Diabetic medications are needed to keep blood sugar levels within a healthy range. Type-2 diabetics are “insulin resistant”, which means their cells do not respond even though insulin is present. When this happens the cells cannot take in the blood sugar (glucose) needed to make energy, and so the sugar remains in that person’s bloodstream. Some people are able to maintain the blood sugar levels through diet and exercise, but most need diabetic medications to do so.

There are five classes of oral diabetes medications, as of yet. Each of them helps to lower blood glucose levels, although they work in different ways. They may be used in combination with each other and/or along with insulin to combat the effects of the disease. Typed of diabetic medications include:

Sulfonylureas – this class of diabetic medications works by stimulating the pancreas into making more insulin.

Biguanides – this class of diabetic …