Should you or shouldn’t you take diabetes drugs? It really depends on the type of diabetes, how well your blood sugar is controlled, and how well you follow a good diet (and exercise).
For some people, drugs in the form of insulin is a life-saving necessity. Especially with type 1 diabetes, where the pancreas just flat out can’t make the insulin, or makes a tiny amount.
But a lot of people have type 2 diabetes, and do make sufficient insulin; their bodies have just become insulin-resistant. Are diabetes drugs a foregone conclusion?
About Diabetes Drugs
The most common diabetes drug is insulin, in either natural or synthetic form. This is for people who just don’t make enough insulin on their own.
However, if your body is insulin-resistant, drugs like Actos and Avandia help your body become more sensitive to the insulin it does produce, and be able to use it better. However, one of the side effects of these particular drugs that is seen too often is weight gain — exactly what you don’t want, if you are already overweight.
Metformin, in all its forms (the most common which is Glucophage) acts to reduce the amount of sugar in the bloodstream. It does this by decreasing the amount of sugar produced by the liver. One side effect can be stomach cramps, but can be minimized by building up the amount slowly. However, Metformin stresses the kidneys, so shouldn’t be taken by anyone who has compromised kidney function.
DPP-4 inhibitor drugs like Januvia work by both decreasing the blood sugar and increasing insulin production in the body. The more common side effects are upper respiratory issues (stuffy nose, sore throat), but also include an allergic reaction which can be anything from mild (some itching) to life-threatening (e.g. swelling of the airways cutting off oxygen).
The Best Diabetic Drug
Really, it’s diet and exercise, along with getting enough of the proper vitamins and minerals. Diet, exercise and nutrition don’t have side effects, except for making you feel better.
However, there are times when diet and exercise might not be enough. If this is the case, you and your doctor need to work together to find the drug that’s right for you, in the lowest possible dose.
Just remember that if you are currently overweight and need a diabetes drug in addition to your diet and exercise, that amount may decrease or vanish over time. It’s important to keep watch over your blood sugar readings as you lose weight.
Additional Reading
Here are some searches on the drugs mentioned in this post. Click to see the information available online, including dosage, side effects and other useful information:
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