Diabetes medication management

FOR MANY people with diabetes, taking medicine is an important part of diabetes management. There are several types of diabetes medicine, and they all work in different ways.

Understanding your plan is important so that you can take your medicines the right way and at the right time. Always talk to your doctor about any concerns or side affects you may have.

There are many different types of drugs that can work in different ways to lower your blood glucose (blood sugar). Sometimes one medication will be enough, but in other cases, your doctor may prescribe a combination of medications.

According to Dr Rivane Chybar Virgo, medical doctor and health and wellness coach, speaking at a recent weekly Health Talk Sunday Series presentation, taking the right medications will help you have greater control over your diabetes and help you feel better.

“Insulin, pills that lower your blood sugar, aspirin, blood pressure medication, cholesterol-lowering medication are a few of the medicines used to reduce your risk of complications,” Dr Chybar Virgo said.

There are several challenges, Dr Chybar Virgo said, that patients will encounter while on diabetic medication. “If persons are on several medications, they may become overwhelmed, they may not be clear how to take it, they may have questions that they are afraid to ask and the greatest risk is that they forget to take their medication,” Dr Chybar Virgo said.

“People with diabetes often take many different medicines for diabetes and for other conditions, like heart disease, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.

Some medicines that are safe by themselves can mix badly with other medicines,” she added.

Understand your plan

In order to stay on track with your diabetic medication, Dr Chybar Virgo recommends that you understand your plan and medications so you can take them right away and at the right time.

“It is important to understand the time of day to take the medication, which medication to take with food, which can be taken together, how much to take, what if you miss a dose, how to store it and what is the medication for, how does it work, and are there any side affects you should be worried about,” Dr Chybar Virgo said.

She also recommends to keep a list of medication you are taking, including over the counter supplements; name, dose, timing. Also, to fill prescriptions as soon as possible. “Set reminders and create a routine,” she said.

For more information on how to improve your self-care with diabetes, you can email healthtalksundays@gmail.com

SOURCE: World Health Organisation; Health Talk Sundays

keisha.hill@gleanerjm.com