Last Updated on August 4, 2020 by Dr Sharon Baisil MD
With the advent of new sugary foods in the market every day and a progressively sedentary lifestyle, Diabetes Mellitus is once again on the rise.
The pharmaceutical industry is today flooded with multiple drugs for Diabetes. Out of them, we have compiled the top 10 best diabetic drugs in India.
About Diabetes
Diabetes is often seen as a disease with no cure, but it would be wiser to consider it as a permanent lifestyle change rather than an illness to emphasize the need to change one’s habits.
The most common disease of today’s times, Diabetes has two types – type 1 and type 2.
Diabetes Type 1 is caused by lack of insulin production in the body – hence requires Insulin injections, Diabetes type 2 is due to the lack of your body’s response to Insulin and requires certain drugs to lower your blood sugar level in between meals.
Diabetes type 2, scientifically termed diabetes mellitus and commonly called Diabetes, is the most popularly diagnosed ailment in a present-day generation.
What makes Type 2 Diabetes particularly important in India is the presence of this disease in almost more than 60 million people in the country today, according to a study published in the British Medical Journal.
Due to this, the Pharmaceutical industry for Diabetic medications In India is one of the most popular and thriving industries.
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Drugs oriented for type 2 diabetes work by enhancing the body’s insulin sensitivity, thereby helping you to do away with high blood sugar levels. The most proffered drug for Diabetes metformin works by:-
- Decreasing production of glucose in the liver
- Escalating sensitivity of Insulin towards the body
- Making tissues of muscles more receptive to utilize Insulin
Other prescribed drugs work by:-
- Making the body to secrete more Insulin
- Some slow down the process of digestion to confer stability to blood glucose levels
- Some drugs deter kidneys from reabsorbing sugars into the bloodstream.
- A class of pills also act as DPP-4 inhibitors.
There is variety in functions and names, but the goal remains the same – to gain control over heightening blood glucose levels. Every drug comes with some side effects that can be abolished by following a healthy lifestyle pattern and making appropriate diet changes.
These are the top-10 Diabetic drugs in India today containing both multinational and home-grown medications.
1. Mixtard by Novo Nordisk (NOV: N)
Mixtard is an injection-based suspension containing Insulin that one is supposed to inject under the skin, usually 30 minutes before taking a meal.
Associated Side Effects:
Hypoglycemia (Low blood sugar level) is a rare side effect of Mixtard, which is seen in 1 out of 10 people.
2. Lantus by Sanofi (Euronext: SAN)
Taking the second spot on the list, Lantus is an injection containing the drug Insulin Glargine which is supposed to be injected only once per day, subcutaneously.
This drug is a long-acting drug that is especially helpful for Type 2 Diabetic Myelitis patients and children under 6 with Type 1 Diabetes.
Associated Side Effects
Skin reactions are an unusual side effect that occurs at the site of injection visibly as pruritus or rash. However, Hypoglycemia after the drug reached the blood is a more common side effect.
3. Glycomet by USV
Glycomet is available in tablet form, which is primarily given to Type 2 Diabetic patients. It is a combination of two blood-sugar-lowering drugs named Glimepiride and Metformin.
These tablets are taken orally, usually after meals.
Associated Side Effects
common side effects of Glycomet are Hypoglycemic, Headache, and sometimes Nausea, and muscle pain can also be experienced.
4. Galvus Met by Novartis (NOVN: VX)
Galvus Met is manufacture by Novartis India and is a popular drug available in tablet form. It is a combination of Vildagliptin and Metformin and is mostly prescribed for the treatment of type- 2 diabetes, where it is to be taken along with food.
This drug helps lower blood sugar levels by managing the secretion and absorption of glucose in the body.
Associated Side Effects
Nausea, Vomiting, Muscle Pain, Hypoglycemia, and abdominal discomfort are some of the common adverse effects of this drug. However, Hypoglycemia can be avoided by having a proper meal before taking the drug.
5. Janumet by Merck & Co’s SD Pharma
Janumet is a film-coated tablet containing a combination of sitagliptin phosphate monohydrate and metformin hydrochloride.
These tablets are recommended for Type 2 diabetic patients to lower their blood sugar levels. It is also used as an add-on with Insulin in severe cases of uncontrolled Diabetes.
Associated Side Effects
Some common side effects caused by Janumet include Hypoglycemia, flatulence, nausea, and vomiting. It is particularly contra-indicated for Type-1 Diabetes.
6. Augmentin by GlaxoSmithKline’s (LSE: GSK)
Augmentin is one of India’s most common medications, which is available as film-coated tablets in the market. Diabetic patients usually use it as a remedy for foot ulcers; however, its use is not only limited to people with diabetes.
Being an antibiotic, it is frequently used for skin and tissue infections, bone, and joint infections – like osteomyelitis, and it is maybe also used for pneumonia and sinusitis.
Associated Side Effects
Taking the drug for the first time or using heavy doses can be associated with nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Unnecessary use of the drug can also cause mucocutaneous candidiasis (fungal infections).
7. Liv 52 by Himalaya Drug Company
Liv 52 by Himalaya’s is essentially an ayurvedic drug given to protect the liver and regulate appetite.
Diabetics commonly use it because of its hepatoprotective effects as it helps the liver in its regeneration and maintains its normal function.
Associated Side Effects
As it is an Ayuverdic drug given for the body’s healing and correction of side effects caused by other drugs, it is unknown to have any side effects.
8. Duphaston by Abbott (NYSE: ABT)
Duphaston is available in the form of tablets containing Dydrogesterone, an orally active form of the hormone Progesterone.
