Types of Diabetes Pills

Sulfonylureas help the body to make more insulin. Some common brands include Glucotrol, Glipizide, Glimepiride, Amaryl and Glyburide.

They are usually taken 30 minutes before a meal.

Possible side effects:

~Hypoglycemia

~Drowsiness

~Headache

~Dizziness

Meglitinides increase insulin production when glucose level is high. Current brands include Starlix (repaglinide) and Prandin  (nateglinide). Meglitinides are usually taken before each meal.

Possible side effects:

~Low blood sugar

~Slight increased risk for heart conditions

~Diarrhea

~Headache

Keep in mind that sulfonylureas and meglitinides stimulate the release of insulin; therefore it possible to have hypoglycemia (low blood glucose levels).

Alpha-glucosidase Inhibitors help to lower blood glucose by slowing the digestion of sugar and starches to prevent blood sugar from getting too high after meals. Current brands include Glyset and Precose (acarbose). They are taken with the first bite of each main meal.

Possible side effects:

~Abdominal pain

~Excess gas

~Diarrhea

Thiazolidinediones reduce glucose production and help your muscle cells better utilize insulin. Popular brands include Actos (pioglitazone) and Avandia (rosiglitazone). Some doctors will order blood work to check your liver’s function before prescribing and monitor for possible liver problems. There is also a risk of heart failure with some individuals. However, these classes of medications have shown an improvement in HgbA1c levels.

Possible side effects:

~Upper respiratory infections

~Weight gain

~Swelling

~Headache

Biguanides help to control the amount of glucose produced by helping muscles use insulin more effectively. Some current brands include Glucophage (metformin), which is one of the most popular choices among physicians.  It is usually taken twice a day.

Possible side effects include:

~Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea

~Abdominal bloating

~Excess gas

~Metallic taste in mouth

DPP-4 Inhibitors help lower blood sugar in type 2-diabetics. This class of medication has shown an improvement in HgbA1c levels and is less likely to cause hypoglycemia.  Januvia is a current brand.

Possible side effects:

~Upper respiratory tract infection

~Sore throat

~Stuffy/runny nose

~Headache

Oral combination therapy helps to keep blood sugar within your target range. They may help the pancreas make more insulin and the muscles use it more efficiently.   Many combinations are available but can be costly. Discuss the possible side effects with your health care provider.

Whenever you take these medications, hypoglycemia is a risk.  Watch for the symptoms, which include:

~Shakiness/Dizziness

~Hunger

~Headache

~Cold, clammy skin

~Confusion

~Irritability

~ A fast, hard heartbeat

If you experience adverse side effects or hypoglycemia often while taking any of your medications, contact your doctor or heath care provider immediately.

The HbA1c test determines the amount of glucose attached to your red blood cells.  Hemoglobin, which is within red blood cells, carries oxygen throughout your body. When your diabetes is not controlled and blood sugar is too high, more sugar will attach to the blood cells and it becomes “glycated.”

In other words, measuring the hemoglobin A1c level, determines the average amount of sugar in your blood.  The HbA1c test shows blood sugar control over the life of the blood cell. On average, red blood cells last 120 days. If your glucose levels have been elevated for a number of weeks, the results of the test will be higher.

Understanding the numbers?

For the non-diabetic, a normal HbA1c test is between 4% and 6%.  According to The American Diabetes Association, less than 7% is the goal for people with diabetes.  Keep in mind, the higher the HbA1c, the higher the risk of developing diabetes related complications.

For people living with diabetes, the HbA1c test should be repeated every three months to determine whether their blood sugars are within their target range. If your diabetes is managed well and under good control, you may be able to wait longer between the blood tests.  Ideally, the test should be repeated every 6 months for proper monitoring of your blood sugar levels.

Certain health conditions or diseases may alter test results. For example, the hemoglobin A1c test may be affected in a person with anemia, kidney or liver disease.  Some vitamin supplements may also influence results.  Discuss these topics and concerns with your health care provider.

FYI:

~ HbA1c is an easy way to assess average glucose levels over a period of several weeks.

