Nutrition's ~ Nation 3: Understanding Diabetes Medications

Saturday, July 22, 2023

Understanding Diabetes Medications

Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. It occurs when the body's ability to produce or use insulin, a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels, is impaired. Managing diabetes involves a combination of lifestyle changes, diet, exercise, and, in many cases, medications. In this blog, we will delve into the various types of diabetes medications, how they work, and their potential side effects.

Oral Medications:

1.1. Metformin: Metformin is often the first-line medication prescribed for type 2 diabetes. It improves insulin sensitivity in cells, reduces glucose production by the liver, and helps lower blood sugar levels. Metformin is generally well-tolerated, but some individuals may experience gastrointestinal side effects such as nausea or diarrhoea.

1.2. Sulfonylureas:

These medications stimulate the pancreas to release more insulin. Examples include glipizide, glyburide, and glimepiride. While effective in lowering blood sugar levels, sulfonylureas may cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) if not taken correctly.

1.3. DPP-4 Inhibitors:

DPP-4 inhibitors block the breakdown of incretin hormones, which helps increase insulin release after meals and reduce glucagon secretion. Sitagliptin and saxagliptin are common DPP-4 inhibitors. Side effects are generally mild, including headaches and upper respiratory tract infections.

1.4. SGLT2 Inhibitors:

Sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors reduce blood sugar levels by increasing glucose excretion through urine. Empagliflozin and canagliflozin are examples of SGLT2 inhibitors. Side effects may include urinary tract infections and an increased risk of ketoacidosis in some cases.

Injectable Medications 2.1. Insulin:

Insulin is a hormone that allows glucose to enter cells, where it can be used for energy. It is essential for people with type 1 diabetes and some individuals with type 2 diabetes who have insulin deficiency or resistance. Insulin is administered through injections or insulin pumps, and various types are available, such as rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting, and long-acting insulin.

2.2. GLP-1 Receptor Agonists:

GLP-1 receptor agonists mimic the effects of incretin hormones, stimulating insulin release, slowing down digestion, and reducing appetite. They are injectable medications and may cause gastrointestinal side effects like nausea and vomiting.

Combination Medications:

In some cases, multiple diabetes medications are combined into a single pill. These combination medications can simplify treatment and improve medication adherence.

Conclusion:

Diabetes medications play a crucial role in managing blood sugar levels and preventing complications associated with the disease. However, they are not a cure for diabetes, and their effectiveness can vary from person to person. It is essential to work closely with a healthcare provider to determine the most suitable medications and dosages based on individual needs and medical history. Alongside medications, lifestyle modifications, regular exercise, and a balanced diet are fundamental components of diabetes management.

Diabetes treatment: Medications for type 2 diabetes

Lifestyle choices, including eating a healthy diet, exercising and staying at a healthy weight, are key to managing type 2 diabetes. But you also might need to take medication to keep your blood sugar, also called glucose, at a healthy level. Sometimes one medication is enough. In other cases, taking several medications works better.

Diabetes treatment: Lowering blood sugar:

Several classes of type 2 diabetes medicines exist. Each class of medicine works in a different way to lower blood sugar. A medication may work by causing the pancreas to make and release more insulin.

Limiting the liver's ability to make and release sugar. Blocking the action of enzymes in the intestines that break down carbohydrates, slowing how quickly cells take in carbohydrates. Improving cells' sensitivity to insulin.

Limiting the kidneys' ability to take in sugar, which increases the amount of sugar that leaves the body in urine. Slowing how quickly food moves through the stomach. Each class of medicine has one or more medications. Some of these medications are taken by mouth, while others must be taken as a shot.

Type 2 Diabetes: What Happens When Sugar Goes High?

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic and long-lasting health condition where your pancreatic cells don't produce enough insulin or your body cells become resistant to insulin, that is they can't respond to the insulin the way they should. This in turn leads to an increased level of sugar in your bloodstream.

