Type 2 diabetes is the formal name for non-insulin dependent diabetes. There are many different types of pharmacological therapies prescribed for Type 2 diabetes. Medication and pharmacological therapies are typically administered to counter the spikes in glucose levels on a day-to-day basis. While these drugs are essential to control type 2 diabetes on a day-to-day basis, the drugs themselves will not be very effective, unless there are supplementary therapies. These include proper diet and consistent exercise.
Oral Medication
Oral medication is a preferred choice for type 2 diabetes. The aim of treatment is to keep the blood glucose count within manageable levels. In order to understand how these drugs work, you have to understand the way sugar is processed in type 2 diabetics. These patients actually produce insulin naturally, unlike type 1 diabetics, but they don't produce enough of it, and their cells don't seem to need as much glucose as they should. All drugs work in essentially the same fashion, namely by raising the production of insulin, and making glucose enter the cells rather than remaining in the blood. As a rule, most anti-diabetic drugs work best when taken before a meal.
Sulfonylureas and Meglitinides
These work by stimulating the beta cells of the pancreas and making the cells release more insulin. In many patients, these drugs are known to work for many years before ceasing to be effective. The major drawback of this treatment is that it does not work well when consumed with many substances, such as alcohol. Another problem is the quantity of insulin these drugs release is not always uniform. Often, an excess of it causes hypoglycemia, or lowering of sugar levels.
Biguanades and Thiazolidinediones
These work by decreasing sugar levels in the liver, fat cells and muscle. They don't cause inconsistencies like sulfonylureas, but may cause diarrhea or worse, heart ailments over time. One of the earliest brands in this generation caused serious liver problems.
DPP 4 Inhibitors and Alpha-glucosidase Inhibitors
Although considered better than the previous class of drugs in that they work by helping the body break down sugary substances better, these drugs can cause diarrhea. DPP 4 inhibitors are also known for breaking down sugar too quickly.
Combination Therapy
Some physicians have tried out a combination therapy. This has been tried on patients in whom a single kind of anti-diabetic drug has not shown the desired result over time. Diabetes.org reports that type 2 diabetes can be well controlled when a drug is given to help the body produce insulin that can control the sugar levels. One such drug is rosiglitazone. A study called Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, conducted by Dr. Joe Florence and Dr. Bryan Yeager of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, demonstrated that when this drug was taken in combination with other drugs the patients in the study were already taking (sulfonylurea and metformin), there was a considerable drop in sugar levels. However, this new approach has its own limitations, as many in the medical community are wary of administering patients a multitude of unrelated drugs. Moreover, because this new research, as of 2009, it is not clear if the effects will be positive in the long run.
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