Diabetes and Diabetes Medications
A review of selected antidiabetic medications identifies the mechanisms of action and potential side effects pertinent to each medication and laboratory tests used to identify and monitor diabetes are addressed.
Abstract
There are more than 20 million people in the United States who have diabetes; 14 million are diagnosed and an estimated 6 million who are unaware that they have diabetes. Thus, nurses in every setting are interacting with patients who have diabetes. Those nurses who are knowledgeable about diabetes can play a major role in reducing the damage that diabetes causes by educating patients and helping them identify the important aspects of managing their disease. In this article, a brief overview addresses the two major types of diabetes and the serious implications of uncontrolled diabetes. A review of selected antidiabetic medications identifies the mechanisms of action and potential side effects pertinent to each medication. Laboratory tests used to identify and monitor diabetes are also addressed.