What medications are effective for lowering blood sugar in diabetes?
Sep 15, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Feng
Introduction
Under normal circumstances, diabetes is a metabolic disease caused by insufficient insulin secretion or defects in insulin action. Common symptoms include polydipsia (excessive thirst), polyuria (frequent urination), polyphagia (increased appetite), and weight loss. Patients may take medications such as metformin hydrochloride tablets, glimepiride tablets, acarbose tablets, repaglinide tablets, and empagliflozin tablets according to their physician's instructions.
Generally, diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disorder caused by insufficient insulin secretion or defects in insulin action. Common symptoms include polydipsia, polyuria, polyphagia, and weight loss. Patients may take medications such as metformin hydrochloride tablets, glimepiride tablets, acarbose tablets, repaglinide tablets, and empagliflozin tablets according to medical advice. Detailed explanations are as follows:
1. Metformin Hydrochloride Tablets
Belonging to the biguanide class of drugs, it lowers blood glucose by reducing hepatic glucose production, inhibiting intestinal glucose absorption, and improving insulin sensitivity in peripheral tissues. It is suitable for first-line treatment of type 2 diabetes, especially for overweight or obese patients with type 2 diabetes, and effectively controls both fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels.
2. Glimepiride Tablets
Belonging to the sulfonylurea class of drugs, it lowers blood glucose by stimulating pancreatic β-cells to secrete more insulin, thereby increasing insulin levels in the body. It is suitable for patients with type 2 diabetes whose pancreatic β-cells still have some secretory function and can control both fasting and postprandial blood glucose levels. It is appropriate for patients with high blood glucose levels and no history of sulfonylurea allergy.
3. Acarbose Tablets
Belonging to α-glucosidase inhibitors, it delays the breakdown of carbohydrates into glucose by inhibiting α-glucosidase in the brush border of the small intestinal mucosa, thereby reducing postprandial glucose absorption and lowering postprandial blood glucose. It is suitable for patients with type 2 diabetes whose main dietary source is carbohydrates and who experience significant postprandial blood glucose elevation.
4. Repaglinide Tablets
Belonging to non-sulfonylurea insulin secretagogues, it stimulates pancreatic β-cells to rapidly secrete insulin after meals, simulating the physiological pattern of insulin secretion, and effectively lowers postprandial blood glucose. It acts quickly and has a short duration of action, making it suitable for patients with type 2 diabetes who have large fluctuations in postprandial blood glucose or require flexible medication timing (e.g., irregular meal schedules).
5. Empagliflozin Tablets
Belonging to sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, it lowers blood glucose by inhibiting renal reabsorption of glucose, allowing excess glucose to be excreted in the urine. It also helps reduce fluid and sodium retention in the body and has some control over weight and blood pressure. It is suitable for patients with type 2 diabetes.
In daily life, attention should be paid to controlling carbohydrate intake (e.g., rice, noodles should be consumed in measured amounts), avoiding high-sugar foods like candy and cakes, engaging in regular physical activity such as walking or jogging, monitoring blood glucose regularly, and maintaining stable blood sugar levels.
