Type II Diabetes Management

Type II Diabetes Management

Type II diabetes is a disorder mostly associated with diabetes patients. The condition is experienced in the lifetime of a diagnosed patient. However, when diagnosed at early stages, there is a possibility that it could be prevented. The condition results from the inability of the body to produce and use insulin. The body of patience tends to resist levels of insulin. To maintain near-normal body conditions, patients are advised to accompany pathological therapy with body exercises. This paper aims at discussing various pathological medications prescribed to maintain type 2 diabetes.

Thiazolidinedione (TZD) form a class that is highly recommended as a supplement to other drugs for maintaining type 2 diabetes. The medication has been associated with preventing diabetes as well as obesity at early stages, since its introduction into pharmacies (Barnett, 2009). The oral drug reduces levels of glucose in the body, as well as glucotoxicity, which is a significant cause of diabetes 2. Apart from reducing glucose levels in the body, the drug is also associated with reducing insulin resistivity as well as other effects that aid in maintaining type 2 diabetes (Barnett, 2009). Type II diabetes patients are closely related to cardiovascular diseases. A recent study identified pioglitazone, a member of the TZD class, as a significant participant in treating cardiovascular diseases among type 2 diabetes patients (Marín-Peñalver et al., 2016). It is therefore evident that the TZD class plays an important role, that is, in regulating glucose levels and treating cardiovascular, in the maintenance of type II diabetes.

Metformin, a drug in the Biguanides class, is a widely used drug due to its compatibility with the elderly, a low cost, and suitable for type II diabetes patients with cardiovascular-related illnesses. The drug is a low hypoglycemia risk, making it most suitable for elderly patients. However, the medication is related to cases of intestinal stress, making it less suitable for weak patients (Marín-Peñalver et al., 2016). The medication lowers glucose levels in the body by preventing the production of glucose with hepatic characteristics (Foretz et al., 2014). The drug also prevents the absorption of glucose in the intestines, allowing muscles along the skeleton to take in more glucose. The action of metformin on glucose levels also help in preventing and reducing obesity among type 2 diabetes patients (Foretz et al., 2014). Metformin has rated the best drug for maintaining type 2 diabetes due to its use across all age groups.

Sulfonylureas (SU) agents are rated second to metformin therapy. Therefore, making the drug a better supplement for metformin medication. SUs are comparatively recommended to type II diabetes maintenance after other medications such as TZDs (Kalra et al., 2018). However, the medication class is associated with high risks for hypoglycemia, making it less suitable for elderly patients (Marín-Peñalver et al., 2016). The drug is also known to function better when used alongside drugs that lower SUs side effects (Kalra et al., 2018). The use of sulfonylureas medication is also associated with weight gain. However, modern SUs are developed to reduce the weight gain side effect. SUs maintain type II diabetes by lowering glucose levels in cellular tissues (Marín-Peñalver et al., 2016). Based on situational cases, SUs are more prescribed to improve the action of metformin in maintaining glucose levels in the body.

Pharmacological medication for T2D maintenance is, in most cases, more effective when accompanied with modified lifestyles such as observing the prescribed diet and exercising physically. TZDs and SUs are drugs that are recommended as supplements to other diabetes drugs. Metformin, on the other hand, functions better when supplemented with SUs.

References

Barnett. (2009). Redefining the role of thiazolidinediones in the management of type 2 diabetes. Vascular Health And Risk Management, 141. https://doi.org/10.2147/vhrm.s4664

Foretz, M., Guigas, B., Bertrand, L., Pollak, M., & Viollet, B. (2014). Metformin: From Mechanisms of Action to Therapies. Cell Metabolism, 20(6), 953-966. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmet.2014.09.018

Kalra, S., Bahendeka, S., Sahay, R., Ghosh, S., Md, F., & Orabi, A. et al. (2018). Consensus recommendations on sulfonylurea and sulfonylurea combinations in the management of Type 2 diabetes mellitus – International Task Force. Indian Journal Of Endocrinology And Metabolism, 22(1), 132. https://doi.org/10.4103/ijem.ijem_556_17

Marín-Peñalver, J., Martín-Timón, I., Sevillano-Collantes, C., & Cañizo-Gómez, F. (2016). Update on the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus. World Journal Of Diabetes, 7(17), 354. https://doi.org/10.4239/wjd.v7.i17.354