Insulin helps balance the level of glucose in your blood sugar. The level of sugar in the blood of people with diabetes is too high. Children usually given type 1 diabetes, which means your body does not produce any insulin. Adults usually get type 2 diabetes, which means your body makes insulin, but it does not make enough or they can not use it properly.

The goal of diabetes treatment is to maintain their level of blood sugar as close to normal as possible. The first step is to have a healthy diet and exercise. This may mean you need to change their habits regarding diet and exercise. You also have to watch your weight or even lose weight to keep your blood sugar level as close as possible to the normal value. Your doctor will tell you about the types of food you should eat and how much exercise you need every week.

Sometimes diet and exercise alone can not maintain normal sugar levels. Then your doctor will tell you about other treatments such as medication or insulin injections.

Many people with diabetes find it more or less easy to monitor their own blood sugar at home. Your doctor may use these results to see how your treatment is working.

Several kinds of medicines can help control your blood sugar in the blood. Some medicines are pills that you take by mouth or orally. However, oral medications do not work at all. Some people need to take insulin. If you need insulin, you have to inject yourself. Most people with type 2 diabetes start with an oral medication. Your doctor will tell you what kind of medicine to take and why.

Combination therapy uses two medications to help control their blood sugar in the blood. It can also help with other health problems such as pressure or have high cholesterol or being overweight. Each drug works a little differently. Such therapy may combine two oral medications or an oral medication more insulin.

Six kinds of diabetes medicines are available in pill form: sulfonylureas, metformin, thiazolidinediones, alpha glucosidase inhibitors, repaglinide and nateglinide. Each medicine has good points and bad points. Your doctor will decide which medicine is right for you.

Sulfonylureas
(some brand names: Glucotrol, Micronase) are diabetes drugs that are prescribed more often. They are inexpensive and have few side effects. These medicines help your body make insulin. Can be taken alone or with metformin, an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, pioglitazone or insulin. If you are allergic to sulfa, you can not take a sulfonylurea.

Metformin
Metformin (brand name: Glucophage) may be prescribed for people with diabetes who are overweight, because it may help with weight problems. It helps the body use insulin better. Metformin can cause problems like nausea or diarrhea in some people. It can be taken with a sulfonylurea.

Thiazolidinediones
This class of medications includes rosiglitazone (brand name: Avandia) and pioglitazone (brand name: Actos). An older medicine, troglitazone (brand name: Rezulin) is no longer being made because of the risk of liver problems. Rosiglitazone and pioglitazone appear less likely to cause liver problems, but people taking them need periodic liver tests. These medicines help your body respond better to insulin. Rosiglitazone and pioglitazone can be used alone or in combination with other medications for diabetes.

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors
Alpha glucosidase inhibitors (brand names: Precose, Glyset) work in your stomach and intestines decreasing the rate at which sugar is absorbed. If one medicine does not control your blood sugar you can use this kind. This drug may cause problems in the stomach or intestines, therefore, can not be a good option if you have had stomach or intestinal problems. Can be taken alone or with sulfonylurea.

Repaglinide
Repaglinide (brand name: Prandin) is taken with meals to control their blood sugar. Your doctor can tell you how to adjust the dose according to the number of times you eat. Repaglinide can be taken alone or with metformin.

Nateglinide
Nateglinide (brand name: Starlix) is taken with meals to maintain their level of blood sugar getting too high after eating. Nateglinide can be taken alone or with metformin.