Type 2 diabetes and treatment with pills

When you have type 2 diabetes, it is individual from person to person when you need to start medical treatment. Most people need medication when diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Some people can wait months before they need medication. Therefore, the treatment of your type 2 diabetes will often change over time to ensure your diabetes is under proper control. The main purpose of your treatment is to lower your blood sugar and prevent diabetic complications.

There are different types of medications for this. You need to take some types of medication as a pill, others need to be taken as an injection. Your care givercan also combine different types of medication. Your treatment depends, among other things, on: Your daily routine, your age, weight, how long you have had diabetes, and whether you have other diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, that need to be taken into account.

You have a dialogue with your caregiver about what treatment will be good for you. You agree what medications and doses you need, and this is assessed based on what suits your everyday life and what your long-term blood sugar level has shown. Your caregiver will always suggest starting with the minimum amount of medication; together, you can then increase the dose to suit you and your needs.

How many times a day you have to take your medication will depend on which medication you are receiving. Always ask questions of your diabetes care professional if there is something you are unsure about.