The most common side effect with these medications is nausea and vomiting, which is more common when starting or increasing the dose. Glucose in the bloodstream passes through the kidneys where it can either be excreted in the urine or reabsorbed back into the blood.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 SGLT2 works in the kidney to reabsorb glucose. A new class of medication, SGLT2 inhibitors, block this action, causing excess glucose to be eliminated in the urine.

By increasing the amount of glucose excreted in the urine, people can see improved blood glucose, some weight loss, and small decreases in blood pressure.

Bexagliflozin Brenzavvy , canagliflozin Invokana , dapagliflozin Farxiga , and empagliflozin Jardiance are SGLT2 inhibitors that have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration FDA to treat type 2 diabetes. SGLT2 inhibitors are also known to help improve outcomes in people with heart disease, kidney disease, and heart failure.

For this reason, these medications are often used in people with type 2 diabetes who also have heart or kidney problems. Because they increase glucose levels in the urine, the most common side effects include genital yeast infections.

Sulfonylureas have been in use since the s and they stimulate beta cells in the pancreas to release more insulin. There are three main sulfonylurea drugs used today, glimepiride Amaryl , glipizide Glucotrol and Glucotrol XL , and glyburide Micronase, Glynase, and Diabeta.

These drugs are generally taken one to two times a day before meals. All sulfonylurea drugs have similar effects on blood glucose levels, but they differ in side effects, how often they are taken, and interactions with other drugs.

The most common side effects with sulfonylureas are low blood glucose and weight gain. Rosiglitazone Avandia and pioglitazone Actos are in a group of drugs called thiazolidinediones. These drugs help insulin work better in the muscle and fat and reduce glucose production in the liver.

A benefit of TZDs is that they lower blood glucose without having a high risk for causing low blood glucose. Both drugs in this class can increase the risk for heart failure in some individuals and can also cause fluid retention edema in the legs and feet.

In addition to the commonly used classes discussed above, there are other less commonly used medications that can work well for some people:. Acarbose Precose and miglitol Glyset are alpha-glucosidase inhibitors. These drugs help the body lower blood glucose levels by blocking the breakdown of starches, such as bread, potatoes, and pasta in the intestine.

By slowing the breakdown of these foods, this slows the rise in blood glucose levels after a meal. These medications should be taken with the first bite of each meal, so they need to be taken multiple times daily. Based on how these medications work, they commonly cause gastrointestinal side effects including gas and diarrhea.

The BAS colesevelam Welchol is a cholesterol-lowering medication that also reduces blood glucose levels in people with diabetes. BASs help remove cholesterol from the body, particularly LDL cholesterol, which is often elevated in people with diabetes.

The medications reduce LDL cholesterol by binding with bile acids in the digestive system. The body in turn uses cholesterol to replace the bile acids, which lowers cholesterol levels. The mechanism by which colesevelam lowers glucose levels is not well understood.

Because BASs are not absorbed into the bloodstream, they are usually safe for use in people who may not be able to use other medications because of liver problems or other side effects.

Because of the way they work, side effects of BASs can include flatulence and constipation, and they can interact with the absorption of other medications taken at the same time. Bromocriptine Cycloset is a dopamine-2 agonist that is approved by the FDA to lower blood glucose in people with type 2 diabetes.

Bromocriptine is taken once daily in the morning. A common side effect is nausea. Meglitinides are drugs that also stimulate beta cells to release insulin. Nateglinide Starlix and repaglinide Prandin are both meglitinides.

They are taken before each meal to help lower glucose after you eat. If you notice symptoms of low blood sugar levels known as a hypo the fastest way to treat this is to immediately eat or drink 15 to 20g of fast-acting carbohydrate.

Find out what to do if someone is having a severe hypo. We know people with type 2 diabetes who are living with overweight or obesity can manage their blood sugar levels effectively and quickly by losing weight following a very low-calorie diet.

They should do this with support from their healthcare team. In some cases they may be able to put their diabetes into remission. Find out about low calories diets for people with type 2 diabetes on the NHS to help rapid weight loss. We know people can put their type 2 diabetes into remission by losing weight.

It can be life-changing, but it's not possible for everyone. And it is not a cure. Your blood sugar levels can return to the diabetic range if you put weight back on, for example. A company limited by guarantee registered in England and Wales with no.

Skip to main navigation Skip to content. Breadcrumb Home Diabetes the basics Types of diabetes Type 2 Treatments. Save for later Page saved! You can go back to this later in your Diabetes and Me Close. Type 2 diabetes treatments. What is the main treatment for type 2 diabetes? The main treatments for managing blood sugar levels if you have type 2 diabetes are: Eating well and moving more Weight loss Metformin usually taken as a tablet Insulin along with other medication that helps lower blood sugar levels Other types of diabetes medicine that is injected or taken as tablets.

Stress is a part of life, but it can make managing diabetes harder, including managing your blood sugar levels and dealing with daily diabetes care. Regular physical activity, getting enough sleep, and relaxation exercises can help. Talk to your doctor and diabetes educator about these and other ways you can manage stress.

