If you have diabetes, it is likely you take one or more different medications. If so, these medications will play an important role in your diabetes care. To get the most from your medications, know these three facts:
- the time(s) of day to take your medications
- how your medications work with the food you eat
- how your medications affect your blood glucose level.
Your health care provider prescribes the diabetes medications you need to help your body work properly and keep you healthy. Keeping the dose and number of medications you take to a minimum can decrease the chances of experiencing side effects.
HOW DIABETES MEDICATIONS WORK
Medications enter the digestive tract and are broken down for use in the body. Unused parts of the medicine are eliminated from your body through your liver or kidneys. The useful, or active, ingredients of the medicine, enter the bloodstream and generally have one of two effects. Some medications such as Glipizide (a sulfonylurea), lower blood glucose by getting the pancreas to make more insulin. Other diabetes medications, such as the insulin sensitizers called glitazones, make the insulin that is produced by the pancreas work more effectively.
Another issue to be clear about before you leave your health care provider’s office or Walgreens pharmacy, is how the medications you take work with food. Most diabetes medications work best when you take them before you eat. Food may change how your medication works in your body. It is useful to know when to take your medication—before or after meals. For example, if you take medication on an empty stomach and that causes discomfort, you can adjust the timing or dosage to prevent stomach discomfort. Another way to solve the problem is to eat a small amount of food when you take your medication. Also, ask your Walgreens pharmacist what the potential side effects of your medications may be, so you can keep an eye out for them.
DEALING WITH MISSED OR INCORRECT DOSES
If you forget to take your medication as prescribed, speak to your Walgreens pharmacist about how to deal with your next dose. Below are some examples of what he or she might tell you to do. Please note that these may not apply to all of the medications you take:
- If you are supposed to take your diabetes medication once a day in the morning and forget to take it, take it as soon as you remember.
- If you take your diabetes medication once in the morning and once at night, wait and take it at night as usual. Do not take two doses to catch up. This is too much medication to take at once.
If you take your diabetes medication at each meal and forget to take your medication at a particular meal, wait until the next meal. Remember: You can always speak to your health care provider or Walgreens pharmacist if you have questions. Often, his or her advice will be just to remind you to take the medication at the next prescribed time and to check your blood glucose a couple of more times that day. This also may be true if you take the wrong dose or the wrong medication. You may want to try using a pill box with the day or time on it to help you remember to take the correct doses at the correct times. A timer or alarm clock can also be useful. Testing your blood glucose more frequently during the day will help you to understand the effects of missing a dose or taking the wrong dose.
GOOD TIMES TO CHECK BLOOD GLUCOSE
Checking your blood glucose helps keep track of your blood glucose levels. It also helps you and your health care provider decide if the medications you take are working to keep your blood glucose in control. Keep a written record of your blood glucose test results. Bring your records to every appointment with your health care provider or diabetes educator. It also is helpful to have these records ready when you call your health care provider’s office for advice. You should check your blood glucose level if you think it may be too low. This way you can treat a low blood glucose with some carbohydrates, such as glucose tablets, before it gets too low for you to treat it yourself.
GOOD TIMES TO CHECK YOUR BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVELS ARE:
- in the morning before you eat
- before other meals of the day
- before bed time
- two hours after you eat (This helps you learn how high your blood glucose goes after you eat.)
There are times you will be asked to check your blood glucose more often. This is especially true when you start a new medication or change doses. When you reach your target blood glucose levels (between 90 and 130 mg/dL before meals and less than 180 mg/dL two hours after meals), your health care provider may make some changes in your diabetes medications. Do your best to take your diabetes medications. And remember, they work best if you take them as directed.
MONITORING MEDICATIONS
Bring all your medications in their original bottles to your office visit. Discuss your medications with your health care provider.
- What are the correct doses?
- When should I take each dose?
- Should I take the medication with or without food?
- What are the side effects I may experience?
- Also, bring your blood glucose results to your office visit.
KEEP A LIST OF:
- The date the medications were ordered and who prescribed them;
- The dose and any change in dosage;
- When and how to take each pill;
- Description of the medication (such as tablet color, whether you take a half or a whole tablet);
ASK YOUR WALGREENS PHARMACIST TO:
- Keep a profile or list of all your medications;
- Review all your medications with you (timing, side effects, what to do if a pill is missed, etc.);
- Look for medications that should not be used together.
