There are several different types of diabetes medications, each with their own mechanism of action, route of administration, and potential side effects.

Metformin: This is a biguanide medication that works by decreasing glucose production in the liver and increasing insulin sensitivity. It is typically taken orally and is generally well-tolerated, with the most common side effects being gastrointestinal issues such as nausea and diarrhea.

Sulfonylureas: These medications work by stimulating the pancreas to produce more insulin. They are taken orally and can cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) as a side effect. Examples of sulfonylureas include glipizide and glimepiride.

DPP-4 inhibitors: These medications work by increasing the amount of incretin hormones in the body, which helps to increase insulin production and decrease glucose production in the liver. They are taken orally and are generally well-tolerated, with the most common side effects being upper respiratory tract infections and headaches. Examples of DPP-4 inhibitors include sitagliptin and linagliptin.

GLP-1 receptor agonists: These medications work by mimicking the effects of incretin hormones in the body, which helps to increase insulin production and decrease glucose production in the liver. They are typically taken as a subcutaneous injection and can cause nausea as a side effect. Examples of GLP-1 receptor agonists include exenatide and liraglutide.

SGLT2 inhibitors: These medications work by inhibiting the reabsorption of glucose in the kidneys, which leads to more glucose being excreted in the urine. They are taken orally and can cause genitourinary tract infections as a side effect. Examples of SGLT2 inhibitors include canagliflozin and dapagliflozin.

Recent literature supports the use of these medications in the management of diabetes. Metformin is considered the first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes, and combination therapy with metformin and other medications is often used to achieve better blood sugar control. GLP-1 receptor agonists and SGLT2 inhibitors have also been shown to have beneficial effects on weight loss and cardiovascular health.

Insulin: is a hormone that is produced by the pancreas and is necessary for the body to use glucose as a source of energy. People with diabetes may require insulin therapy if their bodies do not produce enough insulin or if their cells do not respond properly to insulin.

Rapid-acting insulin: These insulins, such as insulin lispro (Humalog) and insulin aspart (NovoLog), work quickly and have a short duration of action. They are usually taken before meals to control the rise in blood sugar levels that occurs after eating.

Short-acting insulin: These insulins, such as regular insulin, work more slowly than rapid-acting insulins and have a slightly longer duration of action. They are usually taken before meals to control the rise in blood sugar levels that occurs after eating.

Intermediate-acting insulin: These insulins, such as NPH insulin, work more slowly than short-acting insulins and have a longer duration of action. They are usually taken once or twice a day to provide a background level of insulin.

Long-acting insulin: These insulins, such as insulin glargine (Lantus) and insulin detemir (Levemir), work slowly and have a long duration of action. They are usually taken once or twice a day to provide a background level of insulin.

Insulin can be administered through injection using syringe or insulin pen, and more recently through pumps.

Common side effects of insulin include hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), weight gain, and injection site reactions.

Recent literature supports the use of insulin in the management of diabetes, particularly in patients with type 1 diabetes and those with type 2 diabetes who do not achieve adequate glucose control with oral medications. Insulin therapy is an effective and safe way to lower high blood sugar levels and prevent the long-term complications of diabetes.

It is always important to consult with a healthcare professional when making decisions about your diabetes treatment and insulin therapy.

References

The American Diabetes Association's Standards of Medical Care in Diabetes: These guidelines provide an overview of the current recommendations for the management of diabetes and are updated annually. They can be found online at: https://www.diabetes.org/resources/standards-of-medical-care-in-diabetes

The Endocrine Society's Clinical Practice Guidelines: These guidelines provide detailed recommendations for the management of diabetes and are updated every four years. They can be found online at: https://www.endocrine.org/guidelines

PubMed: This is a database of peer-reviewed articles from the biomedical literature. You can search for specific articles on diabetes medications and their use by using keywords such as "diabetes medication" and "mechanism of action", "route of administration", "side effects", or "recent literature". The website is: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/

Cochrane Library: This is a collection of systematic reviews of randomized controlled trials. You can find reviews on the effectiveness and safety of diabetes medications by searching the library using keywords such as "diabetes medication" and "review". The website is: https://www.cochranelibrary.com/