How Do Diabetes Pills Work?

If you have Type 2 diabetes, your body makes insulin but is unable to use it well

If you have Type 2 diabetes, your body makes insulin but is unable to use it well. Diabetes pills work by helping your body use insulin better or get rid of extra glucose (sugar) in your blood. Depending on your condition, your doctor will decide on the medication you need. You may need only one type of pill, a combination of pills, or pills together with insulin. Be sure to let your doctor know if you experience any side effects from your medication.

The picture below shows you the commonly used diabetes pills by their generic names and how they work on the respective organs to help regulate blood glucose levels. Ask your doctor if you do not know the generic names of the pills you are taking.

Read these next:

Guide to Managing Diabetes

This article was last reviewed on Monday, October 28, 2019

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If you have Type 2 diabetes, your body makes insulin but is unable to use it well

<div class="ExternalClassDE372819436541BF902060A98D342E72">
   <a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/programmes/115/get-healthhub-track" title="HealthHub Track">
      <img src="/sites/assets/Assets/Article%20Images/HH-Track-Banner%20(300x250)_v8%20(HIRES).jpg" alt="" style="float:left;margin:5px;width:300px;vertical-align:baseline;height:469px;" /> </a>
   <p>If you have Type 2 diabetes, your body makes insulin but is unable to use it well.
      <a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/a-z/diseases-and-conditions/576/diabetes-treatment-capsules--tablets" title="Diabetes Treatment Capsules-Tablets"><span style="color:#0000ff;">Diabetes pills</span></a> work by helping your body use insulin better or get rid of extra glucose (sugar) in your blood. Depending on your condition, your doctor will decide on the medication you need. You may need only one type of pill, a combination of pills, or pills together with insulin. Be sure to let your doctor know if you experience any side effects from your medication.</p><p>The picture below shows you the commonly used diabetes pills by their generic names and how they work on the respective organs to help regulate blood glucose levels. Ask your doctor if you do not know the generic names of the pills you are taking.</p><p style="text-align:center;"><img src="/sites/assets/Assets/Categories/Chronic%20Illness/diabetes-pills-v3.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;" />
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      <a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/programmes/115/get-healthhub-track" title="HealthHub Track">
         <img src="/sites/assets/Assets/Article%20Images/HH-Track-Banner%20(300x250)-HIRES-V5-FA.jpg" alt="" style="margin:5px;width:300px;height:250px;" /></a> </div><div style="text-align:center;">


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      <strong>Read these next:</strong></p><ul><li>
         <a href="https://www.healthhub.sg/programmes/162/diabetes-hub" title="Guide to Managing Diabetes">Guide to Managing Diabetes</a> </li></ul></div>

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Monday, October 28, 2019

<div class="ExternalClassA318562EAD924B8098B4452F01AA643E"><p>Health Promotion Board
3 Second Hospital Avenue
Singapore 168937</p></div>

HPB_Mailbox@hpb.gov.sg

<div class="ExternalClassCE2624D1B20347D981710ADBE1B4A7F1">Established in 2001, the Health Promotion Board (HPB) has a vision to build a nation of healthy people.

HPB implements programmes that reach out to the population, specifically children, adults and the elderly. These programmes include health and dental services for school children, BreastScreen Singapore, AIDS Education Programme, CervicalScreen Singapore, Childhood Injury Prevention Programme, Mental Health Education Programme, National Myopia Prevention Programme, Physical Activity, National Smoking Control Programme, Nutrition Programme, Osteoporosis Education Programme, Workplace Health Promotion Programme, HPB Online, HealthLine, Health Information Centre and HealthZone. New programmes will also be initiated over time to address health concerns among the community.</div>