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A brief overview of the 5 most common diabetes medications

Diabetes is a particular physical condition in which the blood sugar level increases excessively. It occurs when the body fails to produce or use the required amount of insulin that it is supposed to.

As insulin is the ultimate compound that helps one’s body use the sugar from consumed foods, when its production or use is interrupted, opting for diabetes medications can be the best option to manage the condition.

A brief overview of the 5 most common diabetes medications

Insulin
One of the most common and popular diabetes medications is insulin and is widely used for treating both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

Usually, the insulin is injected into the body through injections, and there are various types of insulin available. While some insulin medications tend to work fast, others are quite slow. Along with different combination insulin drugs, several types of long-acting insulin are also available.

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors
These are available in oral drug form. These medications are known for their ability to break down table sugar and starchy food, which helps in reducing the glucose levels in the blood. These diabetes medications are ideal for type 2 diabetes and taken before meals.

Amylinomimetic drug
Used generally before meals, this type of drug helps to postpone the time needed by the stomach for emptying itself. This medication helps in reducing the blood sugar level by decreasing the secretion of the glucagon hormone.

Biguanides
These diabetes medications are primarily known for their work in reducing the sugar amount that is produced by one’s liver. These drugs make the diabetic person’s body more sensitive towards insulin and assist the muscles in absorbing or soaking up the necessary glucose.

Incretin mimetics
These medicines resemble the natural hormone Incretin and are known for their effective diabetes treatment qualities. By boosting the growth of the B-cells, these drugs help in increasing the amount of insulin that one’s body can use. And by slowing down the process of stomach emptying, these drugs are responsible for decreasing one’s hunger as well as the amount of glucagon usage of the body.

Diabetic conditions vary from person to person. While for some it becomes extremely severe leading to malfunctioning of other organs, for some it stays moderate with different symptoms. Therefore, before taking any diabetes medications, consulting with a medical professional is a must.

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