Diabetes mellitus now affects an increasing number of people. Both adults and children suffer from it. In most cases, this disease is incurable and requires lifelong administration of special drugs. There are different medicines for diabetes, they act in different ways and often cause side effects. Therefore, it is necessary to take only those drugs that the doctor prescribed.
Types of diabetes
There are two types of disease. Both of them are characterized by high blood sugar, which occurs for various reasons. With type 1 diabetes, which is also called insulin-dependent, the body does not independently produce this important hormone. This is due to the destruction of pancreatic cells. And the main medicine for this type of diabetes is insulin.
If the functions of the pancreas are not impaired, but for some reason it produces little hormone, or if the cells of the body cannot take it, type 2 diabetes develops. It is also called insulin-independent. In this case, the glucose level may rise due to the large intake of carbohydrates, metabolic disturbances. Most often, with type 2 diabetes, a person is overweight. Therefore, it is recommended to limit the intake of carbohydrate foods, especially flour products, sweets and starch. But, in addition to diet, drug therapy is also important. There are different medicines for type 2 diabetes, they are prescribed by a doctor depending on the individual characteristics of the disease.
Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: treatment
There is no cure for this disease. Just supportive therapy is needed. Why do not any drugs help? In a healthy person, the pancreas constantly produces the hormone insulin, which is necessary for normal metabolism. It is released into the bloodstream as soon as a person eats, as a result of which his glucose level rises. And insulin delivers it from the blood to cells and tissues. If glucose is too much, this hormone is involved in the formation of its reserves in the liver, as well as in the deposition of excess into fat.
In insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, the production of insulin by the pancreas is disrupted. Therefore, the blood sugar level rises, which is very dangerous. This condition causes damage to nerve fibers, the development of renal and heart failure, the formation of blood clots and other problems. Therefore, patients with such diabetes should constantly ensure the supply of insulin from the outside. This is the answer to the question of which medicine is taken for type 1 diabetes. With the correct prescription of insulin, the administration of additional drugs is usually not required.
Features of the use of insulin
This hormone breaks down quickly in the stomach, so it cannot be taken in pill form. The only way to inject insulin into the body is with a syringe or a special pump directly into the blood. The drug is most rapidly absorbed if introduced into the subcutaneous fold on the abdomen or in the upper part of the shoulder. The least effective injection site is the thigh or buttock. It is always necessary to inject the drug in the same place. In addition, there are other features of the treatment of patients with insulin-dependent diabetes. The assimilation of the hormone depends on how much the patient moves, what he eats, and also on his age. Depending on this, different types of the drug are prescribed and the dosage is selected. What types of this hormone are there?
- Long-acting insulin - processes glucose all day long. A striking example is the drug Glargin. It maintains a constant blood sugar level and is administered twice a day.
- Short-acting insulin is produced from the human hormone using special bacteria. These are the preparations "Humodar" and "Actrapid". Their action begins after half an hour, so it is recommended to introduce them before meals.
- Ultrashort insulin is administered after meals. It begins to act in 5-10 minutes, but the effect lasts no more than an hour, therefore, it is used together with other types of insulin. Such drugs have a quick action: Humalog and Apidra.
Non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus: medicines
Preparations for the treatment of type 2 diabetes are much more diverse. This kind of disease occurs for various reasons: due to malnutrition, a sedentary lifestyle, or being overweight. Excess glucose in the blood with this disease can be reduced in several ways. At the initial stage, lifestyle adjustments and a special diet are enough. Then medication is necessary. There are such medicines for diabetes:
- insulin stimulating agents, for example, sulfonylureas or clayides;
- agents that improve insulin absorption and tissue susceptibility to it, these are biguanides and thiazolidinediones;
- drugs that block glucose absorption;
- new groups of drugs help reduce appetite and lose weight.
