Oral Diabetes Medications
There are seven classes of oral drugs for diabetes—sulfonylureas, meglitinides, D-phenylalanine derivatives, biguanides, thiazolidinediones, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, and dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitors, as well as combination products. The classes of oral diabetes drugs work in different ways, so it's often helpful to take drugs from more than one class. For example, if a sulfonylurea stops working, you may be switched to metformin (Glucophage) or continued on the sulfonylurea in combination with metformin, an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, or a thiazolidinedione.
Adding insulin is usually a last resort, but many new studies show that starting insulin early in the course of type 2 diabetes provides better glucose control, protects beta-cell function, and helps to prevent diabetes complications. That's why many experts now recommend early treatment with a combination of an oral drug plus insulin.
