Many people with type 2 diabetes are able to take diabetes pills to keep their blood sugar under control. These pills are not insulin. Instead, these pills rely on the insulin your body makes. For this reason, diabetes pills can't be used to treat type 1 diabetes. These drugs help the pancreas provide extra insulin.
Sulfonylureas raise insulin levels for several hours.
Meglitinides, which are taken with food, increase insulin levels for less time than the sulfonylureas. Low blood sugar is a possible side effect of these medicines. These drugs slow down the digestion and absorption of starches and sugars. Therefore, blood sugars rise more slowly after eating. Gas and bloating are among the common side effects of these drugs, but doses can be increased very slowly to lessen the side effects.