You Have Type 1 Diabetes

If you have type 1 diabetes, pills will not work for you. You will have to take insulin injections. However, if you have type 2 diabetes, then you may respond to pills.

Many doctors try pills in patients with type 2 diabetes, because pills are easier to take and have other advantages. Tell your doctor that you would like to try the pills, and if they don't work, then you're willing to take insulin injections.

 There is not an absolute blood test to predict how you will respond to pills. The only way to know is to try them for several weeks. Beginning to exercise or increasing your level of physical activity will help you gain better glucose control with diabetes pills.

If you have type 2 diabetes and are taking insulin, talk to your doctor. Many medications, such as metformin, pioglitazone, repaglinide, glyburide, and others, have permitted some people with diabetes to switch to pills and stop their injections.

Many new diabetes medications are currently being tested, so stay in touch with your diabetes health-care team.