What Are The Different Kinds Of Pills That Are Used To Treat Diabetes And When Are They Used?

Dr. Nathan answers the question: 'What Kinds Of Diabetes Pills Exist?'

ByABC News
November 5, 2007, 3:25 PM

— -- Question:What are the different kinds of pills that are used to treat diabetes and when are they used?

Answer:There are several different classes of medications to treat type 2 diabetes. Some pills increase the availability of insulin. They actually stimulate the pancreas to make more insulin. Other medications make your body more sensitive to insulin, so that whatever insulin you have -- that either you're making naturally or if you're given an insulin injection -- they will make your body more sensitive to it and will have the insulin work better. There's another group of medications that actually decreases the rate of absorption of food from your intestines. So that decreases the rate of increase in blood sugar levels that usually occurs after a meal. These medicines are used in combination or individually, and all of them are used quite commonly to treat type 2 diabetes.

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