Best Nutrition Diet Instructions For Diabetic Patients

What makes Type II Diabetes different from Type I Diabetes? Both come from a body that doesn't produce enough insulin. Type II Diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. In Type 2 Diabetes, the body either does not produce enough insulin or the cells ignore the insulin, and this insulin is needed by the body to be able to use glucose for energy. When we eat food the body breaks down all of the sugars and starches into glucose. This is the basic fuel for the cells in the body. Insulin takes the sugar from the blood into the cells, so when glucose builds up in the blood as opposed to going into cells it can lead to diabetes complications.

Type 1 Diabetes results from the body's failure to produce insulin, and requires the person to inject insulin, but Type 2 Diabetes results from insulin resistance. Type 2 Diabetes is non-insulin dependent whereas Type 1 Diabetes is insulin-dependent. Both types are chronic conditions which usually cannot be cured. Therefore, adequate treatment of diabetes is important along with blood pressure control and lifestyle factors like maintaining a healthy body weight.

While there are several classes of medications available for Type II Diabetes, Metformin is generally recommended as a first line treatment. There is good evidence that Metformin decreases mortality. Sometimes injections of insulin can be added to oral medication or used alone. A few of the classes of medications used to treat Type II Diabetes are sulfonylureas, thiazolidinediones, nonsulfonylurea secretagogues and alpha glucosidase inhibitors.

Metformin is a diabetic oral medication that comes highly recommended so it's good to understand exactly how this Type II Diabetes drug works. Metformin helps to control the amount of glucose in one's blood. It increases the sensitivity of liver, muscle, fat and other tissues to the uptake and effects of insulin, and these actions help to lower the sugar level in the blood. Metformin, originally sold as Glucophage, is the first-line antidiabetic drug of choice for the treatment of Type II Diabetes, in particular, in overweight and obese people and those with normal kidney function. The medication was approved by the FDA in December 1994 and can be used by itself or along with another drug.

Like other drugs, Metformin has its possible side effects some of which include stomach pain, decreased appetite and rapid breathing or shortness of breath. Other Metformin side effects include: lightheadedness, fast/slow heartbeat, feeling cold, nausea, vomiting and extreme tiredness. One may or may not experience these symptoms, but Metformin is a well known drug for treating Diabetes Type 2 so consult your doctor on the best medicine plan for you.