As part of your diabetes management, your physician can prescribe pills. Read about the different kind of pills offered, how it works, and important things to know! Liberty Medical

1. DIABETES
EDUCATION
Many people
with type 2
diabetes take
more than
one kind
of diabetes
medicine.
Now that I have diabetes, will I
need to take medicine?
Not all people who have diabetes take
medication. If you have type 1 diabetes
you will need to take insulin because your
body no longer makes it. If you have type 2
diabetes, there are a number of management
tools you can use. Some people with this
type of diabetes take no medicine at all and
are able to use meal planning and physical
activity alone to control their blood glucose
(sugar) level. Others need a little more help,
in addition to meal planning and exercise,
may use pills, insulin or a combination of
both or some newer type of non-insulin
injections to keep their blood glucose
level in target. The type of diabetes you
have along with the level of blood glucose
(sugar) control you can maintain are factors
which will contribute to what management
tools you use.
Why are there so many different
pills for diabetes?
Because the cause of high blood glucose
(sugar) may differ from person to person,
medications that work in different ways
and in different areas of the body are
necessary. Diabetes pills work in the cells in
the pancreas that produce insulin, the liver
and muscle cells, and the digestive system.
Your health care provider will help decide
which type of medication will work best for
you. Many people with type 2 diabetes take
more than one kind of diabetes medicine
for example, one medicine may help your
pancreas to make more insulin and a second
medicine may help your body to use that
insulin better.
How will I know if my diabetes
medicine is working?
Self-monitoring your blood glucose (sugar)
is one of the tools that lets you know how
your management plan, including your
medicine, is working to control your blood
glucose on a day-to-day basis. People with
type 1 diabetes may check their blood
glucose throughout the day to adjust insulin
doses or food intake while those with
type 2 diabetes may check less frequently
depending on the management tools they
are using for their diabetes. The important
thing is that if you have diabetes you
should check your blood glucose (sugar)
on a schedule that meets your needs. Also,
having a test called the A1C test which
measures your blood glucose control over
about the past 2-3 months can help your
health care provider in making decisions
about changes to your treatment plan.
There are 6 different classes of pills along
with several different combinations to take
for diabetes. They work in different parts of
the body and in different ways to help keep
your blood glucose (sugar) levels in your
target range. Some pills work by helping
the cells in your pancreas make more
insulin, some work by helping the insulin
to work better in your muscle and fat cells
or by preventing the liver from making too
much glucose; others block the breakdown
Pills for Diabetes: At a Glance
medications: pills

2. of starches in the intestines. There is a
new class of medication that works by
preventing the breakdown of some natural
substances in the body and helps to lower
the blood glucose only when the glucose
is elevated. As you can see, diabetes pills
work in many different ways.
Types of Diabetes Pills
Sulfonylureas: Most common are
glipizide, glyburide and glimepiride
• Signals the pancreas to make more
insulin which may help move glucose
(sugar) from the blood into the cells
where it can produce energy
• Can increase the risk of low blood
glucose (sugar) - hypoglycemia
• Usually taken once or twice a day before
or with meals and the effect lasts all day.
Meglitinides: Ñateglinide and
Repaglinide
• Signals the pancreas to release insulin in
a quick burst that lasts over a few hours
• Taken right before a meal; not taken if
you skip a meal
• Increases the risk of low blood glucose
(sugar) levels
Biguanides: Metformin
• Stops the liver from making too much
glucose
• Helps the muscle cells to use insulin
better and move glucose (sugar) from
the blood stream into the cells and lower
blood glucose levels
• Doesn’t increase the risk of low blood
glucose (sugar) when used alone
• Does not cause weight gain and may
improve cholesterol levels
• Side effects may include nausea, diarrhea
and loss of appetite but taking your pills
with food may help these symptoms and
they should get better over time
• Sometimes causes a metallic taste in
your mouth
• If your are having a medical or x-ray test
or procedure which requires you to be
injected with dye into your vein, be sure
you inform the medical personnel that
you are taking this medication.
Thiazolidinediones: Rosiglitazone and
Pioglitazone
• Helps insulin work better in the muscle
and fat cells
• Takes 4 to 6 weeks to see the effect on
your blood glucose
• Does not increase the risk of low blood
glucose (sugar) when taken alone
• May cause weight gain and fluid
retention
• Need to have blood tests to check your
liver periodically
• May decrease the effects of birth
control pills
• May increase your risk for heart
problems. Discuss concerns with your
physician or other health care provider.
Glucose-inhibitors: Acarbose
and Miglitol
• Prevent starches from breaking down
into sugar and raising the blood glucose
after eating
• Take with the first bite of the meal
• Does not increase the risk of low blood
glucose when taken alone
• If low blood glucose does occur, you
must take glucose pills, gel or fruit juice
to treat
• May cause gas, bloating and diarrhea.
You may need to start with a low-dose
and build up slowly
• Normally does not cause weight gain
DPPT-4 Inhibitors: Sitagliptin
• Increases insulin when your blood
glucose is high, especially after a meal
• Decreases the amount of glucose your
liver makes after you eat
• Helps improve your A1C (3-month
average blood glucose) without causing
low blood glucose
Remember
Eight Important
Things You Should
Know About Your
Diabetes Pills:
1. The name of your pills
2. The dose you should take
3. The time you should take
your pills
4. The side effects that
may occur
5. If your pills can cause low
blood glucose (sugar) so
that you can be prepared
6. Instructions for a missed dose
7. The best time to check your
blood glucose
8. If you need to avoid any other
medicines, food or drink with
your pills

3. DIABETES EDUCATION
• Does not increase your risk of low blood
glucose when taken alone. May increase
the risk if taken along with sulfonylureas.
• Does not cause weight gain
• May cause stomach discomfort and
diarrhea
• You may need blood tests from time to
time to see how your kidneys are working
You will know how your medicines are
working if you check your blood glucose.
Talk to your health care provider or
diabetes educator to see what are the
best times for you to check. When you
check will depend on how and when your
diabetes pills are working to lower your
blood glucose.
Tips
• Use a weekly pill organizer to sort
your daily medications.
• Make a chart or calendar to help
you keep track of your medicines
and check them off as you take
your dose.
• Take your pills at a time when
you’re used to doing another
daily activity such as meal times,
brushing your teeth, checking your
blood glucose (sugar) or after
taking your shower or bath.
• Ask a family member or friend to
call to remind you.
• Remember to have your
prescriptions refilled before the
current bottle runs out.
• If you have a watch with an alarm
or a small portable alarm clock,
set it for the time you need to take
your medicine. Keep a current list
of all of the medicines that you
are taking in your wallet or purse.
This can help when you meet
with members of your health care
team, such as a dietitian, diabetes
educator, dentist, eye doctor or
podiatrist.
Tips for helping you to remember your medicines
It’s often hard to remember to take all of your medications each day. Taking
your medicine as it has been prescribed will help you to get the full benefit.

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Medco client programs or communications.
Self-
monitoring
your blood
glucose is one
of the tools
that lets you
know how your
management
plan, including
your medicine,
is working.
Notes
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