Insulin is the hormone secreted by your pancreas which regulates the amount of glucose in your blood. It is the most common form of diabetes. 90% of diabetes patients have type 2 diabetes. Around 29 million American people are suffering from type 2 diabetes. Old-age people are more prone to type 2 diabetes, Guest Posting but it can also occur in obese children. Therefore it is known as adult-onset diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes can't be cured completely, however, it can be controlled with a few dietary changes and regular exercise. If diet and exercise don't seem helpful, your doctor may prescribe you a few medications to ease the symptoms and control your blood sugar levels.

Symptoms Of Type 2 Diabetes:

People with type 2 diabetes don't even notice any symptoms at the beginning. The symptoms of type 2 diabetes occur gradually with time. Sometimes the people who have type 2 diabetes are unaware of their disease. Some of the common symptoms of type 2 diabetes may include.

Excessive thirst

Excessive urination

Blurred vision

Numb hands or feet

Tingling sensation in the body

Extreme fatigue

Sores or wounds that take time to heal or won't heal

Extreme hunger

Infections

Unexplained weight loss

Dark rashes around armpits and neck.

Sometimes people with type 2 diabetes also lead to an inability to achieve an erection in men. Fildena 100 is often prescribed by doctors to treat erection issues in men. Fildena 100 is a sildenafil citrate pill, a PDE5 inhibitor that improves the blood supply to the penis by relaxing the penile smooth muscles, thus causing an erection. Fildena 100 is an FDA-approved pill that is used to help a man regain his erections.

Fildena 100 also interacts with some medications used to treat other health issues, thus increasing your chances of getting potential side effects.

Causes Of Type 2 Diabetes:

Type 2 diabetes mainly occurs due to the following two reasons:-

Either your pancreatic cells don't form enough insulin to regulate the blood sugar levels. Or your body cells become resistant to insulin and can't respond to the insulin in the way they should, leading to increased glucose in your blood. The exact cause of why these two things happen is not known but the following risk factors may contribute to the condition.

Excess body weight

Physical inactivity

Family history of the disease

Belonging to Black, Hispanic, Native American and Asian people, and Pacific racial communities.

High cholesterol levels

Age above 45 years

Prediabetes

Gestational diabetes

Polycystic ovary syndrome

High blood pressure

Heart and blood vessel disease

Depression

Heavy alcohol intake

Smoking

Sleeping issues.

Complications Of Type 2 Diabetes:

Type 2 diabetes, if left untreated, can be chronic and may damage your blood vessels, nerves, and other vital body Following are some potential complications of type 2 diabetes.

Heart Disease:

High blood sugar levels can damage the arteries supplying blood to the heart, resulting in heart disease or heart attack.

Neuropathy:

Type 2 diabetes can damage the nerves in the limbs, leading to tingling, pain, numbness, or burning sensation in the toes or fingers, which gradually spread upwards.

Kidney Disease:

A high sugar level in the blood may damage the arteries supplying blood to the kidney and may lead to leaky blood vessels, which may restrict the blood flow to the kidney resulting in kidney disease.

Eye Damage:

Type 2 diabetes may damage the blood vessels in the retina of the eyes and make you susceptible to eye diseases like cataracts and glaucoma, resulting in blurred vision or permanent blindness.

Skin Problems:

High blood sugar levels make you more prone to bacterial and fungal infections. Also, it may cause difficulty in the healing of wounds or sores. The wounds may take time to heal or not heal.

Hearing Issues:

People with type 2 diabetes often face difficulty in hearing. A high glucose level in the blood may damage the nerves in your ears which may lead to hearing impairment.

Memory Problems:

Memory issues are often found to be associated with type 2 diabetes. This may increase your chances of getting Alzheimer's disease and other memory issues like dementia. In addition, poorly managed blood sugar levels are linked to a sharp decline in memory or mental health. It may also restrict your thinking ability and ability to concentrate.

Erection Problems:

High blood sugar level is one of the leading risk factors for erection issues in men. Fildena 100 which is used to treat erection problems in men, is a PDE5 inhibitor that helps regain erections. However, fildena 100 has some side effects like headaches, vomiting, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, etc. Nevertheless, Fildena 100 is found to be quite helpful in achieving a firm and long-lasting erection. But Fildena 100 needs to be used cautiously while having other pills as it may interact with other pills and may lead to severe side effects. organs like the eyes, kidneys, and heart, which can lead to serious health complications.

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