Diabetes medication

Diabetes medications lower blood glucose or replace insulin when the body does not produce enough. They include injected hormones and drugs taken by mouth or other routes.

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Insulin: A hormone that enables cells to take up glucose and helps regulate blood sugar. Injected insulin replaces or supplements the hormone when the pancreas cannot provide enough.
Type 1 diabetes: An autoimmune disease in which pancreatic beta cells are destroyed, causing severe insulin deficiency. Insulin replacement is essential because the disease removes the body's main source of insulin.
Insulin pump: A wearable device that delivers insulin continuously through a small catheter or infusion set. It changes insulin delivery from scheduled injections to programmable continuous infusion.
Hypoglycemia: A below-normal blood glucose level that can cause symptoms ranging from shakiness to loss of consciousness. Insulin and some insulin-stimulating drugs can lower glucose too far.
Precision medicine: An approach that tailors prevention or treatment using individual biological and clinical differences. Researchers seek better ways to match drug choice to each person's disease profile and risks.
Metformin: An oral medication that lowers glucose production by the liver and improves insulin sensitivity. It is a common first-line drug for type 2 diabetes and acts mainly on liver glucose output.
Type 2 diabetes: A chronic disease characterized by insulin resistance and progressive impairment of insulin secretion. Multiple medication classes address its changing combination of insulin resistance and inadequate secretion.
Continuous glucose monitoring: A system that measures glucose in interstitial fluid at regular intervals using a wearable sensor. Monitoring supports medication adjustments but does not itself lower glucose.
Diabetes distress: Emotional strain associated with the ongoing demands of managing diabetes. Complex regimens, monitoring, and fear of adverse events can add to treatment burden.
Cardiorenal protection: Prevention or slowing of damage affecting the heart and kidneys. Some newer diabetes drugs show benefits beyond glucose lowering, raising questions about optimal use.