Blood Sugars Initially Fall in Response to the Medicine

If your blood sugar has been high for some time, your pancreas can't immediately readjust because your body has been using insulin poorly.

When you interrupt the cycle and spend more time in the normal blood-sugar range, you begin to increase your body's ability to stay there.

After several weeks of improved control, many patients find that they need less insulin or oral medication to maintain appropriate blood-sugar levels.

It may take more medication initially to begin reducing your blood sugars, but the dosage may decrease as your overall diabetes control improves.

Some patients with type 2 diabetes who take a diabetes medication and who also start exercising and eating better find that, after a while, they can stop their medication as long as they continue the other activities.

Talk to your health-care team before stopping any medication. If you get the go-ahead, monitor your blood sugars while continuing your diet and exercise program.

However, at the first sign that your blood-sugar levels are increasing, contact your healthcare team.