Treatment

Insulin Insulin for Diabetes Insulin is a hormone that controls blood sugar. There are many types of insulin used to treat diabetes. Learn about the most common, side effects, storage tips, and more. Types of Insulin Many forms of insulin treat diabetes, including rapid-acting, short-acting, intermediate-acting, long-acting, and pre-mixed. Learn which type is best for your diabetes. Oral or other medications.: Sometimes other oral or injected medications are prescribed as well. Some diabetes medications stimulate your pancreas to produce and release more insulin. Others inhibit the production and release of glucose from your liver, which means you need less insulin to transport sugar into your cells. Still others block the action of stomach or intestinal enzymes that break down carbohydrates or make your tissues more sensitive to insulin. Metformin (Glucophage, Glumetza, others) is generally the first medication prescribed for type 2 diabetes.