Medication

I am not real fond of diabetic medications, but that is probably partly because the one I used did not work, and for me, the others are all too risky to use in conjunction with pregnancy. I have had to choose between pills and insulin, and I chose insulin for that reason. But what was right for me is not what is right for everyone.

Basically, there is little advantage or disadvantage between prescription medications and herbs as far as safety or side effects is concerned. Either can cause unpleasant or dangerous problems. Either can work, and either one can fail to work for you. It all depends on your body chemistry and the dynamics of your particular diabetes.

Medications are usually the more expensive of the two, but older medications may cost no more to use than herbs. Affordability depends on which medication you use, and whether you have insurance. If a specific medication is too expensive, sometimes your doctor can work with you to find a less costly one that works as well, sometimes the only one that WILL work for you is the more expensive one.

Medications are generally for use with Type II diabetes or insulin resistance. Most are aimed at helping the body use insulin more efficiently, while some do encourage release of more insulin. They can be very helpful for Type II diabetes, but will not have benefits for true insulin insufficiency that accompanies Type I diabetes. This may change with time, because new options are being researched all the time.

Preferring a natural means of controlling diabetes does not preclude the use of medications. It just means that you should concentrate on doing all you can with diet before you resort to medications. Once your options for dietetic control are exhausted though (and this will be different for each person), medications can help you keep it under control better. And good diet will always enhance the ability of the medications to work.

Many people feel that if they take medication for their diabetes that they do not have to worry about diet. This is untrue. It is just as important to control diet, and to monitor blood sugar levels if you are using medications, and may in fact be more important. Consistency in diet can be a major helpful influence in enhancing the effectiveness of diabetic medications.

They can have side effects, and you are the only person who can determine whether they are worth it for the benefit of reducing the risks of uncontrolled diabetes. Generally, if the medication is effective for you, you should see significant reductions in blood sugar levels. If that does not happen, then you need to go back to your doctor and discuss other options. The one that I used only lowered my blood sugar by about 5 points when taken at a fairly high dose, so it was not considered an effective drug for me. You are the one who has to monitor the results though, through consistent blood sugar testing, and you are the one who needs to say so if you feel the results are ineffective. You have to work with your doctor in partnership to control diabetes, and if you don't do your part, the doctor cannot do their part.

If you add supplements after you are already taking medications, it is important that you discuss it with your doctor before hand, and that you monitor carefully while you take them. If blood sugar levels change, your medication may need to be adjusted.

There is no question that the available diabetes medications have lowered the long term damage from diabetes. They are not the best thing for everyone, but for those people with Type II diabetes that they work for, they can be a good tool for improved control.

Written by Laura Wheeler, Owner of Firelight Business Enterprises, Inc.