Some people with Type 2 diabetes can control their blood glucose by eating well and exercising. Others need to take blood-glucose-lowering medicines. There are several different classes of diabetes drugs, and each works in a different way to lower blood glucose. The articles below talk about how oral diabetes medicines work, what the benefits and potential side effects are, and how to use them safely.

Dangerous Drug Combinations by Mark T. Marino, M.D.

People with diabetes often have a number of coexisting health problems. So in addition to insulin or diabetes pills, other drugs are often needed to control these problems—statins for high cholesterol, diuretics or beta-blockers for high blood...

Exenatide and Pramlintide by Stacy Griffin, Pharm.D., and John Borders, M.D.

“A dream becomes a goal when action is taken toward its achievement.” —Bo Bennett In 2005, two new diabetes medicines—exenatide (brand name Byetta) and pramlintide (Symlin)—became available. Both medicines work differently from any...

Generic Drugs by Robert S. Dinsmoor

People with diabetes often take multiple drugs, including blood-glucose-lowering pills or insulin, blood-pressure-lowering pills, and cholesterol-lowering pills. The cost of all these medicines can really add up. One way to save money on medicines is...

Also inside: What About Insulin?

Oral Medicines for Type 2 Diabetes by Patti Geil, M.S., R.D., C.D.E., and Laura Hieronymus, M.S.Ed., A.P.R.N., B.C.-A.D.M., C.D.E.

Taking care of your diabetes is a bit like building a home. With input from your diabetes care team contractors, you begin by drafting a well-thought-out set of blueprints and assembling all the tools you need to control your blood glucose levels...

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