With just four exceptions (insulin, pramlintide, liraglutide and exenatide), all prescription medications used to treat diabetes are taken orally, available in diabetic tablet form. There are five types of medications used for type 2 diabetes, to control blood sugar levels: biguanides (metformin), sulphonylureas (Glucotrol, glibenclamind/glyburide, Amaryl), meglitinides (Starlix, Prandin), glitazones or thiazolidinediones (Actos, Avandia), and acarbose (Glucobay). All of these popular diabetes medications are taken as a diabetic tablet.

Diabetes Tablets: Uses and Risks

First introduced in the 1950s, metformin (originally sold as Glucophage, now available as a generic) is the most widely used prescription diabetic tablet. It lowers blood sugar by reducing the liver’s production of sugar, increasing the absorption of sugar by the cells, and lessens the insulin needs of the body. There are fewer side effects than with other oral diabetes drugs. Most common are gastrointestinal issues, though people with lung, liver or kidney disorders …