~It is one of the best tests for evaluating the risk for glycemic damage to tissues and the risk of diabetes complications.

~Improving HbA1c will decrease the risk of diabetes related complications.

~HbA1c may be lower for the new type 2-diabetic who is more sensitive to lifestyle changes and medications.

~HbA1c may be higher for patients with acute or chronic medical problems.

~Check every 3 months for the type 1-diabetic or if not meeting target HbA1c

~For patients undergoing medical treatment, it may be necessary to check more often than 3 months

If you are unsure of what your numbers mean, discuss it with your health care provider. You should be knowledgeable and aware of your test and target results.

Metabolic syndrome is a set of risk factors of several health conditions including high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol levels, and insulin resistance.

A person with metabolic syndrome is unable to utilize insulin effectively, resulting in high blood sugar. Metabolic Syndrome increases the risk of developing type 2-diabetes, stroke and cardiovascular disease.

Clearly, having one of these risk factors is a concern, but a more serious problem arises when you have multiple risk factors.

Having multiple risk factors increases your chance of developing heart and blood vessel disease, leading to heart attacks, and stroke; However, you significantly increase your risk for developing type 2-diabetes.

Risk Factors

• Being overweight (abdominal obesity)
• Men with a waist greater than 40″
• Women with a waist greater than 35″
• BMI greater than 30
• HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol)- 40 mg/dl or lower in men, 50 mg/dl or lower in women
• Blood pressure- systolic of 130 or greater and diastolic of 85 or greater
• Serum triglycerides 150 mg/dl or greater
• Fasting blood sugar of 100 or greater
• Inactivity or a sedentary lifestyle further reduces the ability for the cells to respond to insulin
• Genetic factors may influence the disease.  If a family member has developed diabetes, heart disease or hypertension then you are at risk yourself.
• Aging and hormonal changes such as postmenopausal women may also lead to problems with the body utilizing insulin properly
• Poor diet; especially a simple carbohydrate diet

Prevention and Treatment

Even though metabolic syndrome is growing within the United States, simply dietary changes, losing weight and incorporating regular exercise into your daily routine can help you prevent it.

Unfortunately, many of us are not successful on lifestyle changes alone. If lifestyle changes are not enough, your physician may have to prescribe medication for controlling your blood pressure, cholesterol and possibly your blood sugar.

You may be anxious with the diagnosis of metabolic syndrome. However, it is better than being diagnosed with diabetes because there is still time to make positive improvements in your health.

Take a stand and take the steps to change old habits into better habits.

Never give up hope and remember that preventive steps and early detection is the best way to avoid development of disease.

Unfortunately, all diabetics will experience hyperglycemia in their life.  The key is identifying the symptoms and treat quickly and appropriately.  Symptoms usually occur when blood sugars rise above 200 mg/dl, but everyone is different. The symptoms develop over a period of a few days, however; the longer the levels are elevated, the more serious the symptoms.

If left untreated, hyperglycemia can lead to more serious conditions including ketoacidosis (typically type 1 diabetics), hyperglycemic hyperosmolor nonketotic syndrome (typically type 2 diabetics) and diabetic coma. These are emergency conditions and require immediate medical care. There will be damage to the nerves, blood vessels or organs, if hyperglycemia goes untreated for extended periods of time or if it occurs recurrently, so understand the cause  and pay attention to the symptoms.

Causes:

~Skipping insulin or not taking enough medication

~Eating too much food; especially carbohydrates

~Infection or illness

~Stress

~Decreased activity

Symptoms of Hyperglycemia:

~Increased thirst

~Frequent urination

~Nausea, dizziness

~Itchy or dry skin

~Weakness

~Poor healing wounds or infections

~Blurred vision

~Rapid breathing

Treatment:

~ Check your blood sugar and check again every 4 hours.

~If taking insulin or other diabetic medications, follow sick day plan for taking medications.

~Don’t drink fruit juice or sugared beverages.

~Check your urine for ketones as directed by health care provider.

