Science Statistics for side effects of chemicals in the treatment of Diabetes
Both Type 1 and Type II diabetes can generally be treated and controlled with medication. For Type I, the necessary medication is insulin since the body produces little or none of this required substance. For Type II diabetes, a variety of drugs are available and they are usually accompanied by changes in diet. As with all medications, drugs that control diabetes have possible side effects.
Potential side effects of generally used diabetes drugs:
Sulfonylureas: low blood sugar, upset stomach, skin rash or itching, weight gain
Biguanides/Metformin: alcohol related intolerance, kidney complications, upset stomach, tiredness or dizziness, metal taste
Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors: gas, bloating and diarrhea
Thiazolidinediones: weight gain, risk of liver disease, risk of anemia, swelling of legs or ankles,
Meglitinides: weight gain, low blood sugar
Nausea and Vomiting
When a medication interferes with the gastrointestinal system, nausea and vomiting may result.In some cases these reactions to the medication will decrease and/or disappear with regular use of it. Diabetes medications that can cause these responses include metformin, marketed as Glucophage, Glumetza, Fortamet and Rioment. Insulin, glyburide (Diabeta, Glycron, Micronase, Glynase Pres-Tab), sitagliptin (Januvia), rosiglitazone (Avandia), glipizide (Glucotrol, Glucotrol XL), repaglinide (Prandin) and pioglitazone (Actos) may all cause nausea and vomiting.
Appetite
Metformin can also cause loss of appetite. Insulin, on the other hand, may cause an increase in appetite. Additional diabetes medications that may cause an increase in appetite include glyburide, sitagliptin, rosiglitazone, pioglitazone, repaglinide and glipizide.
Anxiety
Glipizide can produce anxiety in some diabetes patients and it should be immediately reported to the doctor. Repaglinide also may cause anxious feelings as part of another side effect, low blood sugar. Rosiglitazone, sitagliptin and glyburide may also cause anxiety as a side effect.
Convulsions
Glyburide may cause the serious side effect of convulsions or seizures. These are not common, however the physician should be notified when experienced, as they are serious medical conditions. Insulin, glipizide and repaglinide also may cause seizures.
Depression
Although depression is a less prevalent side effect of diabetes medications, it still can occur. Glipizide, rosiglitazone, sitagliptin, glyburide and insulin may all trigger depression as a side effect of their use in the treatment.
Unconsciousness
A serious side effect of repaglinide is to render the patient unconscious a reaction which requires immediate medical attention. The indicated reaction may also be caused by pioglitazone and sitagliptin.
Coma
A possible and very serious side effect of medications, designed to treat diabetes, have the potential of causing coma for some patients. Although very rare, insulin along with medications like glyburide, rosiglitazone and glipizide may cause coma.
Dr.Wang
Dr. Wang holds that complications and death of diabetes are caused by control therapy.
Diet control disrupts energy creation, while Sulfonylureas such as Glibenclamide, Glipizide, Gliclazide, D860, Glibornuride and Gliquidone can reduce blood glucose level temporarily, causing the healthy function of the heart, lung and liver to decline in time.
Biguanides such as metformin, metformin hydrochloride, and diaformin can restrain the absorption of Glucose temporarily and seems that the glucose level is normal, still it will eventually damage spleen and stomach functions. Insulin does accomplish the control of blood sugar by heart and kidney, but long-term use of insulin may lead to the failure of these particular organs.
