105 What is the best medication to treat diabetes?

There are many factors that help you and your doctor decide which is the best medication for you. People with type 2 diabetes who are overweight often release adequate amounts of insulin from their pancreas, but their muscle and fat cells are unable to respond normally, and their liver manufactures large amounts of excess glucose. For these people, metformin may be a good choice for initial therapy because it is very effective and doesn’t cause weight gain.

Patients who have insufficient amounts of insulin may respond better to sulfonylureas. Other people may have problems with their blood sugar rising immediately following meals. Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors or meglitinides may be good choices for these people. These factors, along with your current blood-sugar levels and the potency, or strength, of the different medications, help you and your doctor select the most appropriate medication for you. While there may be several possible medications to control your blood sugar, other factors, such as the cost of the medication, the times per day you have to take it, preexisting health problems (called “contraindications”), and possible side effects, also help determine which medication is best for you.

The above excerpt is a digitally scanned reproduction of text from print. Although this excerpt has been proofread, occasional errors may appear due to the scanning process. Please refer to the finished book for accuracy.

The above is an excerpt from the book What to Expect When You Have Diabetes

by The American Diabetes Association

Published by Good Books;  June 2008;$9.95US; 978-1-56148-630-4

Copyright © 2008 The American Diabetes Association

Author Bio

The American Diabetes Association is the nation’s leading voluntary health organization supporting diabetes research, information, and advocacy. Its mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. The American Diabetes Association is the leading publisher of comprehensive diabetes information. Its huge library of practical and authoritative books for people with diabetes covers every aspect of self-care-cooking and nutrition, fitness, weight control, medications, complications, emotional issues, and general self-care.