Diabetic pills are not insulin. They help the body use the natural insulin it produces in an efficient manner. There are a wide range of sulfonylureas pills available but only one biguanide, which is metformin. Both the American and Canadian Diabetic Associations agree that there is no one pill that is superior. The difference is how long the medication takes to work, how often it needs to be taken and the side effects that it produces. Metformin can cause severe diarrhea, upset stomach and excessive flatulence. Sulfonylurea pills can cause extremely low blood glucose levels. Either type of pills can react with other medications.
Prandin is a fast-acting medication that lowers blood glucose levels that cannot be lowered through the use of diet and exercise. Prandin is eliminated through the liver and works well for diabetics who suffer from kidney disease.
There are times when diabetic pills are not effective. When this happens physicians may use a combination of drugs to help the diabetic patient lower blood glucose levels.
Insulin
If blood glucose levels cannot be controlled with diabetic pills, insulin supplements, either alone or in combination with pills may be necessary. There are various types of insulin that may be chosen by physicians to control diabetes. Some insulin comes from cows and pigs, while some is made in labs. That made in labs seems to cause fewer side effects. Diabetics taking insulin supplements should talk with their physician or diabetic health care professional about the type of insulin supplement that’s best for them.
Insulin comes in three speeds that affect how fast it enters the blood stream, how long it takes to reach its peak and how long it stays in the blood. Physicians are able to use different speeds of insulin to adjust treatment to a diabetic’s needs. Some insulin is injected before meals to maintain blood glucose levels produced by food. Long acting insulin is injected before bed to maintain blood glucose levels throughout the night. It isn’t unusual for two speeds of insulin to be mixed to maintain proper blood glucose levels. These can be mixed by the diabetic or purchased at a pharmacy pre-mixed.