Not everyone with diabetes will need to take medication. For example, some people with type 2 diabetes can manage their condition through healthy eating and exercise alone. Other people, however, will need medication in order to control their blood glucose. The three main types of diabetes medication are insulin, oral diabetes medication, and other injectable diabetes medicines. If you have type 1 diabetes -- or if you have type 2 diabetes that cannot be controlled through lifestyle changes -- you will need to take one or more of these medications.
Medications for Diabetes: An Overview
Type 1 is the type of
diabetes that people most often get before they reach 30 years of age. All people with
type 1 diabetes need to take insulin as diabetes medication because their bodies do not make enough of it. Insulin helps turn food into energy for the body to work.
Type 2 is the type of diabetes most people get as adults after the age of 40. But you can also get this kind of diabetes at a younger age.
Healthy eating, exercise, and losing weight may help you lower your blood glucose (also called blood sugar) when you find out you have
type 2 diabetes. If these
diabetes treatment options do not work, you may need one or more types of diabetes medication to lower your blood glucose. After a few more years, you may need to take insulin shots because your body is not making enough insulin.
You, your healthcare provider, and your diabetes educator should always work together to find the best diabetes plan for you.
Purpose of Diabetes Medication
The purpose of diabetes medications may depend on the type of diabetes involved.
Most people have either:
- Type 1 diabetes
- Type 2 diabetes.
Pregnant women may develop a form of the illness known as gestational diabetes.
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