Medications for type 2 diabetes (3/5)
Medications are given to people with type 2 diabetes to help manage their blood glucose levels in conjunction with healthy dietary habits and daily physical activities. As a consultant pharmacist, I aim to enhance quality use of medicines. PLEASE SPEAK WITH YOUR DOCTOR REGARDING YOUR SPECIFIC TREATMENTS.
The following information is designed to give you anoverview of current treatment options available in Australia to help lowering blood glucose levels. For more detailed information, such as side effects and precautions, please speak with your pharmacist and ask for a CMI (Consumer Medicine Information) printout on your particular medication. Since there may be many brands on some medications, I have provided the chemical name of each medication to avoid confusion.
Thiazolidinediones (include pioglitazone and rosiglitazone)
- Mode of action: increases the sensitivity of muscle and fat cells to your own insulin and reduces glucose production by the liver.
- Can be taken with or without food.
- Does not cause hypoglycaemia by itself.
- However hypo may occur when it is used with other blood glucose lowering medications.
- Side effects: weight gain, fluid accumulation, headache and dizziness.
- Not recommended for people with liver disease or heart failure.
- Not recommended for pregnancy and breastfeeding
DPP-4 inhibitors (include alogliptin, linagliptin, saxagliptin, sitagliptin, vildagliptin)
- Mode of action: inhibits the enzyme DPP-4 thus increase the concentration of incretin hormones which increases glucose-dependent insulin secretion and decrease glucagon secretion (glucagon is a hormone which can increase blood glucose level, thus it has opposite effects to that of insulin).
- Can be taken with or without food.
- Unlikely to cause hypoglycaemia by itself.
- However hypo may occur when it is used with other blood glucose lowering medications.
- Unlikely to cause weight gain.
- Side effects: headache, musculoskeletal pain
- Not recommended for pregnancy and breastfeeding.
♥ University Lecturer & Meditation Practitioner
♥ Credentialled Diabetes Educator
♥ WEIGHT & PAIN Management Consultant
♥ Consultant Clinical Pharmacist