Whether you were just diagnosed with diabetes or have had it for some time, meeting with a diabetes educator is a great way to get support and guidance, including how to:. Childhood obesity rates are rising, and so are the rates of type 2 diabetes in youth. Parents can help prevent or delay type 2 diabetes by developing a plan for the whole family:.

Healthy changes become habits more easily when everyone makes them together. Find out how to take charge family style with these healthy tips. Tap into online diabetes communities for encouragement, insights, and support. Skip directly to site content Skip directly to search.

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Living With Diabetes Managing Diabetes: Medicare Coverage and Resources [PDF - 1 MB] Diabetes: What Is It? Your Health with Joan Lunden and CDC Diabetes and Prediabetes Articles Infographics. Last Reviewed: April 18, Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Syndicate. home Diabetes Home. Syringes and pens are used for multiple daily injection MDI therapy. This typically involves a combination of both short-acting bolus and long-acting basal insulin. Injections are administered to the thigh, buttocks, abdomen, or upper arms.

Afrezza, a quick acting inhaled insulin, can be an alternative to injectable pre-meal insulin. It is inhaled immediately before a meal. It is FDA-approved for people 18 and over who have type 1 or type 2 diabetes.

There are other criteria for use that your physician and diabetes care team can provide. Learn more about a current clinical trial for Afrezza use in children under Insulin pumps are small devices that deliver a continuous supply of insulin through a tiny tube cannula inserted under the skin, typically in the upper thigh, abdomen, lower back, or tricep.

The pump itself is worn outside the body and is programmed to deliver basal long-acting insulin continuously, mimicking the normal background insulin secretion of a healthy pancreas. Additionally, it allows the user to deliver bolus short-acting doses of insulin during meals.

Learn more about insulin pumps. By automating insulin delivery and closely monitoring glucose levels, it can help regulate blood sugar more effectively than traditional methods that rely on manual injections or pump adjustments.

In addition to insulin, type 1 diabetes treatments also include monitoring and lifestyle choices. Regular blood sugar monitoring is essential for managing T1D. This involves checking blood glucose levels multiple times a day using a glucose meter or a continuous glucose monitor CGM.

CGMs provide real-time glucose readings and can alert the individual when their levels are too high or too low. People with type 1 diabetes must count the carbohydrates they consume to determine the amount of insulin they need to take.

This helps maintain stable blood sugar levels by matching insulin doses to carbohydrate intake. Your endocrinologist will work with you to determine your proper insulin-to-carb ratio I:C. This ratio is the amount of insulin needed to balance the intake of a certain amount of carbohydrates typically measured in grams.

For example, if your I:C is and you have an apple that contains 24g carbs, you would take two units of insulin. Taking those two units of insulin prior to eating the apple helps to avoid a high or low blood-sugar fluctuation post-snack.

Get tips on carb counting. Following a balanced and nutritious diet is paramount to the health of a person living with T1D. Ensuring proper nutritional intake and keeping a healthy weight help curb the effects of T1D wear on the body.

Learn more about food and diet with T1D. Physical activity can help regulate blood sugar levels and improve overall health. Keep in mind that monitoring insulin and carbohydrate intake is essential when exercising to prevent hypoglycemia low blood sugar or hyperglycemia high blood sugar.

Learn more about exercise and T1D. People with T1D regularly meet with a team of medical professionals, including an endocrinologist, retinal specialist, and dietitian, to help manage their disease and to prevent and treat complications. Adjunctive therapies are treatments that complement insulin to achieve glucose control and to help manage additional metabolic conditions experienced by people with T1D, including insulin resistance and obesity.

Improved control of glucose and metabolism also plays an important role in slowing progression of long-term complications associated with T1D. Pramlintide is a synthetic amylin analog administered via syringe.

It is approved for people with T1D who use mealtime insulin and do not achieve their glycemic targets despite optimal insulin therapy. Pramlintide limits glucose fluctuations after meals. Pramlintide therapy can also lead to weight-loss and improvements in risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

Originally developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes T2D , metformin , administer ed via a pill, can be prescribed to people with T1D in addition to insulin therapy, diet, and exercise to help improve insulin sensitivity and reduce insulin dose requirements.

People with insulin resistance, of higher weight, and at risk for cardiovascular disease may be more likely to experience metabolic benefits with metformin. Glucagon-like peptide-1 GLP-1 receptor agonists are commonly used to treat T2D. Though not approved for T1D, GLP-1 agonists, administered both orally and through injections, have been shown to have glycemic and metabolic benefits in people with T1D.

They can lead to reduced insulin needs, weight loss, and may reduce risk of cardiovascular disease. Sodium-glucose co-transporter SGLT inhibitors lower blood sugar levels by preventing glucose reabsorption in the kidneys and increasing glucose excretion through the urine.

In addition to glycemic control, SGLT inhibitors, which are taken orally, also have metabolic benefits in weight loss and improved cardiac and kidney function. These benefits have led to approval of SGLT inhibitors for T2D, chronic kidney disease, and heart failure.