Type 2 Diabetes: Oral Medication

For some people with type 2 diabetes, dietary changes and exercise aren’t enough to keep blood glucose levels in check. Oral medications can help control diabetes by increasing insulin sensitivity, decreasing glucose output, impacting carbohydrate absorption, or stimulating the pancreas to step up insulin production.

There are seven main classes of oral medications for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and combinations thereof:

• Sulfonylureas (SUL-fah-nil-YOO-ree-ahs) stimulate your pancreas to make more insulin. These are sometimes used in conjunction with insulin injections.
• Biguanides (by-GWAN-ides) decrease the amount of glucose made by your liver.
• Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors (AL-fa gloo-KOS-ih-dayss in-HIB-it-ers) slow the absorption of the starches you eat.
• Thiazolidinediones (THIGH-ah-ZO-li-deen-DYE-owns) make you more sensitive to insulin.
• Meglitinides (meh-GLIT-in-ides) stimulate your pancreas to make more insulin.
• D-phenylalanine (dee-fen-nel-AL-ah-neen) derivatives help your pancreas make more insulin quickly.
• DPP-IV Inhibitors boost incretin gut hormone production to help lower blood glucose levels.
• Combination oral medicines put together different kinds of pills.

Information on Specific Drugs

Choose a medication to find out more:

Actos (pioglitazone)
Amaryl (glimepiride)
Avandamet (rosiglitazone maleate and metformin hydrochloride)
Avandia (rosiglitazone)
DiaBeta (glyburide)
Diabinese (chlorpropamide)
Dymelor (acetohexamide)
Fortamet (metformin hydrochloride extended release)
Glucophage (metformin)
Glucophage XR (metformin hydrochloride extended release)
Glucotrol (glipizide)
Glucotrol XL (glipizide)
Glucovance (glyburide and metformin hydrochloride)
Glynase PresTab (glyburide)
Glyset (miglitol)
Januvia (sitagliptin phosphate)
Micronase (glyburide)
Orinase (tolbutamide)
Prandin (repaglinide)
Precose (acarbose)
Riomet (metformin HCl oral solution)
Starlix (nateglinide)
Tolinase (tolazamide)
Welchol (colesevelam HCl)