Thiazolidinedione: Diabetes Medication

A Health Care Article Contributed by Nisha Mathew

Diabetes Medication: Thiazolidinedione

John was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and was prescribed Actos, a thiazolidinedione drug, as his medication. What should John know about the drug so that he can maintain a safe and quality life with diabetes?

In type 2 diabetes the body does not produce the necessary amount of insulin or if it does produce enough it is being overlooked by the body cells. Insulin is very necessary for the body to be able to use the sugar in the blood. The insulin acts as a channel to carry the sugar from the blood into the cells where the energy is used for the different processes of the body. When there is low insulin sugar does not get converted into energy and thereby the cells become starved of energy.

What is the Diabetes Medication

Actos or pioglitazone as it is also known falls under the category of Thiazolidinedione drugs. This drug group is a proven medication for type 2 diabetes. Another medication under this group is Avandia also called rosiglitazone. Thiazolidinedione increases the sensitivity of the cell towards insulin. Once this is accomplished then the insulin can carry the sugar from the blood stream into the cell for energy.

Rosiglitazone is to be taken once or twice as recommended. This medication is to be taken usually in the mornings. If the dosage is twice a day, then it is to be taken in the morning and in the evening. Care should be taken that this medication is taken at a constant time every day. Pioglitazone is to be taken once a day. Again this medication is also to be taken at a constant time every day. It does not matter whether this medication group is taken before or after a meal.

Side Effects of This Diabetes Medication

· Liver problems are one of the major side effects to this medication. It is very important that the diabetes patient gets his liver enzyme levels checked up on a regular basis. He should be on the lookout for symptoms of liver complication. These symptoms would include skin turning yellow, nausea, vomiting, decreased or loss of appetite. Rezulin or troglitazone was taken off the market because diabetes patients who took this medication had severe liver complications.

· There are chances that patients taking this medication will gain weight.

· There are increased chances of pregnancy. If the medication is taken along with birth control medicines it makes the preventive medicines less effective thereby increasing the chances of pregnancy.

· Even though the medicines in the Thiazolidinedione groups does not cause hypoglycemia there are chances of the blood glucose level becoming low if the patient takes other medication along with this group

· There are chances of developing anemia. Anemia makes the patient weak and causes the blood to carry insufficient oxygen.

· Causes edema or the swelling of the legs or ankles.

Diabetes patient will have to work with their doctors to find the right combination of medication that will work for them. Thiazolidinedione drugs can be taken alone or can be combined with other medicines. Pioglitazone works well with sulfonylurea and rosiglitazone works with metformin to effectively control the blood glucose levels in the body.

It is imperative that you consult your doctor before taking any combination of medication.