Type 2 Diabetes Medications to Manage Blood Glucose
By Hope Warshaw, RD, CDE and Susan Sloane, R.Ph., CDE, CPT, Reviewed 2010
Over the last 15 years, the understanding of type 2 diabetes as well as its management has advanced by leaps and bounds. It's now well-known that type 2 is a progressive disease, which means that to stay healthy over the years, you'll likely need to take one or more types of blood-glucose-lowering medicines. That's why, over time, it's important to work with your health-care provider to track your treatment to keep your blood glucose in control.
Know Your Meds
It's important to understand how each medication you take works-and to take it according to your provider's instructions.
- Stay informed. Ask your health-care providers or pharmacist if you don't understand something about a medication.
- Ask about how long it will take for a new medication to start to lower your blood glucose and become maximally effective.
- Ask about how many points you can expect a new medication to lower your blood glucose when it is maximally effective.
- Know the best time of day or when in relation to your meals to take your pills. Try to take them as directed. <
- Know the possible side effects (positive and negative), how to deal with them, and when to alert your provider about problems.
- Realize that your provider prescribes medications based on your health history. Don't try to follow another person's plan or stop or start taking medications without consulting your provider.
- Test your blood glucose as directed and learn how your prescribed medication changes may affect it.
