Type 2 diabetes is the most common
form of diabetes, effecting millions of Americans. Patients have a variety of
medications to choose from, with varying degrees of dangers associated with
each. It is important to know what to expect before you take a new medication,
to make managing diabetes easier.
Lack
of exercise and diet control
As some patients begin to take medication, they may
grow negligent in their eating and exercise habits, relying only on the
medication to control their blood sugar.
Unfortunately, taking medication only lowers blood
sugar 1 A1C, which may not be enough. Type 2 diabetes requires lifestyle changes,
as well as medication. Whether it is running, jogging, or even picking up a
hobby like gardening, staying active will help patients alleviate symptoms of
diabetes.
Digestive
problems
Gas, diarrhea, nausea and stomach pain are common when
taking biguanides, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, sulfonylureas and meglitinides.
Usually these symptoms lessen and decrease altogether after the body adjusts to
the medication.
Weight
gain
Some medications come with weight gain ranging from 1
to 10 pounds. Sulfonylureas, meglitinides, D-phenylalanine derivatives and
thiazolidinediones may contribute to weight gain. This usually occurs soon
after one of these drugs is prescribed.
Weight gain can inhibit glucose control, cause
hypertension, increase cholesterol and lead to heart problems.
If weight gain continues after the first few weeks or
exceeds 10 pounds, you may want to consult your physician. Sometimes weight
gain comes from edema, or swelling, which can be an indicator of congestive
heart failure.
Hypoglycemia
All diabetes medications work to lower blood sugar, but
some medications primarily increase the production of insulin, which can cause
hypoglycemia. These are sulfonylureas, meglitinides and D-phenylalanine
derivatives.
Symptoms of hypoglycemia are confusion, anxiety,
paleness, headaches, sleepiness, increased heartbeat, slurred speech, and
numbness of fingers, toes and lips.
By immediately addressing symptoms with glucose-rich
food and drinks, you can prevent the condition from becoming severe.
Diabetic
ketoacidosis (DKA)
Occasionally, biguanides may cause this serious condition,
in which the body uses fat for fuel. Symptoms
of DKA are stomach pain, weight loss, confusion, cold skin, excessive thirst,
increased need to urinate, and breath smelling like fruit.
Ketone strips are used to test urine for DKA.
Bladder
cancer
Actos, which is in the thiazolidinedione class of drugs,
increases the risk of bladder cancer by 80 percent or more. Since 1999, when
the drug was released, thousands of Actos patients have been diagnosed with
bladder cancer and many of them have filed an Actos bladder cancer lawsuit. The
National Cancer Institute estimates that 14,880 people will die of bladder
cancer in 2012.
Bladder cancer symptoms include blood in the urine, an
increased need to urinate and pain while urinating.
Congestive
heart failure (CHF)
Actos comes with a black box warning — the Food and
Drug Administration's strongest type of warning — that the drugcan cause or
exacerbate congestive heart failure.
Patients who have a New York Heart Functional Classification of III or
IV heart failure are cautioned not to use Actos.
Symptoms of heart failure are chest pain, shortness of
breath; fatigue; swelling in the abdomen, legs or feet; persistent cough; and
rapid heartrate.
CHF may develop quickly or over time, leading to heart
attacks, which may require surgery and/or heart transplants.
Diabetes patients need to make sure they are aware of
any side effects before taking a new medication. They should discuss any
concerns with their doctor.
About
the Author: Alanna
Ritchie writes about prescription drugs and medical devices for Drugwatch.com.
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