Have you been living with type 2 diabetes, or maybe you were just diagnosed? According to the CDC, 1.4 million new cases were diagnosed amongst people over 18 in 2019 alone1. The list of possible medications can be overwhelming. Let us help you better understand the medications that are used to treat diabetes and how you and your doctor can figure out which one will be best for you.
What is Type 2 Diabetes?
If you have recently been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, there may be a lot that you don’t understand yet about how this affects your body. In type 2 diabetes, there are two problems that are most prevalent. The first is that your pancreas isn’t producing enough insulin, and the second is that your cells respond poorly to insulin and take in less sugar2. There is currently no cure for type 2 diabetes but things like diet, exercise, and medication can be used to help control it.
What type of medicine is best for me?
The number of medications available for type 2 diabetes can be overwhelming. It is important to talk through all medication options with a healthcare professional to manage your meds. Here are a few different categories of meds that are used to treat type 2 diabetes.
DPP-4 Inhibitors – Help reduce blook sugar levels. Have a moderate effect.3
Example: Januvia
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists – Injectable mediations that slow digestion to lower blood sugar levels.3
Example: Bydureon, Victoza, and Ozempic
SGLT2 Inhibitors – Affect the function in the kidneys to block glucose from returning to the blood stream. 3
Example: Farxiga and Jardiance
Insulin Therapy – Injectable insulin. Used to help reach target blood sugar levels when other medications and lifestyle changes aren’t enough.
Example: Humalog, Lantus, and Levemir
Discovering you need to take a new medication and mange a disease can be overwhelming. There are so many options to choose from and making the right choice for you matters. Continue to have open conversations with your doctor about your treatment options. When facing a new challenge, we want to be there for all our clients. Reach out to see how we can help with the cost of your diabetes medication today!
- CDC 2022 National Diabetes Statistics Report – https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/data/statistics-report/index.html?
- Harvard Health: Type 2 diabetes: Which medication is best for me? – https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/type-2-diabetes-which-medication-is-best-for-me-2020110521256
- Mayo Clinic: Type 2 diabetes – https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-2-diabetes/symptoms-causes/syc-20351193