How to Find the Best Medication for High Blood Sugar

Author Scott

Posted on May 11, 2022

Scott is passionate about health and wellness, and enjoys writing on various topic surrounding these fields. Scott lives in Seattle and spends his free time restoring old furniture and playing pickleball with his friends.

Did you know that approximately 422 million people have diabetes globally? One of the key indicators of diabetes is high blood sugar levels. When sugar remains elevated in your bloodstream, it can cause damage to your heart and other organs.

The most prevalent diabetes is type II diabetes, which has increased in every country substantially during the past thirty years. How can high blood sugar medication help?

Unfortunately, diabetes is a chronic illness that requires lifestyle changes and careful medical monitoring. Medication plays a critical part in keeping your blood sugar levels within normal range. It can help prevent vision loss and organ damage and improve your overall health and wellness.

Are you still interested? Luckily, we have put together a complete guide on high blood sugar medication, how it helps, and the most common types. Keep reading for more information!

What Is High Blood Sugar?

Hyperglycemia, also known as high blood sugar, is high sugar levels in your bloodstream. Most times, improper production or use of insulin are two high blood sugar causes.

Insulin is a hormone that helps with glucose regulation and absorption, assisting with energy and metabolism. Elevated blood sugar levels can indicate a risk for chronic illnesses. Without intervention and lifestyle changes, it can progress to diabetes.

High Blood Sugar Symptoms

Typically, a person with higher blood sugar levels may not have symptoms if their resting sugar levels are below 200 mg/dl. Greater than 200 mg/dl can show some symptoms such as:

Frequent urination
Excessive thirst
Intense hunger
Headaches
Blurred vision
Fatigue
Weight loss
Mood changes (e.g., irritability)

In general, symptoms worsen the longer sugars remain elevated, but it could take years before a person starts showing hyperglycemic indicators.

What Are Normal Blood Sugar Levels?

Normal blood sugar levels should be below 99 mg/dl. These are fasting levels and give a good indicator of how well your body uses insulin to help normalize sugar levels.

If your fasting blood sugar levels are 100 to 125 mg/dl, it is classified as prediabetes. Anything above 125 mg/dl is diabetes.

Another test you can take is measuring glucose levels one hour after drinking fluids. You'll repeat this test for up to three hours.

After two hours, experts state that blood sugar levels below 140 mg/dl are normal. If your results show 200 mg/dl or higher, it is indicative of a diabetes diagnosis.

Hyperglycemic Treatment Options

What are some options you have for high blood sugar treatment? Type I diabetes works a bit differently. When you talk about high blood sugar causes, type I is an autoimmune disorder that is not heavily impacted by lifestyle factors before onset.

Your body attacks insulin-producing cells, which inhibit your body from producing any insulin. On the other hand, type II diabetes is an inability to use insulin properly. Your body produces insulin, but it doesn't effectively regulate glucose levels.

Type II diabetes can have close ties with poor dieting, lack of exercise, and other factors. Simply changing up your routine and incorporating healthier foods, regular exercise, and adequate sleep can help prediabetic and diabetic patients. Other treatment options include:

Stress management
Regular check-ins with your primary care physician
Glucose monitoring
Medication management

Medication could include daily prescriptions or insulin injections. If you have type I diabetes, you'll need regular injections since the body doesn't produce insulin. Type II diabetic patients may only need medications that help their body utilize its natural insulin resources.

High Blood Sugar Medication

Most treatments for type II diabetes are oral medications. The most common hyperglycemic medications include:

Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors
Biguanides
Dopamine agonists
DPP-4 inhibitors
GLP-1 receptor agonists
Meglitinides
SGLT 2 inhibitors
Sulfonylureas
Thiazolidinediones

Biguanides are one of the most common first-line medications for type II diabetes. It includes metformin, which is also found in combination medications such as DPP-4 inhibitors, sulfonylureas, and thiazolidinediones.

How Does Metformin Work?

Most medications on the list above improve insulin's mechanism of action. Metformin is a prescription medication that works in a few different ways and can be used in children over 10. Some metformin's mechanism of action includes:

Decreasing sugar production by the liver
Decreasing glucose absorption
Improving insulin effects

Ultimately, cells can optimally utilize sugar and reduce resting and fasting glucose levels. There are a few different side effects of metformin, including:

Diarrhea
Nausea
Heartburn

In more serious instances, metformin can cause drops in blood sugar that results in hypoglycemic episodes. Mild hypoglycemic episodes are when your blood sugar levels drop between 50 and 75 mg/dl.

Diabetes Medication Cost

Traditional diabetes medications such as thiazolidinediones and sulfonylureas will cost much less. Combination medications that include metformin and newer drugs can be unaffordable for many individuals.

Unfortunately, these newer drugs may help manage diabetic symptoms better or offer alternatives for difficult-to-treat patient symptoms. Annual traditional diabetic medications cost between $31 to $136. Newer or combination medications can cost over $11,000 annually.

Choosing an online Canadian pharmacy can help you lower prices on monthly prescriptions. Even newer brand-name medications are a fraction of the cost seen in the United States. Let's look at Xiguado as an example.

This is a combination medication that includes dapagliflozin and metformin. Xiguado costs around $1.75 per unit through PricePro Pharmacy.

Managing Your High Blood Sugars

High blood sugar medication can help your body utilize insulin and reduce dangerous sugar levels in your bloodstream. Along with a healthy lifestyle, diabetic medication can keep your blood sugar levels within safe ranges.

Since diabetes can reduce your lifespan and lead to medical complications, it is critical that you take your medication as prescribed. If you struggle with affording high blood sugar medication, check out PricePro Pharmacy.

We have affordable options on many diabetic medications, so check us out today!