Type 2 Diabetes Medications

In the past year and so several brand new Type 2 Diabetes Medications have been approved to treat type 2 diabetes. These are not just new medicines but are a completely new category of drugs that work in completely different ways than the standard medications. Here are some of them:
DPP-4 Inhibitors: These drugs block an enzyme (DPP-4) that normally deactivates a protein (GLP-1) that keeps insulin circulating in the blood. Slowing the deactivation process helps reduce sugar production, lowering blood glucose levels.
Januvia: The first of the DPP-4 inhibitors to be approved by the Food and Drug Administration which is an oral medication that is taken once a day either alone with diet and exercise or in combination with other oral diabetes medications.
Incretin Mimetics: These mimic the action of incretin hormones which help the body make more insulin. They also slow the rate of digestion so that glucose enters the blood more slowly.
Byetta is an injectable medication that is used in combination with other oral diabetes medications. It is not insulin and doesnt take its place. It is used for type 2 diabetes only and cannot be given with insulin. Byetta comes in a pre-filled injector pen. The dose is 5 mcg. to start, twice a day within 60 minutes prior to your morning and evening meals. Your doctor may increase the dose to 10 mcg. based on your results.
Antihyperglycemic Synthetic Analogs: These are medications that are created as synthetic versions of human substances, in this case a human hormone called amylin, which is used by the pancreas to lower blood glucose levels.
Symlin is an injectable medication which is used with insulin for tighter blood glucose control. Symlin can increase the risk of severe hypoglycemia, therefore patients who are put on Symlin are selected carefully and monitored closely by their healthcare providers.
Sulfonylureas: These medications are the oldest of the oral diabetes drugs and until 1995 they were the only drugs available for managing type 2 diabetes. Sulfonylureas stimulate the pancreas to release more insulin into the blood stream. Hypoglycemia can be a side effect of these drugs.
First generation: Orinase, Tolinase and Diabinese
Second generation: Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL, Micronase or Diabeta
Third generation: Amaryl
Biguanides: These lower the production of glucose that is made in the liver and the body more sensitive to insulin. Cholesterol levels may be lowered as well.
Glucophage, Glucophage XR (metformin): There is very little risk of hypoglycemia when metformin is used alone. Lactic acidosis can be a rare but serious side effect.
Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors: These delay the conversion of carbohydrates into glucose during digestion. This prevents blood glucose levels from peaking too high.
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