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Types of Oral Diabetes Medicines
Your doctor may prescribe one or more oral diabetes medicines to help you with blood sugar control As your body changes over time, your doctor may change your treatment to help control your blood sugar, such as:
- Changing your dose
- Adding a new oral diabetes medicine
- Switching your oral diabetes medicines
Learn What Different Types of Oral Diabetes
Medicines Do
Several types of oral diabetes medicines can treat type 2 diabetes:
| Types of oral diabetes medicines |
What they do |
| Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors |
- Prevent the breakdown of starches, like bread, potatoes, and pasta, in the intestine.
- Slow the breakdown of some sugars.
|
| Biguanides |
- Reduce the amount of sugar produced by the liver.
- Make muscle tissue more sensitive to insulin so that sugar can be absorbed.
|
| DPP-4 inhibitors |
- Help improve A1c level without causing low blood sugar (hypoglycemia).
- Prevent breakdown of naturally occurring enzyme in the body.
|
| Sulfonylureas and meglitinides |
- Stimulate the beta cells in the pancreas to release more insulin.
|
| Thiazolidinediones |
- Help insulin work better in the muscle and fat.
- Reduce the liver’s sugar production.
- Target insulin resistance.
|
What Is Right For You?
Only you and your doctor can decide what is right for you.
If your doctor prescribes oral diabetes medicine, the medicine is just part of your treatment. You also need to live a healthy lifestyle and test your blood sugar.
*Only your doctor can decide if AVANDIA is right for you. AVANDIA is not right for everyone.
Taking AVANDIA with insulin or nitrates is not recommended.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION for AVANDIA® (rosiglitazone maleate)
AVANDIA can cause or worsen heart failure. If you have severe heart failure (very poor pumping ability of the heart) you cannot be started on AVANDIA. AVANDIA is also not recommended if you have heart failure with symptoms (such as shortness of breath or swelling), even if these symptoms are not severe.
AVANDIA may increase your risk of other heart problems that occur when there is reduced blood flow to the heart, such as chest pain (angina) or heart attack (myocardial infarction). This risk appeared higher in patients taking medicines called nitrates or insulin.
If you have chest pain or a feeling of chest pressure, you should seek immediate medical attention, regardless of what diabetes medicines you are taking. If you take AVANDIA, tell your doctor right away if you have swollen legs or ankles, a rapid increase in weight or difficulty breathing, or unusual tiredness; experience changes in vision; become pregnant.
Before taking AVANDIA, review your medical history and tell your doctor if you:
- Have heart failure or other heart problems, or are on any medicines for high blood pressure, high cholesterol or heart failure, or for prevention of heart disease or stroke.
- Take insulin or nitrate medicines. Taking AVANDIA with insulin or with nitrates is not recommended.
- Have a type of diabetic eye disease called macular edema.
- Have liver problems or had liver problems while taking REZULIN® (troglitazone).
- Are pregnant or planning to become pregnant.
- Are breastfeeding or planning to breastfeed.
Women taking AVANDIA should know that AVANDIA may increase the risk of pregnancy. More fractures have been observed in women taking AVANDIA. Other possible side effects of AVANDIA include anemia and hypoglycemia. Your doctor should do blood tests to check your liver before you start AVANDIA and during treatment as needed.
Prescription AVANDIA, along with diet and exercise, helps improve blood sugar control in adults with type 2 diabetes.
For more information about AVANDIA, please see Medication Guide and full Prescribing Information, including Boxed WARNING.
