Over 37 million Americans have diabetes, and almost 90% have type 2. With so many medication for diabetes and supplements available, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and unsure which is right for you.
Oral supplements are often the first line of treatment for people with type 2 diabetes. Even if a medicine works at first, your blood sugar can go too high or too low, making you feel shaky, dizzy, or confused. That’s why your doctor may adjust your dose or try a different medication over time.
At Kairos, we support patients across Houston, Sugar Land, Rosenberg, and Richmond, Texas, through both functional medicine and primary care services.
That means we don’t just hand you a prescription. We help you understand why a medicine or supplement is used and what side effects to watch for.
Medications for Type 1 Diabetes
If you have type 1 diabetes, your body can’t make insulin at all. That means insulin isn’t optional for you. It’s essential to take insulin in order to manage type 1 diabetes. Insulin is not available in pill form. You can take insulin in a few ways, like multiple daily injections (MDI), insulin pumps, or inhalable insulin.
The following are types of insulin that may be recommended by your doctor:
- Rapid-acting, like Humalog, Novolog, covers blood sugar spikes after meals.
- Long-acting like Lantus, Tresiba keeps blood sugar stable between meals and overnight.
- Premixed insulin combines rapid- and long-acting insulin for convenience.
To manage your Type 1 diabetes, you need to match your insulin with what you eat, how active you are. Functional medicine adds another layer by supporting your gut health and ensuring your body gets the nutrients it needs to stay healthy.
Common side effects of insulin include Low blood sugar, weight gain, and irritation at the injection site.
Medications for Type 2 Diabetes
In type 2 diabetes, your body still makes insulin, but it doesn’t use it well, a problem called insulin resistance.
This is why its treatment ranges from oral medications to, in advanced cases, insulin therapy is recommended. The following are the most common medications recommended by doctors:
1. Metformin for Type 2 Diabetes
Metformin is usually the first medication that your doctor prescribes for type 2 diabetes. It helps to lower your glucose production in the liver and makes your body more sensitive to insulin.
Side effects of Metformin:
Some people may notice side effects, like nausea, diarrhea, or stomach upset. Its long-term use can cause vitamin B12 deficiency, and though rare, lactic acidosis is a serious concern.
You should keep supporting your gut health and keep an eye on B12 levels to reduce the side effects of metformin.
Tips for safe use:
- Take metformin with meals to reduce stomach discomfort.
- Ask your doctor to check your B12 levels yearly.
- Take your doses timely, don’t skip them.
2. Sulfonylureas (Glipizide, Glyburide, Glimepiride)
Sulfonylurea medications are usually recommended to help your pancreas release more insulin to lower your blood sugar.
Common ones you might see include Glimepiride (Amaryl®), Glipizide (Glucotrol®), and Glyburide (Micronase®, Glynase®). These drugs can be effective at first, but over time, they may lose some of their effect.
These are the common side effects of sulfonylurea:
- Low blood sugar (hypoglycemia),
- Weight gain,
- Interactions with alcohol may cause nausea or flushing.
Because of these side effects, it is important to always eat before taking them, carry your glucose tablets in case your sugar drops suddenly, and monitor your blood sugar regularly.
3. DPP-4 Inhibitors (Sitagliptin, Saxagliptin, Linagliptin)
DPP-4 inhibitors are medication for diabetes that help your body release more insulin after meals and reduce glucose production by the liver. Common ones include Sitagliptin (Januvia®), Saxagliptin (Onglyza®), and Linagliptin (Tradjenta®).
They also help GLP-1, a natural hormone that lowers blood sugar, stay active longer, which can help you feel full after eating and keep blood sugar more stable.
These drugs are usually well tolerated, but some people may see side effects like:
- Headache
- Joint pain
- Increased risk of infections (cold, flu-like symptoms)
It is best for people who can’t tolerate metformin
4. SGLT2 Inhibitors (Canagliflozin, Dapagliflozin, Empagliflozin)
SGLT2 inhibitors are recommended to lower blood sugar by preventing your kidneys from reabsorbing glucose, so extra sugar leaves your body through urine.
Common ones include Canagliflozin (Invokana®), Dapagliflozin (Farxiga®), and Empagliflozin (Jardiance®). These medications can also help reduce heart and kidney risks.
Its side effects may include:
- Urinary tract infections
- Yeast infections
- Dehydration, Dizziness
- Diabetes-related ketoacidosis (DKA)
To avoid these side effects, try to stay well hydrated and practice good hygiene to lower the risk of UTIs.
5. GLP-1 Receptor Agonists(Liraglutide,Semaglutide )
GLP-1 receptor agonists are injectable medications that mimic a natural hormone in your body. They help your body release insulin when needed and can support weight loss.
Its common ones include Liraglutide (Victoza®), Semaglutide (Ozempic®), and Dulaglutide (Trulicity®).
Its side effects can include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Mild irritation at the injection site
- They may cause pancreatitis rarely, so it’s important to watch for severe abdominal pain.
You can start with a low dose to reduce nausea and rotate your injection sites to avoid these side effects.
6. Insulin Therapy for Type 2
Insulin is essential for people with type 1 diabetes, but it may also be recommended by your doctor if you have got advanced type 2 diabetes.
Tips for safe use:
- Learn the proper injection techniques.
- Rotate your injection sites to prevent skin thickening.
- Keep fast-acting glucose nearby in case your blood sugar drops suddenly.
Other Medication for Diabetes
These are not a replacement for prescribed medication for diabetes but can be helpful when recommended based on your lab results.
- Cinnamon extract may improve insulin sensitivity. You should avoid high doses as they can harm the liver.
- Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) can help you with nerve pain. It may cause nausea or rash.
- Magnesium supports insulin function. Too much intake of it can cause diarrhea.
- Chromium may improve insulin response. Its excess usage can affect your kidney health.
- Vitamin D helps regulate insulin. Its deficiency is common in people with diabetes.
- Omega-3s like fish oil, flax, and chia reduce inflammation and protect your heart health.
At Kairos Functional Medicine in Texas, we build supplement plans for you after checking your labs, so you get what’s right for you. Please note always take or start any new supplements under the supervision of your healthcare provider.
Key Tips for Taking Medications and Supplements
You need to do more than just take your diabetes medicine. You need to make sure it actually works for you and keeps you safe. Here are some simple tips to follow:
- Always check with your doctor before starting any new medication or supplement.
- Don’t stop your prescribed medicines on your own.
- Pay attention to side effects and let your doctor know at your appointments.
- Combine your medications with a healthy lifestyle and ways to manage stress.
- Use a pill organizer or phone reminders to stay on track.
- Track your blood sugar when trying something new.
- Speak up right away if something feels off or unusual.
- Introduce supplements one at a time so you can see how your body reacts.
- Choose high-quality, tested supplements.
- Keep an updated list of everything you take.
- Follow instructions about when to take your medicines, like with meals or on an empty stomach.
Conclusion
Medications for diabetes can help manage diabetes, but the best results come from a plan made just for you.
At Kairos, Lola, one of our board-certified nurse practitioners, guides patients with a personalized plan combining primary care in Richmond, Houston, Sugar Land, and Rosenberg, Texas, with functional medicine.
We accept major insurance plans, including Blue Cross, Aetna, Ambetter, Cigna, and more.
New patients are always welcome, and if visiting the clinic isn’t possible, telemedicine appointments are available across the entire state of Texas.
