10 Minute Read
What Are the Best Diabetic Medications for Type 2
Today, about 37.3 million people in the U.S. have diabetes, and 23% are undiagnosed. Many are fearful that a diabetes diagnosis will support their worst fear, having to be on medication.
Countries like Canada can worry less about medication since it’s more affordable. But here in the United States, people are already in debt and don’t have large sums of money for medication.
While all this can feel overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be. Read this guide on the best diabetic medications for type 2 and how you can save with Canadian medication today!
Actoplus Met
Actoplus Met is a combination of pioglitazone and metformin. Together with proper diet and exercise, they help control blood sugar levels. It’s not for type 1 diabetes.
Before beginning this diabetic medication, you shouldn’t take it if you have/are allergic to:
- Metabolic acidosis
- Severe kidney disease
- Severe heart failure
- Active bladder cancer
You might need to stop taking certain medications. Speak with your doctor about all conditions and medications that you’re taking.
Warnings
This diabetes medication might increase your risk of bladder cancer. You might also develop lactic acidosis. Speak with your doctor about these risks.
Speak with your doctor if you’re pregnant. It could damage your heart or other organs. Women could develop a broken bone while taking this medication.
Farxiga (Dapagliflozin)
Farxiga helps control blood sugar levels for those with type 2 diabetes. It helps the kidneys remove glucose from your bloodstream.
It can also lower your risk of stroke, heart failure, and a heart attack. Farxiga could also decrease your risk of being in the hospital for heart failure.
It could also lower your risk of worsening kidney disease, death from cardiovascular disease, and end-stage kidney disease.
Warnings
If you have severe kidney disease, are on dialysis, or have diabetic ketoacidosis, you shouldn’t take this medication. Tell your doctor if you notice diarrhea, vomiting, or eating or drinking less.
Watch out for burning, odor, itching, tenderness, redness, swelling, or other irritation in the vagina or penis. Reach out to a medical facility right away if you experience this. It’s unknown whether it causes bladder cancer or not.
Before starting, let your doctor know if you’re allergic to/have:
- Alcoholism
- Liver disease
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
- Severe kidney disease
- A low salt diet
- Pancreas problems
- Bladder infections
- Polycystic kidney disease
- Liver disease
Fiasp Vial (Insulin Aspart)
Fiasp Vial is man-made insulin. It helps you lower the sugar in your blood.
After injection, it works in about 15 minutes. It keeps working for about two to four hours. It can also be used with intermediate-acting or long-acting insulin.
Warnings
Don’t take this medicine if you’re experiencing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). It’s not approved for those under two years old.
It’s not for children with type 2 diabetes.
Tell your doctor if you’ve had:
- Liver or kidney disease
- Low levels of potassium in your blood
Let your doctor know about your medications, conditions, and allergies. Rosiglitazone or pioglitazone, along with this medication, could increase your risk of heart problems.
Tell your doctor if you’re breastfeeding or pregnant. Keeping diabetes under control while pregnant is vital since high blood sugar could negatively impact the baby or mother.
Side effects could include:
- Increased urination
- Allergic reactions
- Rapid heartbeat
- Increased hunger
Glumetza (Metformin Hydrochloride)
Glumetza comes in an extended-release oral tablet. It treats high blood sugar in type 2 diabetics.
It decreases glucose production in the liver, improves insulin sensitivity, and decreases glucose absorption in your intestines. It’s the top treatment option for type 2 diabetics.
You might be able to use it along with other medications. It’ll improve your hemoglobin A1C and control your blood sugar.
Side effects could include:
- Gas
- Diarrhea
- Indigestion
- Low blood sugar
- Upset stomach
- Nausea
Take it with your evening meal to decrease stomach side effects. If you notice stomach problems later, you might have something serious happening.
Severe side effects are rare but could include:
- Abnormal muscle pain
- Feeling tired or weak
- Intestinal or stomach problems
- Trouble breathing
- Trouble sleeping
- Light-headedness
- Irregular heartbeat
- Diarrhea or vomiting
- Feeling cold
Humalog Vial (Insulin Lispro)
Humalog is a rapid-acting injectable insulin analog. It lowers blood sugar in the body.
