Purpose of Type 1 Diabetes Medication
Most people make insulin in their
pancreas. If you have
type 1 diabetes, your body does not make insulin. Insulin helps glucose from the foods you eat get to all parts of your body and be used for energy. Because your body no longer makes insulin, you need to take insulin in shots as
diabetes medication.
Purpose of Type 2 Diabetes Medication
If you have
type 2 diabetes, your pancreas usually makes plenty of insulin; however, your body cannot correctly use the insulin you make.
Diabetes medicines are central to controlling type 2 diabetes for many people. Healthcare providers may prescribe diabetes medication (either those taken by mouth or injection), insulin, or a combination of both as needed.
People with type 2 diabetes may not need to take diabetes medications if they can reach glucose,
blood pressure, and
cholesterol goals through:
- Meal planning
- Eating the right foods
- Physical activity.
Types of Diabetes Medication
There are three different types of medications for people with diabetes:
- Insulin
- Oral diabetes medications
- Other injectable diabetes medicines.
Everyone with type 1 diabetes and some people with type 2 diabetes will take insulin. Oral diabetes medications are only used for people with type 2 diabetes. Injectable medicines besides insulin may be used for people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes (depending on the specific medicine).
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