Diabetes is a chronic disease that can generally be treated by living a healthy lifestyle and taking diabetes medications. However, there are some rules for taking diabetes medication that need to be adhered to, so that obat can function optimally.
Diabetes medications prescribed by doctors are not to cure diabetes, but to keep blood sugar levels stable and within normal limits. The purpose of taking diabetes medication is to prevent blood sugar from rising too high, because high blood sugar in the long term can cause dangerous complications of diabetes.
Understanding the Rules for Taking Diabetes Drugs
Diabetes medications given by doctors vary depending on the type of diabetes experienced by the patient. There are diabetes medications that need to be taken before meals, with meals, or after meals.
The following are the rules for taking diabetes medications that are tailored to the types of diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is a condition in which the pancreas cannot produce insulin, resulting in an increase in blood sugar levels. Therefore, the right treatment in dealing with this type of diabetes is giving insulin injections every day, to control blood sugar levels so that they remain normal.
The doctor will determine the right insulin dose, as well as teach you how to do insulin injections. However, giving injectable insulin has the potential to cause some side effects, such as headaches, weakness, itching, reduced potassium, and in some cases, allergies to insulin.
If you experience these side effects after insulin injections, go to the doctor immediately.
Type 2 diabetes
Unlike people with type 1 diabetes, only some patients with type 2 diabetes need insulin to control their blood sugar. Type 2 diabetes patients will generally be given antidiabetic drugs, such as:
- metformin
This drug works to reduce the production of glucose in the liver. The dose of metformin is different for each patient and is adjusted according to the severity of diabetes. This medicine is taken with or after meals.
- Sulfonylureas
This diabetes drug works by increasing the production of insulin in the pancreas. Examples of this class of drugs are: glibenclamide, glimepiride andgliclazide. This type of diabetes medication is taken before meals.
- DPP-4 . inhibitors
This drug serves to inhibit the absorption of glucose back in the kidneys, and increase the hormone insulin. Examples of drugs are sitagliptin, vildagliptin, and linagliptin. This medicine is taken according to the schedule recommended by the doctor (not dependent on the meal schedule).
- Thiazolidinediones
This diabetes drug serves to increase the sensitivity of the body's cells to use insulin, so that glucose can be used more effectively. The types of drugs in this class are: pioglitazone. Similar to the DPP-4 inhibitor type diabetes drug, the consumption of this drug does not depend on the meal schedule and follows the schedule of administration from the doctor.
- Acarbose
This diabetes drug is given to inhibit the absorption of glucose from the digestive tract. This medicine is taken with the first bite of a meal.
- Combination diabetes medication
This type of drug consists of a mixture of two classes of diabetes drugs. Some of these combination diabetes drugs are taken before eating, but some are taken after eating.
When using these drugs, pay attention to whether there are side effects such as hypoglycemia (marked by weakness, dizziness, and headache), stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, looser stools, bloating, and dehydration. If these side effects appear, immediately consult a doctor.
Gestational diabetes
Gestational diabetes is diabetes that only appears during pregnancy and needs to be treated immediately because it can harm the mother and baby. Treatment for gestational diabetes can be done with insulin injections or taking drugs, such as metformin, as recommended by a doctor.
In addition to taking diabetes medication, diabetics also need to adopt a healthy diet, including the type and portion of food, as well as meal times. Diabetics are also advised to do regular exercise and maintain an ideal body weight to maintain normal blood sugar levels.
It is important to always pay attention to the rules for taking diabetes medication given by a doctor. If complications or side effects occur after taking diabetes medication, you should immediately consult a doctor for further treatment.
