Medications for Diabetes – Some of the known drugs and alternative medication options for treatment

General Medications for different types of Diabetes

Effective treatment of diabetes generally involves the regulation of insulin in the blood stream. While this can be done in a number of different ways, the known medications and drugs for treatment include

• Insulin medications: People with

Type I Diabetes require lifelong treatment with insulin. In the other types of diabetes the amount of insulin required by the body varies. Insulin is administered in three forms, namely, long acting insulin, rapid acting insulin and other intermediate options. Insulin is usually administered in the form of injections or with the use of an insulin pump.

• Other medications: Many additional medications are recommended for Type I Diabetics and these include the following:
• Metformin: Metformin is an oral drug containing Glucophage, which helps reduce the high risk of diabetes.
• Aspirin: Low doses of aspirin help in maintaining cardiovascular health
• Pramlintide: This is an injection of Symlin, which slows down the movement of food in the gastro-intestinal tract and consequently helps delay the rapid rise of blood sugar levels after eating.
• High blood pressure medications: These include Angiotensin covering enzyme inhibitors and Angiotensin II receptor blockers, which help keep the kidneys healthy.
• Other cholesterol lowering drugs: Various cholesterol lowering agents commonly known as statins are prescribed to reduce the risk of heart disease, which is otherwise elevated in the case of diabetes.

Alternative medications for the treatment of diabetes

Apart from the known clinical medications available for treating diabetes, there are some alternative forms of medication as well. These include:

• Surgery or the use of alternative pancreas in Type I diabetes sufferers. Although this is a rare method of treatment, it has been successfully implemented in some cases.
• Monitoring of the blood sugar level in all types of diabetes is extremely important as this gives a good idea of how the body is responding to medications and changes in lifestyle.
• Contrary to the popular belief that there is a specific diet for diabetics, there is none. However, diabetics must ensure that they eat healthy and avoid sugars and fats.
• Physical activity and regular exercise are of prime importance to treating diabetes. Not only does this help reduce excess weight, but it also renders the body more sensitive to the effects of insulin.
• Islet cell and stem cell transplantations are relatively new forms of clinical trials that are being used to treat diabetes conditions. While none of these have been substantiated yet, the number of such trials is steadily increasing.