About Diabetes Medications

While type 1 and type 2 diabetes are different diseases, both are caused by the body’s failure to produce enough of the hormone insulin, and the high blood sugar levels that result. Healthy lifestyle choices are necessary for any diabetes treatment plan, but doctors often need to provide specialized medication to supplement lost insulin levels. It’s important to understand the possible side effects of the common diabetes medications and plan ahead to reduce their impact on your daily life.

Lantus

Used to treat both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, Lantus imitates the body’s own hormones to help manage the flow of insulin. Although a valuable medication when used with a doctor’s supervision, it can have some unfortunate side effects that include:

Hand tremors
Heart palpitations
Rapid breathing

These and other symptoms are caused by low blood sugar, which is the most common side effect of Lantus. As a diabetic, it’s important to recognize the symptoms of low blood sugar when they appear. Your doctor can change your dosage of Lantus or advise you about dietary changes that can help you avoid such side effects in the future.

Metformin

Metformin is a type 2 diabetes medication that’s best taken with meals. When used as part of an effective weight control program, Metformin is known to ease the flow of blood sugar in the body and thus benefit your insulin response. Its most common side effects are:

Nausea
Diarrhea
An altered sense of taste

To avoid the nausea, don’t take Metformin outside of mealtimes. And be sure to take it easy the first few times you use the medication. It’s generally fine to take anti-diarrhea medicine at the same time as Metformin, though you should run it by your doctor when you’re first prescribed to make sure that doing so will be safe for you.