Using Your Diabetic Medication

If you have diabetes, you know how important taking your diabetic medication is to your health. But do you know if you're taking your medication correctly?

Pharmacist Suzy Cohen, author of the book "Diabetes Without Drugs" (Rodale) talks about the right ways to take popular diabetes medications.

Cohen provides an easy guide to decipher the top diabetes medications on Lifescript.com, your online resource for women's health. For this article, we'll discuss only one group of medications.

Biguanides are for people with type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome. Biguanides are sourced from French lilac extract, which contains isoamylene guanidine. Metformin is often the most popular drug for diabetics, ever since it was put on the market in 1994.

They medication affects your body, making it more sensitive to insulin and pulling glucose into your muscles. They also prevent the liver from dumping out too much sugar (glycogen), which makes it an ideal medicine for people who battle with weight. This medicine comes in liquid form: Metformin and Pioglitazone (ActoPlus Met), Metformin and Rosiglitazone (Avandamet) and Riomet, or it also comes in tablet form (Fortamet, Glucophage, Glucophage XR).

These medications usually need to be taken with food. If you forget one, don't double up on doses. These drugs could rob you of folic acid, probiotics, Coenzyme Q10 and vitamin B12. This could cause depression, memory loss, confusion, muscle cramps, liver damage, fatigue, mouth sores, yeast infections, high blood pressure and increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

Possible side effects of biagunides include hypoglycemia, abdominal cramping, bloating, nausea, diarrhea, headache and a metallic taste in the mouth. Excess lactic acid in the bloodstream, called "lactic acidosis" is another dangerous - albeit rare - complication. Lactic acidosis is connected to a high mortality rate, especially in those individuals over the age of 80 or who have other concerning health issues.

Lactic acid built up in the bloodstream can resul in fast, shallow breathing, weakness, cramps, sleepiness, muscle aches and feeling chilled. Stop taking this drug if symptoms like these occur and call your doctor right away, as it may be necessary to go to the hospital.

For more type 2 and type 1 diabetes articles, visit Lifescript.com.

The information contained in this article is provided for informational purposes only and is not, nor is it ever intended to be, a substitute for professional medical advice or professional recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician(s) or other qualified healthcare provider(s).