Treatment of Type 2 Diabetes

Although diabetes cannot be cured, it can be managed by various treatments including the use of diabetes medications. These include several types of oral and injectable medications and the various types of insulin. While most people with type 2 diabetes take either diabetes pills, insulin or both, a few can manage their blood sugar with careful meal planning and regular physical activity.

Common treatment stages for type 2 diabetes

Diabetes is different for each person. Depending on the stage of your diabetes and your body's response to certain therapies, your doctor may prescribe one or more treatments. For example, you may be able to manage your diabetes with diet and exercise alone, or with the addition of a single diabetes pill or more than one diabetes pill. Some people may use pills plus an injectable product like insulin or a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. For others, it may make more sense to start with insulin injections instead of pills. It's common for your therapy to change from time to time, depending on the stage of your diabetes. Your blood sugar readings will help you and your doctor identify whether there is a need to change your treatment plan.

Meal planning and exercise are important parts of diabetes management, regardless of the type of medicine used. Always talk with your healthcare provider before beginning an exercise program or making significant changes to your diet.

The steps below are common ways to treat type 2 diabetes. You and your doctor will determine the best therapy for you.

Oral medications

Many people with type 2 diabetes are able to take diabetes pills to manage their blood sugar. These pills are not insulin. Oral medications work in different ways to lower blood sugar. Some pills help your body use the insulin it makes, and some pills help your body make more insulin. In order for diabetes pills to work, your body must be able to make insulin. This is why diabetes pills cannot be used to treat type 1 diabetes.

The chart below shows the type of medications and how they work. Check with your healthcare provider to find out how your diabetes pills work.

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (injectable)

A GLP-1 receptor agonist is a unique kind of drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. It "mimics" many of the actions of a naturally occurring hormone from the intestines and can help the body make more of its own insulin. The most common side effects include nausea and vomiting. Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) can occur when used with a sulfonylurea. Pancreatitis, which can be life threatening, and, allergic reactions, which may be serious, can occur.

Insulin (injectable)

There are several types of insulin products available to replace the insulin the body can't make. Most people use more than one type of insulin to more closely mimic the way the body's own insulin would act. Low blood sugar is a possible side effect of all insulins.