~Call your health care provider, if your blood sugar and ketones do not return to the target range.

~Call emergency care if you are vomiting and unable to keep food or fluids down.

~Call emergency care if your blood sugar remains above 240 mg/dl and you have ketones in urine.

Prevention:

There are steps you can take to help prevent your blood sugar from getting too high.

~Follow your meal plan and consume only the amount of food that is on the plan.

~Follow your exercise regimen

~Take your medications or insulin as directed by your physician or health care provider.

~Test your blood sugar regularly.

~ Control your stress levels.

The bottom line….
Hyperglycemia is serious and dangerous.  Treat your diabetes with respect and follow your plan. Always check your blood sugar and pay attention to symptoms.  Remember, that your body speaks to you, so listen and stay well.

All diabetics are at risk of hypoglycemia. Hypoglycemia can occur when glucose is released in the bloodstream to slowly or if too much insulin is released and glucose lowers too quickly. Keep in mind that certain medications and insulin may increase the risk.

 You can increase your risk:

~If you are not taking your medications or insulin correctly.

~If you are taking too much insulin

~If you take your medications or insulin and don’t eat enough food

~If you skip or wait too long between your meals or snacks

~If you consume alcohol

~If you increase or change your exercise regimen

Pay attention to the Symptoms of Hypoglycemia:

~Blurred or double vision

~Clammy skin or sweating

~Rapid heart beat

~Irritability, confusion or nervousness

~Shakiness or dizziness

~Weak or fatigued

~Headache

~Hunger

Treatment:

Treat hypoglycemia immediately. If blood sugar gets too low, fainting, coma or seizures may occur. It is imperative to check blood sugars regularly because not all diabetics have symptoms.

If your blood sugar falls below your target range, immediately consume 15 grams of fast acting carbohydrate. This could be 3 glucose tablets, 4 oz fruit juice or regular soda, or 1 Tbsp sugar. Check your blood sugar levels in 15 minutes. If there is no improvement, repeat these steps.  If blood sugar is still not improved, contact your healthcare provider or emergency care.   If hypoglycemia goes untreated, it may lead serious consequences.

Once improved and you are in a “safe” blood sugar range, eat something.  If your next meal is less than an hour away, eat it now.  If it is more than an hour away, eat a snack.  You may add protein to snack for blood sugar stability.

Taking the Steps in Preventing Hypoglycemia:

Prevention is key with hypoglycemia. Always follow your health care providers recommendation for diet, exercise and medication.

~Check your blood sugar regularly

~Check blood sugar before, during and after exercise.  Increase intake if you increase exercise

~Take medication as prescribed and eat on schedule

~ Check with your health care provider to see if you should be eating a bedtime snack

~ Speak to your health care provider about alcohol consumption. Never drink on an empty stomach and don’t exceed 1-2 drinks

~ Avoid simple carbohydrates

~ Always carry a fast acting sugar and snack when away from home

~ ALWAYS wear or carry a medical ID to alert others that you have diabetes.

Remember to be safe and take care of you!

Type 2 Diabetes is a chronic or lifelong condition that is characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels.

When we eat a meal, our bodies break down food into glucose and other nutrients.  These nutrients are then absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract into our bloodstream.

The carbohydrates in the meal causes blood sugar to rise and stimulates the beta cells of the pancreas to release insulin, a hormone that helps move blood sugar and nutrients from the blood into the cells to produce energy.  Insulin acts like a key, opening the door to cells, allowing glucose to enter.

In type 2-diabetes, the pancreas is not producing enough insulin or the cells do not respond to insulin properly. It is often a result of insulin resistance, where insulin becomes less effective.

Without insulin, glucose can’t get the cells and builds up in the bloodstream, resulting in high levels of blood sugar.

The majority of people that develop type 2- diabetes are overweight adults and was known previously as adult-onset diabetes.

Unfortunately, this is no longer true. More and more children and teenagers are being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.  The likely reason is a majority of kids and teens are consuming poor diets and are overweight.

