Diabetes Medications - Equality Health

Why is your medication important?

Medications help control how much sugar is in your blood and can help prevent serious health problems caused by diabetes such as heart attack, stroke, blindness, kidney disease, and nerve damage. Research shows that when you don’t take your medication regularly, your risk for emergency room and hospital visits goes up 20%. Plus, people who don’t take their medications to control their health are 45% more likely to die earlier. Do not wait. Work with your healthcare provider to control your diabetes.

Special instructions for taking your medication.

TYPE OF MEDICINE	BRAND NAME	GENERIC NAME	SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS
Biguanides	Fortamet	Metformin	Take with meals to avoid upset stomach. Talk to your doctor about kidney health and lactic acidosis.
SGLT2 Inhibitors	Farxia Invokana	Dapagliflozin Canagliflozin	Helps to release sugar out of the body. May cause urinary tract or vaginal yeast infections. Do not take if you have severe kidney problems.
GLP-1 Receptor Agonists	Byetta Victoza	Extentide Liragluide	These medications are injected under the skin, but do not replace insulin.
Sulfonylureas	Amaryl Biabeta Glynase Glucotrol	Glimepiride Glyburide Glipizide	Helps to make more insulin. This may cause too low of blood sugar for older adults and those with kidney or liver problems.
Thiazolidinediones	Actos Avandia	Pioglitazone Rosiglitazone	Helps your body use sugar. May increase your chance of becoming pregnant. May increase your chance of breaking a bone.
DPP-4 Inhibitors	Januvia Onglyza	Sitagliptin Saxagliptin	Helps your body release more insulin. Call your doctor if you have severe stomach pain.
Meglitinides	Prandin Starlix	Repaglinide Nateglinide	Helps your body make more insulin. Tell your doctor if you are having liver or kidney problems, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Alpha-glucosidase Inhibitors	Glyset Precose	Miglitol Acarbose	Helps your body digest sugar more slowly. Tell your doctor if you have heart, liver or kidney problems, or if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.