Free Article: Diabetes Medication

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Purpose And Effects Of Diabetes Medication
By M. A. Fulmar

Before thirty years of age many individuals get Type 1 diabetes, since their bodies do not make enough insulin it is necessary that they take it as diabetes medication. In order for the body to work insulin must help transform food into energy. After the age of forty people may get Type 2 diabetes although some can get it at a younger age. With Type 2 diabetes, a good diet, exercise and weight loss can be enough to correct the problem but if these do not work then one or more types of diabetes medication will be needed to help correct the problem.

The Purpose Of Diabetes Medication

Depending on the type of diabetes that needs to be treated, diabetes medication will be taken for different reasons. For Type 1 diabetic's insulin is needed for giving your body the necessary insulin it needs since the pancreas is no longer producing the necessary amounts. For Type 2 diabetes, the purpose of diabetes medication is typically to help the body correctly use the insulin it is producing. For many individuals the only way to control Type 2 diabetes is with medication. Depending on what is needed a doctor will often either prescribe oral diabetes medication or insulin for Type 2 diabetes patients.

Types Of Diabetes Medication

Diabetes medication typically only comes in two forms: insulin and oral medication. Insulin must be taken by any individual with Type 1 diabetes while only a few with Type 2 diabetes will need to take insulin. Oral medications are only taken by those with Type 2 diabetes and never those with Type 1. Oral medications are typically used by those with Type 2 diabetes in addition to their diet and exercise to help keep blood glucose levels in normal ranges.

Types Of Insulin

Insulin has five main types for use in diabetic patients: rapid-acting, short acting, intermediate acting, long acting and premixed. There are different speeds at which these five types of insulin work and many individuals will have to take two different types. The types are determined by when they reach their peak period of activity and how quickly or slowly they work in a person's body.

Oral Medication For Diabetes

Blood glucose is lowered in different ways depending on the type of oral medication being taken by the individual. There are six groups of oral diabetes medicine. The pancreas is stimulated to make more insulin with sulfonylureas and meglitinides. The amount of glucose produced by the liver is decreased with biguanides. Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors help to slow the process of absorbing the starches. Sensitivity to insulin is caused by thiazolidinediones. The pancreas is helped to quickly produce more insulin with D-phenylalanine derivatives.

Author Details:
M. A. Fulmar writes about Diabetes and other health matters for various web sites including, The A to Z of and Information Junkie.

Source: Free Health Article Directory

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