There is a genetic risk with type 2 diabetes and certain ethnic populations are more likely to develop the disease; including people of African American, Native American, Hispanic/Latino, or Asian/Pacific Island descent.

Signs and Symptoms

Sometimes symptoms of type 2-diabetes take a long time to develop or may go unnoticed. Sometimes, there are no symptoms at all.

• Frequent urination
• Increased thirst
• Fatigue

Type 2-diabetes can lead to other problems such as heart disease, stroke, nerve and kidney damage, and eye problems.   It is important to keep blood glucose in control, along with controlling your cholesterol and blood pressure.

How to delay or prevent these problems:

~Watch your diet

~ Exercise

~ Maintain a healthy weight

Management 

You play a big role on how you manage your diabetes. You have the tools, so remember to use them.

It is important to learn what to eat, when to eat and how much to eat.  Include exercise in your daily regimen, get regular physical exams, check your blood sugar regularly and take any medications as prescribed.

Remember keep cholesterol and blood pressure in check!

Reactive Hypoglycemia, (low blood glucose or low blood sugar), occurs when blood glucose drops below normal levels. Glucose is an important source of energy for the body that we get from the food we eat. Carbohydrates are the main dietary source of glucose. Rice, potatoes, bread, tortillas, cereal, milk, fruit, and sweets are all carbohydrate-rich foods.

Hypoglycemia may happen suddenly. It is usually mild and can be treated quickly by eating or drinking a small amount of glucose-rich food. If left untreated, hypoglycemia can get worse and cause confusion, clumsiness, or fainting. Severe hypoglycemia can lead to seizures, coma, and even death.

Common Symptoms of Reactive Hypoglycemia:                                                               

• Shakiness or dizziness
• Cold, clammy skin or sweating
• Feelings of hunger
• Headache
• Nervousness
• Hard, fast heartbeat
• Weakness
• Confusion, irritability
• Blurred vision

How can I control Reactive Hypoglycemia?

• Eat nutritionally balanced meals

• Eat frequent meals and snacks

• Exercise regularly

• Weight management

• Medical supervision, if indicated

• Regular blood sugar checks, if advised

Controlling Reactive hypoglycemia with nutritionally balanced meals:

A snack very high in carbohydrate that consists mostly of simple sugar may cause your blood level to rise quickly and then fall quickly. You may experience the symptoms of rebound hypoglycemia.

One solution is to eat food with complex carbohydrates that are high in fiber (whole grain crackers, bagels, breads or cereal). Complex carbohydrates take longer to digest and help keep blood glucose within a normal range.

Protein, fiber and healthy fats help slow the digestion of the carbohydrate and keeps blood sugar more stable.  Good protein and fat sources include eggs, meat, low fat cheese, peanut butter, avocado, nuts and olive oil.

A better solution to prevent reactive hypoglycemia is to eat every 3 hours and combine a fiber food with a little bit of protein and healthy fat. Consume sugar in moderation and consider choosing “sugar free” or use sugar substitutes rather than high sugar items.

Some snack and meal suggestions:

• Peanut butter or cheese sandwich on whole wheat bread

• Yogurt with nuts or ground flax seed

• Cottage cheese with avocado and tomato

• Turkey, cheese slices and veggies on a salad

• Salad with beans or nuts added

• Peanut butter and whole grain crackers

• Cheese and fruit

• Baked potato with low fat cheese and broccoli

• Whole grain bagel and cream cheese

Carbohydrates in the meal causes blood sugar to rise and stimulates the beta cells in the pancreas to release small amounts of insulin, a hormone that helps move blood sugar and nutrients from the blood into the cells to produce energy.

Once glucose enters the cells, it decreases in the blood; signaling the beta cells in the pancreas to decrease insulin production to prevent hypoglycemia, also known as low blood sugar.

Insulin acts like a key to open the doors of cells and allows glucose in. Without insulin, glucose can’t get into the cells and builds up in the bloodstream, resulting in high levels of blood sugar.

