Most of the people needing diabetes medications are living with type 2 diabetes – in fact, there are about 27 million people with type 2 in the US who have been diagnosed as needing diabetes care.
So what causes diabetes?
Genes play a big role in how our body makes insulin as does being overweight. Obese or overweight people are likely to suffer from insulin resistance. This is when the body makes insulin, but the cells don’t use it properly causing the body to create more insulin to make up for it.
What are the symptoms?
According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, there are about 8 million people who have type 2 diabetes but don’t even know it and many more develop type 2 diabetes each year. This is because the symptoms can sometimes be so mild that they aren’t noticeable. Common symptoms include being very thirsty, needing to pee a lot, feeling tired, wounds that don’t heal, blurry vision or feeling irritable.
How is diabetes treated?
While many people can control their type 2 diabetes with diet and exercise alone, not everyone can. Many people need medication to control their sugar levels and insulin production. The exact type of medicine you need depends on your blood sugar level and other factors, and sometimes your doctor will combine different drugs.
Jardiance (empagliflozin, also knows as Jandianz in Europe) falls under the SGLT2 inhibitor category and is a medication that works differently than other forms of diabetes medications by helping the body remove excess sugar it doesn’t need through urination. This means lower blood sugar levels and lower A1C (glycated hemoglobin – a test which measures the levels of blood glucose).
Jardiance is a good option for managing diabetes for people who cannot tolerate the health problems due to the risk factors of Metformin or Sulfonylurea on their own, but it can and often is taken alongside either of those.
The drug can also help lower the risk of death from heart disease, stroke, heart attack or heart failure in adults who suffer from both type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
Many doctors prescribe Jardiance along with other medication, depending on certain factors. As the body is always changing, sometimes it means our medication needs to change with it so it’s definitely worth talking to your doctor about using Jardiance.
Metformin is a common medication which helps the body use insulin more effectively as well as lowering glucose production in the liver. Interestingly, a 24-week study was done which showed that people taking Jardiance in addition to Metformin benefited from A1C reductions of 0.7% and 0.8% compared to just 0.1% when taking just Metformin alone.
For more info on more diabetes meds, check out this article.
Diet and exercise
Jardiance as well as many other medications is used together with both diet and physical activity. It is crucial in keeping blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes closer to normal and preventing complications that can include heart disease, stroke and kidney disease.
Foods with a low glycemic index are helpful as this can help you achieve a more stable blood sugar level without sugar spikes. It’s also advisable to eat more fruit, vegetables, whole grains and less carbohydrates and sweets. It could be a good idea to consult with a dietician who can help you put together a meal plan and manage your carbohydrate intake.
Everyone needs regular exercise, and especially people with diabetes. Make sure you discuss with your doctor how best to start, and try to make physical activity a part of your daily routine. Always remember to check your blood sugar levels before working out.
Whichever solution is taken, it’s necessary to prevent type 2 diabetes from causing the possible severe effects.
To conclude, type 2 diabetes is a manageable disease that can be treated in a lot of cases with diet and exercise, but sometimes medication can become necessary. In such a case, make sure you come to your doctor’s appointment well versed on your treatment options so you can find the best possible treatment program that will work well for your body.