Humalog works for both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Uncontrolled high blood sugar could lead to neuropathy, diabetes-related complications, eye problems, amputations, and more.
It could also increase your risk of stroke and heart disease. From 1990 to 2019, cardiovascular diseases have almost doubled.
Side effects could include:
- Weight gain
- Rash
- Low blood sugar
- Itchiness
- Lipodystrophy
- Swelling in the hands and feet
Severe side effects could include:
- Extremely high blood sugar
- Extremely low blood sugar
- Low potassium
- Heart failure
- Allergic reaction
You might also experience pitted-looking skin due to thinning of the fat tissue. It could also cause thick-looking skin due to a thickening of the fat tissue.
Warnings
If you have liver or kidney problems, you’re at a higher risk of developing low blood sugar with Humalog. Humalog can be used for children with type 1 diabetes.
Speak with your doctor if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, have any conditions, allergies, and about all medication. Avoid drinking alcohol while taking Humalog since it could lead to severely low blood sugar.
Invokana
Invokana helps to lower blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes. It could also reduce kidney or heart-related risks for those with diabetes.
It’s a sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitor. Cotransporters allow molecules to move from one place to another in the body. SGLT2 absorbs most of the blood sugar that’s filtered by the kidney. It could also lower the risk of end-stage kidney disease, cardiovascular death, kidney impairment, and hospitalization for heart failure in adults.
Side effects could include:
- Vaginal and penile yeast infections
- Increased urination
- Urinary tract infections
Severe side effects could include:
- Severe allergic reactions
- Ketoacidosis (high levels of ketones in the body)
- Hyperkalemia
- Kidney problems
You’re at an increased risk of bone fractures. Speak with your doctor about potential factors that could lead to fracture risks.
Warnings
You might experience lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting with this medication. It’s most common if you have low blood pressure, kidney disease, or are taking a water pill.
Drink plenty of water in hot weather and while exercising. Speak with your doctor if you have diarrhea, vomiting, or nausea. It could lead to dehydration.
Jardiance (Empagliflozin)
This is a newer option for those 18 and over with type 2 diabetes. It can be used as an alternative to metformin or in combination with other diabetes medications.
It’s a sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor. This means that it halts blood sugar in the kidney and increases glucose through the urine.
You might also experience an improvement in heart function and weight loss. It can’t be used for those with type 1 diabetes.
The benefit of Jardiance is that there’s a lower risk of hypoglycemia. They don’t impact insulin levels as sulfonylureas do.
Side effects could include:
- Vaginal and penile yeast infections
- Nausea
- Urinary tract infections
- Frequent urination
It could also lead to a decrease in blood pressure. You might experience hypotension such as nausea, dizziness, clammy skin, fainting, and blurred vision. Those over 65, take diuretics, or have pre-existing kidney disease or hypotension are at an increased risk.
If you experience these symptoms, contact your doctor. They might need to change your current dose.
You might develop diabetic ketoacidosis, although this is rare. This condition causes the blood to become acidic.
It’s more common among those who have high blood glucose levels. You might also experience euglycemic ketoacidosis, where blood sugar levels are normal.
Symptoms of acute kidney failure include:
- Seizures
- Fatigue
- Fluid retention
- Decreased urination
- Irregular heartbeat
- Shortness of breath
Once you stop treatment, kidney failure can be reversed.
How To Save On Medication
You can get medication online that’s delivered to your door. Online pharmacies allow you to order via live chat, phone, or their site.
These medications will require a prescription before you can order them. You can find generic and brand-name medications. You could also upload your prescription to a website portal for your convenience.
Exploring the Best Diabetic Medications for Type 2
After exploring this guide, you should better understand the best diabetic medications for type 2. Take your time deciding which is best for you and speak with your doctor.
Are you ready to start feeling better and have received a prescription? Upload your prescriptions in a couple of clicks!
Medications will be delivered right to your door. You’ll also be able to pay online for your convenience. Order online, through our chat, or by phone today.