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Return to Index Step 1: What is Diabetes?Step 2: Who Gets Type 2 Diabetes?Step 3: How Do You Know if You Have Diabetes?Step 4: You're in Charge! Designing a Treatment Plan Step 5: Monitor Your Blood Sugar Step 6: Lose Weight and Follow the Right Diet Step 7: Exercise Step 8: Drugs and Insulin Step 9: Treat Low Blood Sugar Step 10: Avoid Long-Term Complications Key Points Glossary

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Type 2 diabetes drug index

New medications to treat type 2 diabetes are helping people obtain excellent blood glucose control. An important research study, The United Kingdom Prospective Diabetes Study, found that the people with the best blood glucose management had fewer complications from diabetes.

Some of the most common medications are listed below along with basic information on how they work. NEVER make any adjustments to your medications without specific instructions from your doctor or diabetes educator.

Medications for Treating Diabetes
Type	Medication	How it Works	Possible Side Effects
Sulfonylureas	Glyburide: Micronase Diabeta Glynase Glipizide: Glucotrol Glucotrol XL Glimepiride: Amaryl	Pancreas makes more insulin	Low blood sugar
Meglitinide	Repaglinide: Prandin	Pancreas makes more insulin	Low blood sugar
Biguanide	Metformin: Glucophage	Improves insulin sensitivity Causes the liver to make less glucose	Digestion disturbances; usually this side effect goes away after a few weeks; take medication with food to lessen effect of drug
Sulfonylurea/ Biguanide Combination	Glyburide/Metformin: Glucovance	Helps pancreas make more insulin Causes the liver to make less glucose	Low blood sugar/stomach upset
Alpha-glucosidase Inhibitors	Acarbose: Precose Miglitol: Glyset	Slows the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates	Gas & bloating
Thiazolidinediones (the glitazones)	Rosiglitazone: Avandia* Pioglitazone: Actos	Decreases insulin resistance	Weight gain, mild edema (swelling)
Dipeptidyl peptidase IV antagonists	Sitagliptin: Januvia	Helps hormones from your intestine stimulate insulin release	Nausea, stomach pain, diarrhea
Incretin mimetics	Exenatide: Byetta	Behave like hormones produced by your instine that help the pancreas release insulin	Nausea
Note: The bold names under the medication column are the generic names. The unbolded names are the trade names. *Rosiglitazone may increase the risk of heart problems. Talk to your doctor.

Review Date: 5/13/2010
Reviewed By: Ari S. Eckman, MD, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD. Previously reviewed by Elizabeth H. Holt, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Section of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Yale University, New Haven, CT. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network (6/17/2008).

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