Diabetes drugs are life-savers for diabetics because they help manage levels of blood glucose, a sugar the body needs for energy. Doctors may treat diabetes type 2 with a variety of drugs, but type 1 generally only responds to insulin. In type 2 the body's insulin may not be fully affective to regulate the blood sugar levels. Both forms of the disease can cause serious health problems if left untreated.
About This Disease
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases estimates that this disease affects 23.6 million people in the United States, is a leading cause of death and disability and costs $174 billion per year. More than 90 percent of diabetics have type 2 diabetes. Epidemiology studies indicate an epidemic of  it among adults, adolescents and children who are overweight or obese. According to IMS Health, human insulin drug sales in 2009 totaled $6.3 billion, an increase of more than 160 percent since 2005.
Insulin
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that allows your body to turn blood glucose into a form of energy your cells can use. When it cannot produce enough or any insulin to effectively use glucose, doctors must supplement it with injections of natural or synthetic versions of it. All Type 1 diabetics and some Type 2 must take insulin injection.
Metformin
Metformin is the generic name for the most commonly prescribed medication in the United States to treat Type 2. Metformin works to balance the insulin and glucose levels in your bloodstream to prevent an excess of the sugar from affecting you. It typically is prescribed along with a diabetic diet to maintain this balance. It also may be prescribed with other medications if your diabetes worsens. Common side effects are categorized as temporary and not serious. They include appetite loss, loss of weight, vomiting, heartburn and flatulence.
Repaglinide
Repaglinide(135062-02-1) works in a similar manner to glyburide in that it stimulates the pancreas to infuse more insulin into the person's blood to balance glucose levels. This drug also may work alone or with metformin.
Glyburide
The sulfonylurea medication glyburide also may help control diabetes type 2 by forcing the pancreas to increase the output levels of insulin. Physicians may use a combination medicine that contains both glyburide and metformin, which the American Academy of Family Physicians states may give better control over the glucose and insulin balance than either medicine alone.
Considerations
Physicians sometimes prescribe insulin with one or two other medications that act in different ways to lower blood glucose. Combining drugs is usually more effective to improve blood glucose control than switching drugs. Diet, exercise and illness can affect outcome.
About This Disease
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases estimates that this disease affects 23.6 million people in the United States, is a leading cause of death and disability and costs $174 billion per year. More than 90 percent of diabetics have type 2 diabetes. Epidemiology studies indicate an epidemic of  it among adults, adolescents and children who are overweight or obese. According to IMS Health, human insulin drug sales in 2009 totaled $6.3 billion, an increase of more than 160 percent since 2005.
Insulin
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that allows your body to turn blood glucose into a form of energy your cells can use. When it cannot produce enough or any insulin to effectively use glucose, doctors must supplement it with injections of natural or synthetic versions of it. All Type 1 diabetics and some Type 2 must take insulin injection.
Metformin
Metformin is the generic name for the most commonly prescribed medication in the United States to treat Type 2. Metformin works to balance the insulin and glucose levels in your bloodstream to prevent an excess of the sugar from affecting you. It typically is prescribed along with a diabetic diet to maintain this balance. It also may be prescribed with other medications if your diabetes worsens. Common side effects are categorized as temporary and not serious. They include appetite loss, loss of weight, vomiting, heartburn and flatulence.
Repaglinide
Repaglinide(135062-02-1) works in a similar manner to glyburide in that it stimulates the pancreas to infuse more insulin into the person's blood to balance glucose levels. This drug also may work alone or with metformin.
Glyburide
The sulfonylurea medication glyburide also may help control diabetes type 2 by forcing the pancreas to increase the output levels of insulin. Physicians may use a combination medicine that contains both glyburide and metformin, which the American Academy of Family Physicians states may give better control over the glucose and insulin balance than either medicine alone.
Considerations
Physicians sometimes prescribe insulin with one or two other medications that act in different ways to lower blood glucose. Combining drugs is usually more effective to improve blood glucose control than switching drugs. Diet, exercise and illness can affect outcome.
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