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Cindy McGee

Medications 



Decades ago when I began learning about diabetes, there were only 2 kinds of oral medications to treat type 2 diabetes.


1) The sulfonylureas drugs (SUs) worked by getting the beta cells to secrete more insulin.


2) Metformin worked by getting the cells to stop resisting the insulin so much and by helping the liver not release too much stored sugar into the bloodstream.


Both kinds of drugs worked well to lower blood sugars, but the SUs often caused weight gain and were associated with episodes of low blood sugar. 


By the 1990’s other kinds of oral medicine were becoming available, such as the TZDs. Like Metformin, these drugs could reduce insulin resistance. However, like the SU’s, they often caused weight gain!


Imagine being told to lose weight and at the same time being told you needed to take a medication that can cause weight gain!


When you start a new diabetes medication, ask about potential problems such as low blood sugars or weight gain. Knowing to look out for these issues is better than getting an unpleasant surprise!


In the next post I’d like to tell you about two newer oral medications that came on the scene after metformin, the SU’s and the TZD’s.


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