These days, a variety of medicines are available to treat diabetes. When individuals find themselves diagnosed with Type II diabetes, they are generally given one or more of these medications, rather than insulin. Often, multiple drugs are used, rather than just one. The purpose of the medicines is to enable the body to make more insulin on its own, thereby allowing your body to process the blood sugar it needs to eliminate without putting your blood sugar levels out of balance.

Sulfonylureas are one of the most well respected drugs used to treat diabetes. There are several different types of this medication on the market, the most popular being Glucotrol. These drugs work by increasing the amount of insulin released from the pancreas. These medicines work well in lowering blood sugar levels but also run the risk of a person developing hypoglycemia.

Hypoglycemia occurs when your blood sugar level is too low. Because of this potentially dangerous side effect, sulfonylureas are often given with other medicines, most notably Glucophage, or more commonly known as Metformin. This drug works well with Glucotrol as it reduces the amount of blood sugar in the liver while the Glucotrol increases the amount of insulin in the pancreas. Both medications must be taken prior to meals. Most people who are first diagnosed with Type II diabetes are given this combination of medicines which, when taken as directed, are effective at maintaining a healthy blood sugar level.

Another drug that is showing promise in working well with Metformin is Prandin. Prandin also lowers blood sugar levels but at a slower rate than Metformin and has shown good results in studies. Like Glucotrol, Prandin increases the amount of insulin in the body and can also cause hypoglycemia. It is very important for a patient with diabetes to work with their doctor to get the right dosage of each medication and never double a dosage or cut one in half. Prandin cannot be used in women who are pregnant or nursing children.

Many of those with Type II diabetes will find that their doctors prescribe the new medication Starlix to treat their disease. Although Starlix works in a way that's similar to Prandin, people take the same dosage over time, rather than needing to adjust the doses as they would with Prandin. This fact, plus the fact that Starlix does not put the kidneys at risk, make it an extremely popular and promising new option on the diabetes medication market.

While most medicines that treat diabetics increase insulin developed in the pancreas and decrease the sugar in the liver, newer drugs are being marketed that decrease the absorption of carbohydrates in the intestines. Precose did remarkably well in trial studies in breaking down the carbohydrates in the system, making it easier to eliminate. However, this medication has not done as well as the sulfonlureas, which are considered the best possible medicines that treat the disease at this time. However, for those who are allergic to sulfur, Precose is a good option.

A diagnosis of Type II diabetes may be frightening for an individual, but there are many different drugs available that can keep this disease at bay. It is very important, however, for a patient to be totally compliant in order for these medicines to work effectively. It may take increased dosages, lowered dosages or different combinations of medications in order to get the right balance to help you maintain a healthy blood sugar level. This is why it is so important for an individual to carefully monitor their levels throughout the day and keep a record for the physician.

You and your doctor, working together, can normalize your blood sugar levels and control your condition. To play your role in this teamwork, you must monitor your sugar and report the results, in addition to any symptoms you experience, to your doctor regularly. Doing this puts you, rather than your diabetes, in the driver's seat of your body and your life.