Diabetic Medication
There are many different types of diabetic medication. What type you are prescribed depends upon your age, the type of diabetes you are diagnosed with, the nature of the diabetes, as well as the situation each particular person is in. This article will explore the different common types of diabetes and the diabetic medication for each type, as well as alternative medications and supplements that may help in your condition:
Type-I Diabetes
Normally, those with type-I diabetes are treated with insulin injections or pumps because they lack insulin in their bloodstream. Although some doctors may try oral diabetic medication, at first, these patients almost always graduate to insulin injections, IVs, or pumps. Depending upon what type of car you need, your doctor may provide you with rapid acting insulin, intermediate acting insulin, or long acting insulin. They may even try combinations of these drugs, or injections and pills, to get your diabetes under control. Most patients who use insulin have been diagnosed with type-I diabetes, though those with type-II diabetes may also be prescribed insulin. This all depends upon how long you have had diabetes, your overall health, other drugs you take, and how high your glucose levels in your blood happen to be.
Type-II Diabetes
The first step in “medicating” patients who have been diagnosed with type-II diabetes is for them to diet, change their lifestyles, lose weight, and to begin exercising on a regular basis. If this is not enough to get glucose levels under control, doctors may prescribe oral medications (pills). These help to decrease insulin resistance, the main cause of type-II. If the patient has still not achieved their goals after trying to change and taking pills, the doctor may also prescribe insulin injections in conjunction with oral medication. Type-II is the most common type of diabetes in the United States. Patients will also normally monitor their insulin levels with meters that sample the blood. Such meters and the test strips often required to do the tests can be expensive. But there are sources to find cheaper alternatives than going to your pharmacy each time you need to restock.
Alternative Medications and Supplements
Other options that may help patients with diabetes (but not cure the disease, as it is a condition to just be controlled, not cured at this time) may be that of alternative diabetic medication and supplements. These can include medications in the forms of caplets, pills, liquids, tablets, or powders. Many normal types include botanicals from plants, fatty acids, minerals, vitamins, or herbs. Ginseng is commonly used for treatment for diabetes, although, just like other supplements, there may be serious medical implications or drug interactions that you will want to discuss with your doctor before starting any kind of supplement. Your doctor can recommend safe supplements, as well as safe over-the-counter medications for those with diabetes to use on a regular basis. They also will be able to find the best drug combinations to help you keep your disease under control.