In Type 1 diabetes, known as insulin dependent diabetes, there is a complete destruction of the insulin producing beta cells of the pancreas, leading to inadequate insulin production.  Glucose builds up in the blood and the body’s cells starve for nutrients.

Various factors may contribute to type 1 diabetes, including genetics and exposure to some viruses.  Normally our body’s immune system fights off these invaders, but with people with type 1-diabetes, the immune system attacks the beta cells of the pancreas. Type 1-diabetes typically develops during adolescence, but may present itself at any age.

Many symptoms of diabetes seem insignificant and often go undiagnosed.  An early detection of diabetes symptoms and treatment can decrease the chance of developing the complications of the disease.  Some symptoms may include:

• Unusual thirst
• Frequent urination
• Extreme hunger
• Unusual weight loss
• Extreme fatigue

Unfortunately, Type 1-diabetes cannot be prevented and people with type 1-diabetes depend on daily insulin injections or an insulin pump to control their blood sugar.  Most people with diabetes receive insulin injections based on their blood glucose levels and in accordance to a plan developed with doctor or health care practitioner.

Currently there is no cure for type 1-diabetes, but it can be managed. With proper treatment, you can expect to live a long, healthy life, so remember to take care of yourself and schedule an appointment with your health care practitioner as recommended.

When chromium levels are low or depleted, insulin cannot effectively carry glucose out of the blood.  The American diet is often low in chromium but usually not deficient because we can get adequate amounts by eating a variety of foods and a balanced diet.

On the other hand, the elderly population, pregnant women, those who consume excess sugar and people who play sports or take part in strenuous exercise are more likely to be at risk of deficiency.

On average we need 11 to 45 micrograms per day.   Good sources of chromium include whole grains, brewers yeast, lean meats, cheeses, broccoli, potatoes and orange juice.

For many years, the benefit of chromium supplements for diabetes has been debated. Some clinical studies have reported that chromium supplements for diabetics may reduce blood sugar levels as well as reduce the amount of insulin needed.  Chromium Picolinate is a popular supplement among consumers.  Because it has become a popular supplement choice, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has determined that more research is needed to fully establish the relationship between chromium supplementation and better blood sugar control.

Keep in mind that chromium is also an antioxidant, which helps protect the body against free radical damage.  Like other important nutrients, it is recommended to eat a variety of foods and a healthy, balanced diet in order to ensure maximum nutrition and health.

Eat well, choose well and be healthy!

Our bodies work very hard to help us manage stress. The body’s reaction to stress is the “flight or fight” response. During this response, hormones such as epinephrine, adrenaline and cortisol are released. In addition; the liver produces glucose to raise blood sugar for the needed energy.  In most acute states of stress you may experience rapid heartbeat or shakiness.  Because stress generally keeps our blood sugar levels relatively high, diabetics have more of a challenge with blood sugar and stress than the non-diabetic.

Both physical and emotional stress creates this response. Unfortunately, many of us are inundated by chronic stress, which may last for days, weeks or even months. The same “fight or flight” response occurs with chronic stress. The problem is that our worries and anxieties keep this reaction continuous for long periods of time, thereby keeping blood sugars elevated longer.  It is important to identify when stress hormones are elevated and notice the symptoms.

In addition, people under stress often neglect their needs; such as eating imbalanced meals, consuming alcohol, and exercising less.  They may also forget to check their blood sugar levels or take their medications.

Become in tune to your level of stress.  It may be a good idea to document your stress level in a journal every time you check your blood sugar or you may use a glucose meter that has the ability to let you enter data.  When you begin to record your blood sugar along with stress levels regularly you’ll soon identify what stressors are affecting your diabetes. You will soon see a pattern that high glucose occurs with high stress and low glucose levels with lowered stress.  Learning how to relax to manage your stress can help manage your diabetes.

Some ways to help you relax:

• Breathing exercises
• Writing in a journal
• Progressive relaxation therapy ~ music, audio
• Exercise
• Meditation or positive thinking

However you choose to relax, carry it out daily. Make yourself a priority and just do it. Remember, you deserve it!