【Learning Points】
- When diabetes is not effectively controlled through diet and exercise, medication therapy becomes necessary.
- Oral hypoglycemic agents work by promoting insulin secretion or enhancing insulin sensitivity.
- It is crucial to take oral hypoglycemic medications as directed by a physician and avoid discontinuing them without proper guidance.
I.Why medications are necessary for patients with diabetes mellitus?
Diabetes mellitus is characterized by high blood sugar due to insulin insufficiency or insulin resistance within the body. Long-term high blood sugar may cause abnormalities in the eyes, kidneys, vessels, and nerves, thus tight blood sugar control is particularly important. Mild diabetes mellitus can be controlled by diet and exercise. But if diet and exercise control failed, medication management should be started.
II.What are oral hypoglycemic agents?
Oral hypoglycemic agents are not insulin, instead it can promote insulin secretion or enhance insulin sensitivity. Therefore, these oral hypoglycemic agents are only applicable to patients whose pancreas still can secrete insulin after failure of diet and exercise control. In our hospital we provide oral hypoglycemic agents as follows:
III.Things to keep in mind that when you take these oral hypoglycemic Agents.
- Do follow your doctor’s prescription order. Do not stop taking medicines or changing dose by yourself.
- In addition to taking medicines, adherence to diet control and exercise programs, and avoidance of alcohol drinking are also important. Binge drinking of alcohol intake may cause hypoglycemia and irreversible catastrophes.
- If you have underlying diseases such as severe liver or renal diseases, some kinds of oral hypoglycemic agents are contraindicated. Do follow your doctor’s prescription order carefully in these situations.
IV.Conclusion
Medications is one of the important method in the managements of diabetes mellitus. Please follow your doctor’s prescription, take medicine on time, and do not self-adjust your medicine.
V.References
- 社團法人中華民國糖尿病學會(2022)。2022第 2 型糖尿病臨床照護指引。社團法人中華民國糖尿病學會。http://www.endo-dm.org.tw/dia/direct/index.asp?BK_KIND=51¤t=2022%E7%AC%AC2%E5%9E%8B%E7%B3%96%E5%B0%BF%E7%97%85%E8%87%A8%E5%BA%8A%E7%85%A7%E8%AD%B7%E6%8C%87%E5%BC%95++++++++++++++
- 黃安君、林明憲(2022)‧高齡糖尿病與老年症候群-談治療目標及藥物選擇‧臨床醫學月刊,90(5),731-736。https://doi-org.sw.lib.csmu.edu.tw/10.6666/ClinMed.202211_90(5).0121