All Health Topics

Type 2 diabetes medicines

Published Nov. 19, 2018
• Reviewed by a UI Health Care Provider

Metformin (pills)

  • Helps the body do a better job of using the insulin it makes
  • Helps your liver stop putting out sugar when your body does not need it
  • Works very well if kids are eating healthy and staying active
  • Helps your blood sugars get lower
  • Can help you lose weight
  • Are the only diabetes pills approved for kids under age 18
  • Sometimes it is used alone. Sometimes kids will need to take both Metformin and insulin shots
  • Your doctor will tell you to take Metformin with meals 1 to 2 times each day.

It is very important to take your pills each day. Do not skip them. Make a routine that will help you remember.

Ways to help you remember to take your pills are:

  • Your parents need to help you.
  • Buy a pill box at a pharmacy that has compartments for each day of the week. One time a week, your parents should fill the pill box with your pills.
  • Put the pill box on the table at breakfast and supper time each day.
  • Parents should remind you and then watch you take the pills each day.
  • Parents should get the Metformin refills at your pharmacy each month.

Side effects of Metformin are:

  • Mild stomach pain or upset stomach
  • Nausea (feeling like you want to vomit/throw up)
  • Diarrhea (loose runny poop)
  • Belly bloating or extra gas in the belly

Do not stop taking the pills if your belly doesn’t feel good!

Usually these side effects get better and go away after a few weeks. Keep taking the pills and call your diabetes doctor or nurse if your belly does not feel better after 2 or 3 weeks.

If you are vomiting (throwing up):

  • Stop taking Metformin
  • Call your diabetes doctor or nurses for help:
    • Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., call the Pediatric Diabetes Nurses at 1-319-356-2229
    • After hour/weekends/holidays, call 1-319-356-1616 and ask for the pediatric endocrinologist on-call.

Insulin

There are 2 types of insulin:

  • Rapid-acting
  • Long-acting

What should I know about rapid-acting insulin?

  • The level of sugar in the blood starts going up very fast when carbohydrate breaks down into sugar in the body. Rapid-acting insulin opens the door on the body cell so sugar can get out of the blood and into the cell fast.
  • Give yourself rapid-acting insulin before eating carbohydrate at meal times.
    • Taking rapid-acting insulin 15 minutes before eating is best. This will give better blood sugar control than taking it just before eating.
    • It can work right away, as your blood sugar starts to go up.
  • Most people take rapid-acting insulin 3 times a day.
  • Brands of rapid-acting insulin are:
    • Humalog®
    • Novolog®
    • Apidra®
  • Your diabetes doctor will prescribe the brand of insulin your insurance covers.

What should I know about long-acting insulin?

  • You may need to take long-acting insulin 1 time a day if your first blood sugar in the morning is too high.
    • In type 2 diabetes, the body is “resistant” to the insulin the body makes. Blood sugars stay higher than the normal range even during the time of day you are not eating carbs. So, during the night, when you are sleeping, your body may still need a small amount of insulin working all the time. Your first blood sugar in the morning, when you wake up, will be too high without a little bit of insulin working 24 hours a day.
  • Brands of long-acting insulin are:
    • Lantus®
    • Levemir®
    • Toujeo®
    • Basaglar®
    • Tresiba®
  • All of these long-acting insulins give the body a continuous little bit of insulin that lasts for 24 hours or longer.
  • The most important thing to remember about taking long-acting insulin is to take it at the same time each day. That way you always have a little bit of insulin in your body.
  • Your diabetes doctor will prescribe the brand of insulin your insurance covers.