What insulin and medications do diabetes patients take?To control blood glucose (sugar), doctors prescribe to diabetes patients oral medication or insulin injections. Listed below are some of the more commonly prescribed diabetes medications. Oral diabetes medications (pills) include:- Metformin (generic) / Glucophage, Glucophage XR, Riomet, Fortamet and Glumetza (brands) Metformin comes in other brand names, and is a common oral medication prescribed to diabetes patients to treat Diabetes 2 before doctors prescribe insulin. Metformin controls blood glucose ("sugar") levels, by helping the body use insulin to move glucose into cells used for energy in the body. There are few side effects, and the drug does not cause Hypoglycemia. Metformin can also lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
Insulin injections can be either fast-acting, intermediate acting, long or slow-acting, and long-acting. Rapid-acting insulin includes:- Lispro (generic) / Humalog (brand) Lispro is a human form of insulin and a[[ears clear. Other types of insulin are made from pork and appear cloudy. Lispro reduces blood glucose ("sugar") levels rapidly, usually within fifteen (15) minutes of injection; it lowers blood sugar faster than other types of insulin. However, it does not last as long in the body as slower-acting types of insulin do. My loved on takes Humalog, and it is extremely important to follow your doctor's instructions, because you need to eat about fifteen minutes before injection of Lispro to counter the rapid-acting effect of this medication in lowering your body's glucose ("sugar"). If you do not eat or fail to monitor your blood sugar after injection of Lispro, you can quickly go into Hypoglycemia.
Short-acting insulin includes: - Humalin R (HR) / Novolin Short-acting insulin is referred to as "regular" insulin, and begins to work in the body approximately thirty (30) to sixty (60) minutes after injection. Its effects peak approximately 2 to 3 hours after injection. Diabetes patients are usually instructed to eat a meal immediately after taking their HR injection.
Intermediate-acting insulin includes:- NPH and Lente - Intermediate-acting insulin appears cloudy and starts lowering blood sugar levels between two (2) to four (4) hours after injection, and continues working in the body for about twenty-four (24) hours. Its effects peak between four (4) to fourteen (14) hours after injection. Because
some diabetics are allergic to NPH, doctors may prescribe Lente instead.
Long-acting insulin includes:- UltraLente (brand name Humalin U) - UltraLente is a long-acting insulin that begins to work between six (6) to ten (10) hours after injection. It is ususually injected in the morning or at bedtime.
- Glargine (brand name, Lantus) - Glargine is an even longer-acting insulin that begins to lower blood sugar levels about one (1) hour after injection, and keeps working for approximately 24 hours. My loved one had a very difficult time controlling her blood glucose ("sugar") levels for years, until her doctor put her on a combination of Humalog (pen) injections fifteen (15) minutes before breakfast and dinner, and then 30 units of Lantus at bedtime. Ever since, her fasting blood sugar tested in the morning ranges between 100 and 150. Everybody's situation is unique, so make sure to keep good records of your blood sugar levels for your doctor to see and follow their instructions to keep tight control over your blood glucose levels.
To help control high blood pressure, doctors prescribe to diabetes patients
oral medications (pill), such as Lisinopril. To help control high cholesterol, doctors prescribe to diabetes patients oral medications (pill), such as Simvastatin |
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