Drugs that help the body make insulin on their own
Such drugs for diabetes are prescribed in the initial stages of treatment of the disease. If the blood glucose level is only slightly increased, insulin secretion stimulants are prescribed. They are of short action - meglitinides and sulfonylurea derivatives, which have a lasting effect. Most of them cause many side effects, for example, hypoglycemia, headache, tachycardia. Only new-generation medicines, Maninil and Altar, are devoid of these shortcomings. But all the same, doctors often prescribe more familiar and time-tested remedies: Diabeton, Glidiab, Amaril, Glyurenorm, Movogleken, Starlix and others. They are taken 1-3 times a day, depending on the duration of action.
Medications that improve insulin absorption
If the body produces a sufficient amount of this hormone, but the glucose level is high, other drugs are prescribed. Most often these are biguanides, which improve the absorption of insulin by the cells. They help to reduce appetite, reduce the production of glucose by the liver and its absorption in the intestine. The most common biguanides are Siofor, Glukofazh, Bagomet, Metformin and others. The thiazolidinediones possess the same effect on tissues that increase their susceptibility to insulin: Actos, Pioglar, Diaglitazone, Amalvia and others.
What other drugs are there for diabetes?
Other groups of drugs often help diabetics. They appeared recently, but have already proven their effectiveness.
- The drug "Glucobay" prevents the absorption of glucose in the intestine, due to which its level in the blood decreases.
- The combined drug "Glucovans" combines various methods of influencing the body.
- "Januvia" tablets are used in complex therapy to reduce blood sugar.
- The drug "Trazhenta" contains substances that destroy enzymes that maintain high sugar levels.
Biologically active additives
In the initial stages of non-insulin-dependent diabetes, the amount of chemicals that spoil the stomach can be reduced. Therapy is supplemented by a special diet and the intake of herbal decoctions and biologically active additives. These means can not replace the treatment prescribed by a doctor, you can only supplement it.
- BAA "Insulate" improves metabolism, stimulates the pancreas and reduces the absorption of glucose.
- The drug made in Japan "Tuoti" effectively reduces sugar and normalizes metabolism
- The medicine based on herbal components "Glucberry" not only lowers blood glucose, but also normalizes body weight, and also prevents the development of diabetes complications.
Features of type 2 diabetes medication
Such drugs are available in tablets. Most of them cause side effects:
- weight gain;
- swelling;
- fragility of bone tissue;
- violation of the heart;
- nausea and stomach pain;
- risk of developing hypoglycemia.
In addition, drugs from different groups affect the body in different ways. Therefore, the patient himself cannot decide what kind of diabetes medicine he should take. Only a doctor can determine how to effectively lower your glucose level. If there are indications for the use of insulin, then it is better to switch to it immediately, without trying to replace sugar-lowering tablets.
What other medicines can you take for diabetics?
Such a patient needs to monitor not only nutrition. It is important to carefully study the instructions for any medicines, even for colds or headaches. Most of them are contraindicated in diabetes. All drugs should not affect glucose levels and have a minimum of side effects.
- What diabetes medications can I drink? Acceptable are "Indapamide", "Torasemide", "Mannitol", "Diacarb", "Amlodipine", "Verapramil", "Rasilez".
- Most painkillers and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are allowed for diabetes, as they do not affect the blood glucose: Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Citramon and others.
- During colds, sugar-based syrups and lozenges for resorption should be avoided. Sinupret and Bronchipret are permitted.
Patient Testimonials for Diabetes Medicines
Nowadays, diabetes is increasingly being diagnosed in people. Which medicine is most popular with this disease can be found in patient reviews. The most effective drug is Glucofage, which, in addition to lowering sugar levels, promotes weight loss and prevents the risk of complications. Often also used are Siofor and Maninil. Recently appeared herbal preparations that have helped maintain sugar levels and improve overall health have won many positive reviews. These are "Dialect", "Diabetes Music", "Diabetal", "Yanumet" and others. Their advantages include the fact that they have no contraindications and side effects. But they, like all biologically active additives, can be used only on the recommendation of a doctor in complex therapy.