Although diet and exercise can lower blood glucose levels, most people with Type 2 Diabetes require medications to achieve ideal blood glucose levels. It is common to require more than one type of medication, depending on individual needs.
There are various types of medications for Type 2 Diabetes, and your healthcare team will work with you to determine which ones are best for you.
The choice of medication(s) depends on:
Medication | How should I take my medicine? | How does this medicine work? |
---|---|---|
| Take tablet(s) with meal or after meal to reduce gastro-intestinal side effects (e.g. loose stools). Do not split/ chew/ crush Metformin XR tablets. | Helps the body use insulin more effectively. |
Sulfonylureas
| Take tablet(s) within 30 minutes before meal(s). Do not miss or delay meals. | Increases insulin secretion by the pancreas. |
Take tablet(s) before the first meal of the day. | Increases glucose excretion in urine. | |
DPP-4 Inhibitors | Take tablet(s) with meal(s). | Increases insulin secretion by the pancreas. |
| Take tablet on an empty stomach with a sip of water. Wait at least 30 minutes before eating, drinking or taking other oral medications. Do not split, crush or chew the tablets. | Increases insulin secretion by the pancreas, reduces appetite, slows down digestion, and causes weight loss. |
Acarbose (Glucobay®) | Take tablet(s) with the first mouthful of food, or immediately before each of the three main meals. | Reduces carbohydrate absorption. |
Pioglitazone (Actos®) | Take tablet(s) before or after meal(s). | Helps the body use insulin more effectively. |
Repaglinide (Novonorm®) | Take tablet(s) immediately before each main meal. Do not miss or delay meals. | Increases insulin secretion by the pancreas. |
Medication | How should I take my medicine? | How does this medicine work? |
---|---|---|
Inject with a pen once a day in the morning, or once a week on the same day each week (depending on type of medication). | Increases insulin secretion by the pancreas, reduces appetite, slows down digestion, and causes weight loss. | |
Insulin | Inject with either insulin syringe or pen. There are different types of insulin to fit your body’s needs. | Some people with Type 2 Diabetes are unable to produce insulin. Therefore, insulin injections will replace what the body cannot make. |
Fixed ratio combination of insulin and GLP-1 receptor agonist (Soliqua®) | Inject with a pen once a day in the morning. | This medication is a combination of a GLP-1 receptor agonist and basal insulin in a single injection. |