Type 2 diabetes - Understanding medicine (2024)

FAQs

What is the basic explanation of type 2 diabetes? ›

Type 2 diabetes, the most common type of diabetes, is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high. Blood glucose is your main source of energy and comes mainly from the food you eat. Insulin, a hormone made by the pancreas, helps glucose get into your cells to be used for energy.

A medication may work by: Causing the pancreas to make and release more insulin. Limiting the liver's ability to make and release sugar. Blocking the action of enzymes in the intestines that break down carbohydrates, slowing how quickly cells take in carbohydrates.

One commonly prescribed medication for type 2 diabetes is metformin, which belongs to a class of medications known as biguanides. This medication is taken daily by mouth. The medication makes your liver and muscles more sensitive to insulin and reduces glucose production in the liver.

Mounjaro is a weekly injection approved for adults. Metformin is an oral medication approved for people as young as 10 years old. Mounjaro provides better blood glucose (sugar) control and more potential weight loss than metformin. But metformin is often more cost-effective for many people.

Diabetes is a chronic, metabolic disease characterized by elevated levels of blood glucose (or blood sugar), which leads over time to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves.

increased thirst and a dry mouth. needing to pee frequently. tiredness. blurred vision.

The continuation of metformin therapy was significantly associated with a decline in renal function in the patients with DM and moderate CKD. Other risk factors for a decline in renal function included high serum LDL-C, high HbA1c, low baseline eGFR, high uric acid level, high UACR, and the use of ACEIs and/or ARBs.

However, the toll it takes on the digestive system may prevent many people with diabetes from taking it for more than a week or two. “Metformin commonly causes gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea and flatulence,” explained a recent study published in the journal Diabetes, Obesity and Metabolism.

Many people with diabetes who are prescribed metformin lose around 2% to 3% of their body weight within the first year of starting the drug.

You avoid eating simple carbs (such as sweets), saturated fats, and most meat-based protein. The diet can be hard for some people to follow for a long time because it's very low-fat (less than 10% of your daily calories), but you can find some meal plans with a bit more flexibility.

At what A1C should you start metformin? ›

Rather, individuals at the highest risk for developing diabetes-i.e., those with FPG concentrations of 110-125 mg/dL (6.1-6.9 mmol/L) or A1C levels of 6.0-6.4% (42-46 mmol/mol) or women with a history of gestational diabetes mellitus-should be followed closely and metformin immediately introduced only when they are ...

The company is recalling metformin because it contains N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) above the acceptable intake limit. FDA publishes a recalled metformin list including details about metformin products that have been recalled.

FARXIGA can help with your first priority—lowering your A1C

FARXIGA is a once-daily pill proven to help lower A1C, along with diet and exercise. *Average reduction with 5mg + metformin XR when starting at 9.2% A1C. Metformin XR alone lowered A1C by 1.4% when starting at 9.1% A1C. Individual results may vary.

In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas makes insulin, but the cells don't respond to it as they should. This is called insulin resistance. When glucose can't get into cells, the blood sugar level rises. Then the pancreas works harder to make even more insulin.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic metabolic condition characterised by insulin resistance (that is, the body's inability to effectively use insulin) and insufficient pancreatic insulin production, resulting in high blood glucose levels (hyperglycaemia).

Diabetes type 1 and type 2 come from different causes: In diabetes type 1, the pancreas does not make insulin, because the body's immune system attacks the islet cells in the pancreas that make insulin. In diabetes type 2, the pancreas makes less insulin than used to, and your body becomes resistant to insulin.

Type 2 diabetes happens when your body can't use insulin properly. Without treatment, Type 2 diabetes can cause various health problems, like heart disease, kidney disease and stroke. You can manage this disease by making lifestyle changes, taking medications and seeing your healthcare provider for regular check-ins.