Written by people living with diabetes. Medically reviewed where it counts.
Diabetes
Managing diabetes often includes medication, but understanding your options is just as important as taking them correctly.
Diabetes medications are used to help regulate blood sugar levels when lifestyle measures alone are not sufficient. Treatment choices vary based on diabetes type, individual health factors, and how the body responds over time.
Everything else in Medication, newest first.
Medication
Diabetes care and management have advanced greatly thanks to incredible technological innovations. For instance, more and more patients with type 1 diabetes are embracing Omnipod pump therapy because of its convenience and flexibility. No, Omnipods do not need to be refrigerated—before or after filling.
Ely Fornoville 4 min read
Medication
One of the most important aspects of managing diabetes is monitoring your blood sugar level. Luckily, you can use self-checking devices to monitor your glucose levels. These devices typically involve pricking your finger to draw a drop of blood for sampling.
Ely Fornoville 7 min read
Medication
Imagine relying on your FreeStyle Libre to manage your blood sugar, only to be alarmed by a low reading that doesn’t quite match how you feel. This frustrating scenario happens more often than you might think, leaving you questioning the accuracy of the device. But why does the FreeStyle Libre sometimes report these false low readings?
Ely Fornoville 6 min read
Medication
Metformin is one of the most prescribed diabetes medications—yet many don’t know how to tell if it’s actually working. The clearest signs Metformin is working include stable blood sugar, lower HbA1c, and modest weight loss. If these are missing, it might not be effective for you. Key Takeaways How Does Metformin Work?
Ely Fornoville 8 min read
Medication
One consequence of taking long-term medications for a chronic disease like diabetes is that you must consider your “long-term” dietary choices to maximize the medication’s effectiveness and minimize its potential side effects. The good news is that Metformin is widely tolerated and can go with many healthy food options.
Inez Briand 9 min read
Medication
You may know Metformin as the first-line medication for type 2 diabetes, used to control blood sugar levels. Metformin helps maintain healthy blood glucose by reducing the amount of glucose your liver produces and limiting how much your body absorbs from food.
Ely Fornoville 6 min read
Medication
Metformin is an oral medication that is commonly used in the management of type 2 diabetes. It belongs to the class of medicines known as biguanides and works by reducing glucose production in the liver, improving insulin sensitivity, and increasing glucose uptake by muscle cells.
Ely Fornoville 5 min read
Medication
Ozempic is an injectable medication containing “semaglutide” as an active ingredient. The medication is primarily used to treat type 2 diabetes, but it has also been shown to promote weight loss in people who are overweight or have obesity. The question is, HOW?
Ely Fornoville 9 min read
Medication
Ozempic is a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. It is a once-weekly injection containing semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist. It helps lower blood glucose by increasing insulin production and reducing the amount of glucose the liver produces. The Ozempic pen is a pre-filled device used to inject the medication.
Ely Fornoville 7 min read
Medication
Ozempic is an injectable subcutaneous medicine taken once a week to treat type 2 diabetes. In adults with type 2 diabetes and known heart disease, it is also used to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events such as heart attack, stroke, or death.
Ely Fornoville 5 min read
Medication
People with Type 2 diabetes are prone to obesity, and Ozempic has been a game-changer in accelerating weight loss while managing blood sugar levels. The medication also reduces the risk of heart or blood vessel problems in diabetic adults. However, many controversies exist regarding what and what not to eat while taking Ozempic.
Ely Fornoville 12 min read
Medication
Choosing the right insulin needle size makes injections safer, easier, and less painful. Whether you use a pen, syringe, or pump, understanding needle length, gauge, and technique helps ensure insulin reaches the right layer of tissue and maintains blood sugar control. Key Takeaways What Is a Pen Needle?
Ely Fornoville 9 min read
Diabetes medications work in different ways depending on your body, diabetes type, and treatment goals.
Insulin therapy is essential for people with type 1 diabetes and may also be used in type 2 diabetes when other treatments are not sufficient. Different insulin types vary in how quickly they act and how long they last.
Oral medications help lower blood sugar primarily in people with type 2 diabetes by improving insulin sensitivity or reducing glucose production in the liver.
Common categories include:
Some diabetes medications are injected but are not insulin, including GLP-1 receptor agonists.
These medications may help with:
All medications can cause side effects, and understanding them helps you use treatment safely.
Common considerations include:
In some cases, medication may be prescribed to help delay or prevent progression from prediabete to type 2 diabetes.
This is typically combined with:
Before starting or changing medication, consider discussing:
Empowered patients tend to achieve better long-term outcomes.