Tablets and Diabetes
- People with Type 2 diabetes are often
prescribed tablets to help control blood glucose levels.
- Tablets are not suitable for people
with Type 1 diabetes (juvenile diabetes).
- If healthy eating and regular exercise
does not reduce blood sugar to normal levels, tablets are necessary.
- Tablets are not a substitute for
healthy eating.
- Overtime, tablets may no longer work
and insulin injections may be needed.
- Sometimes insulin injections are used
in combination with tablets.
- Regular blood sugar testing checks how
well the tablets are working.
- Tablets may cause side-effects. Speak
to your doctor or diabetes nurse about this.
- During illness, a higher dosage of
tablets may be needed to control blood sugar levels. Sometimes
insulin injections may also be required at this time.
- Tablets are not suitable for treating
diabetes during pregnancy.
(See Diabetes and Pregnancy)
Types of Tablets
Tablets to treat diabetes can be divided
into 3 groups. These tablets can be taken alone or with a tablet from
another group.
- Sulphonylureas
- Biguanide
- Acarbose
|
Tablet
Group Name |
Tablet
Trade Name |
How
it works |
When
to take |
|
1. Sulphonylureas |
Daonil
Euglocon
Glimel
Diabinese
Rastinon
Diamicron
Minidiab
Melizide
|
This
group stimulates the pancreas to produce more insulin. May cause
low blood sugar level.
See Hypoglycaemia |
Before/ with meals |
|
2. Biguanides |
Diabex
Diaformin
Glucophage |
This group helps insulin work
better. Unlikely to cause a low blood sugar level unless taken
with a tablet from the sulphonurea group or insulin.
|
With/
after meals |
|
3. Acarbose |
Glucobay |
This tablet slows the digestion of
carbohydrate (starchy food). This reduces the rise of sugar in the
blood after meals. Glocobay will not cause a low blood sugar level
unless taken with a tablet from the sulphonurea group or insulin.
|
With
meals |
Special Note:
If a low blood sugar
occurs while taking Glucobay, it should be treated with glucose e.g.
jelly beans, Lucozade.
Ordinary sugar or fruit juice will take
too long to work.
Diabetes & You The essential guide 1999
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