who will change the treatment regimen.
When are sulfonylureas not prescribed?
A precomatous state, as well as a diabetic coma, is a serious contraindication to the prescription of sulfonylurea medications. Oral hypoglycemic drugs from this series are also not used during pregnancy and lactation, regardless of what result was achieved earlier.
A major threat to the body of a person suffering from type 2 diabetes is any surgical intervention. To strengthen the protective forces of the patient, sulfonylurea derivatives are also temporarily canceled. This principle is followed for infectious diseases. The main emphasis is on the treatment of the disease in the acute stage. As soon as the patient's health returns to normal, new sugar-lowering drugs can be prescribed. If there are no contraindications to the use of sulfonylurea derivatives , you can start taking medicines from this series.
Prandial Glycemic Regulators
There have been many studies of amino acids, during which their role in the secretion of insulin has been proven. It was found that analogues of benzoic acid and phenylalanine have a hypoglycemic effect. Prandial glycemic regulators are able to control insulin secretion immediately after eating. But it is precisely at this stage that the level of glycemia rises sharply. New sugar-lowering drugs have a short-term effect. Therefore, they are taken only during or after a meal. Use a medication for prevention is impractical.
Despite the fact that the classification of sugar-lowering drugs includes prandial glycemic regulators, they are not used very often. Medicines from this series produce a short-term effect, therefore, they cannot be prescribed in the complex treatment of type 2 diabetes.
Novonorm
Oral hypoglycemic drug, which is offered in pharmacies in the form of tablets. The drug is prescribed when diet therapy and physical activity do not give the proper result. Patients with type 2 diabetes most often take Novanorm in combination with other hypoglycemic agents. Thus, patients are given the opportunity to more closely control the level of glycemia.
It is advisable to use Novanorm tablets in combination with diet therapy. The drug is taken orally before meals three times a day. In rare cases, the dosage may be increased. Patients who are prone to snacking or skipping meals should consult a doctor about the correctness of taking Novanorm tablets.
As already mentioned, sugar-lowering drugs for diabetes are not always prescribed. Some manage to control their blood glucose levels only with a diet. Novanorm tablets can be used when glycemic control is temporarily lost. Side effects from taking the drug rarely occur and are temporary. The patient may feel nausea and abdominal pain. Unpleasant sensations quickly pass. The drug is canceled only in case of individual intolerance. “Novanorm” tablets are contraindicated for children, women during pregnancy and lactation, and patients with severe hepatic impairment.
Biguanides
Classification of hypoglycemic drugs necessarily includes agents belonging to the biguanide group. The drugs in this series are not responsible for stimulating insulin secretion. Despite this, biguanides play an important role in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, as they increase the peripheral utilization of glucose by body tissues. Liver production of these products is significantly reduced. Biguanides can significantly lower blood glucose. In some cases, it is generally possible to achieve normal performance. The main contraindication to the use of this kind of medication is a precomatose state in patients with diabetes. 3-generation sugar-lowering drugs are prescribed with caution to patients with a tendency to alcohol, as well as impaired liver function.
Metformin
Oral hypoglycemic drug belonging to the biguanide group. The drug is offered in pharmacies in the form of tablets. The main active ingredient stops the absorption of glucose in the intestine, and also perfectly enhances the utilization of glucose in peripheral tissues. Metformin tablets do not cause hypoglycemic reactions. The drug is prescribed for patients with type 2 diabetes who are not prone to ketoacidosis. Tablets can also be prescribed in combination with insulin for obese patients.
Depending on the level of glucose in the blood, the doctor individually sets the dosage of the medication. You can start treatment with taking one tablet per day (500 mg). A gradual increase in dose can begin only after two weeks of continuous treatment. The maximum daily dosage should not exceed 6 tablets. Patients older than 70 years should not take more than 2 tablets per day.
Sugar-lowering tablets are contraindicated in people with impaired renal function. If a disease occurs that can lead to a decrease in kidney function, Metformin tablets are temporarily canceled. You can not take them also in the period of adaptation after surgery. A serious contraindication is acute alcohol poisoning.
Alpha Glucosidase Inhibitors
This is a group of drugs that can block the production of a special intestinal enzyme (alpha-glucosidase). Thanks to preparations from this series, the absorption of essential carbohydrates, such as starch, sucrose and maltose, is significantly reduced. In the case of proper administration, modern sugar-lowering drugs of this group have absolutely no side effects. Absolutely no discomfort in the intestines and abdominal pain.
Alpha glucosidase inhibitors should be taken with the first sip of food. Digested with food, the constituent drugs provide a good hypoglycemic effect. Medicines from this series can be taken in conjunction with sulfonylurea-based agents or insulin. In this case, the risk of hypoglycemia increases.
Miglitol
A hypoglycemic agent belonging to the group of alpha-glucoseidase inhibitors. It is prescribed to patients with an average degree of diabetes of the second type if adequate physical activity and diet do not give the desired result. Miglitol tablets are most effective when used on an empty stomach. In rare cases, other oral hypoglycemic drugs are additionally prescribed. The classification of blood glucose control agents was presented above.
The main components of the drug "Miglitol" are completely absorbed into the tissue, provided that small doses are taken (1-2 tablets). At a dosage of 50 g, the absorption is 90%. The active substance is excreted by the kidneys unchanged. A sugar-lowering drug is not prescribed for children, as well as for pregnant and lactating women. Contraindications are chronic intestinal diseases, as well as large hernias. Side effects while taking Miglitol tablets are rare. There are known cases of the development of an allergic reaction in the form of a rash and itching of the skin.
Combined sugar-lowering drugs
In most cases, treatment for type 2 diabetes begins with monotherapy. Additional drugs can be prescribed only when treatment does not give the desired result. The problem is that one medication does not always cover several problems associated with diabetes. Replace several drugs of various classes with one combined hypoglycemic. Such therapy will be safer. After all, the risk of developing side effects is significantly reduced. The most effective, according to doctors, are combinations of thiazolidinediones and metformin, as well as sulfonylureas and metformin.
Combined drugs designed to treat type 2 diabetes can stop the progression of hyperinsulinemia. Thanks to this, patients feel much better, and also have the opportunity to lose a little weight. In most cases, the need to switch to insulin therapy completely disappears.
One of the most popular combined hypoglycemic drugs is Glibomet. A medication is released in the form of tablets. They are prescribed when the previous therapy does not show a good result. Do not use this medication to treat type 1 diabetes. Tablets are also contraindicated for people with impaired liver function and renal failure. Children, as well as women during pregnancy and lactation, are not prescribed the drug.
Glibomet tablets have many side effects. They can cause diarrhea, nausea, and dizziness. Less common is an allergic reaction in the form of skin itching and rash. It is recommended to use the drug strictly as prescribed by the doctor.