Oral Diabetes Medications That Might Aid In Maintaining Insulin Sensitivity

Metformin and pioglitazone are oral medications often prescribed together with a healthy diet and physical activity for lowering blood sugar levels by two main methods in people diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. The more important method consists of reducing the amount of sugar made by the liver. The other method consists of slowing down the absorption of carbohydrates by the intestines.The drugs also help to increase insulin sensitivity. Investigators at Banaras Hindu University in Varanasi, India looked at how the drugs act to lower insulin resistance learning whether they could be of more use in that role.

Their work, reported on in August 2015 in the medical journal Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome, included 60 participants with Type 2 diabetes...

• one-third of the participants was assigned to the Metformin group,
• another third to the Pioglitazone group, and
• the final third to a control group,

for a period of four weeks.

By the end of the study the participants taking metformin had increased levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD). SOD is an enzyme that converts free radicals, substances damaging to cells, to harmless molecules. It has been linked with lowered insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is the cause of Type 2 diabetes.

Both metformin and pioglitazone lowered malondialdehyde (MDA). MDA is used to measure the number of free radicals in the system.

Researchers suggest lowering the number of free radicals could be helping the cells resist the damage free radicals can cause. They suspect by helping to protect cells from free radical damage, metformin and pioglitazone might aid them in maintaining insulin sensitivity. They go on to suggest giving both these medications together might be even more effective at protecting cells and helping them to keep up their healthy insulin and sugar functions.

Human chemistry is a tricky subject, but research is making it clearer all the time. The time could come when a blood sample can be analysed for all the complex chemical reactions going on in each of our bodies, and the perfect balance of medications for optimal health could be prescribed. In the meantime, we can do a great deal to get our body chemistry into good shape by following a healthful diet and taking part in regular physical activity.

Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables are key to a healthy meal plan, so find some vegan or vegetarian cookbooks or websites that work for you. There are many more varieties of plant-based foods than there are meats, so be prepared for a lot less boring meal plan. Use herbs for seasoning, too, and things get better and better. Take the pup for a walk each morning and you're on your way to preventing or controlling Type 2 diabetes.

Although managing your disease can be very challenging, Type 2 diabetes is not a condition you must just live with. You can make simple changes to your daily routine and lower both your weight and your blood sugar levels. Hang in there, the longer you do it, the easier it gets.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9165259

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