This drug can be recommended to people with diabetes who have been on long term Glucose lowering medication; however, it is more commonly used for menstrual disorders, Endometriosis, Infertility treatment, and can even be given after a miscarriage.
Associated Side Effects
The side effects of this drug include headaches, weight gain, irregular or painful periods, and prolonged use, which can also lead to depression in some cases.
9. Clavam by Alkem Laboratories
Clavam is an antibiotic containing Amoxicillin and Clavulanic acid that is available in tablet form. Its use for diabetes-associated skin infections is also used for lung, ear, nasal, and UTI infections.
Associated Side Effects
The most common side effect of Clavam is stomach upset; however, this can be prevented if the drug is taken with a proper meal.
10. Thyronorm by Abbott India’s – Thyronorm (thiamazole)
This Thyronorm tablets by Abbott act as a Thyroid replacement therapy in cases of Hypothyroidism.
The drug is often prescribed to Diabetic patients with an abnormal thyroid system because Thyroid plays a significant role in the maintenance of blood sugar levels of the body.
This drug acts by suppressing any abnormal growth or function of the thyroid tissue, maintaining the glucose levels.
Associated Side Effects
Long term use of Thyronorm can lead to reduced bone density in women due to increased resorption. Hence it is recommended that this therapy should be started with the lowest dose possible.
Ayurvedic Drugs For Diabetes In India
If we look back in history, Ayurveda has been an integral part of Indian medication. There are many natural remedies to cure or prevent any disease on this planet.
Neem, tulsi, cinnamon, bitter gourd, and turmeric are some common Indian herbs with enough power to bring your ailing blood sugar levels back on track. The complete list would be too long.
More and more people are hunting for ayurvedic medicines these days because of the possibility of zero side effects. So, let us have a glance at some potent herbal formulations available for Diabetes.
Below listed drugs do not belong to the top 10 categories but still are worthwhile to know about. They are found to be promising when it comes to controlling blood glucose range and managing Diabetes through natural ways.
1. Divya Madhunashini Vati
Developed by Patanjali Ayurved, Divya Madunashini Vati is an excellent herbal medicine for Diabetes. Being formulated with natural ingredients, it has no side effects.
This herbal drug has been ranked among one of the best anti-diabetic drugs. The medicine works on the nervous system, optimizing its activity. It also works well during the pre-diabetic stage.
2. Sugar Knocker
Sugar Knocker is a powerful blend of 11 herbs that are naturally effective against Diabetes. This medicine is a potential blood sugar lowering agent.
It also curtails the effects of Diabetes and other complications, something very rarely found in any drug. Sugar Knocker can be taken along with other prescriptions and cause no harm to the body.
You can read a detailed review of Sugar Knocker here.
3. Diabex Ayurvedic Glucose Regulator
Diabex is another ayurvedic medicine in a row that works to keep blood glucose levels under control. The drug is known to improve insulin sensitivity, slow down the release of sugars from food into blood, and regulate glucose metabolism.
The medicine is developed by Dr. vaidya’s new age Ayurveda and is quite useful towards curbing diabetes symptoms. However, the safety of this drug for pregnant women is still a matter of ambiguity.
4. Glaucoma
Developed by Maharishi Ayurveda Company, this medicine clubs together some age-old herbal hypoglycaemias. It works on pancreatic and extrapancreatic cells.
The drug is meant for managing Diabetes by regulating blood glucose at optimal levels.
5. Aadar Jeevani
Aadar Jeevani is an ayurvedic detoxifying agent for your body. It is formulated with Aloe vera, neem, basil, and harad, all of which are naturally excellent at lowering blood sugar.
This comes in the form of capsules that can be taken every day. These capsules are good at improving insulin activity and diabetes management.
6. BGR -34
BGR-34 is a herbal remedy for Diabetes developed by CSIR. The drug promises to control Diabetes by inhibiting a DPP-4.
Along with hyperglycemia, it eliminates problems like high cholesterol and maintains proper heart health. Your blood glucose levels are rendered safe and sane.
Read a complete review of the BGR -34 drug here.
7. Himalaya Glucocare
It is manufactured by Himalaya food and drugs company in India, the company label this drug as smart support for diabetic patients. It comes in the form of capsules that are packed with unique herbal composition.
The drug works both on muscles and the liver. The herbal composition aims to establish a secure range of blood glucose levels every time.
8. IME-9 tablets
These tablets are jam-packed with potent herbs like bitter gourd, Gudmar, Jamun, and many more to tackle down your increased blood sugar levels.
The drug works by acting on beta cells of the pancreas and helps to monitor blood sugar levels.
If you want to know more about this drug, visit here.
Conclusion
Choosing a drug based on its popularity in the market can put one’s life at risk- hence proper research is needed by the health practitioner and the patient before starting any new drug.
This is because there are a high number of unapproved medicines in the Indian market today, according to a recent study aimed at testing the reliability of Metformin drugs. The authors explained this by stating:
“The availability of irrational or inadequately tested medicines puts the safety of the public at risk. It is important to ensure that those medicines that are available on the market have been approved after examination for safety and efficacy through the implementation of appropriately designed and analyzed clinical trials.”
Moreover, we all know drugs are an essential part of the management of Diabetes Mellitus, especially its Type 2, but reliance on drugs alone is not the solution. There has to be a complete lifestyle change where you change your eating habits and the level of exercise you need to do throughout the day.
References –
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29521173/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27230777/
- https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/ben/cddt/2007/00000004/00000001/art00005
- https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jcbn/40/3/40_3_163/_article/-char/ja/
- https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00125-005-1707-5
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22668340/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23643611/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24328692/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29807374/
Having read this I thought it was really informative. I appreciate you taking the time and effort to put this information together. I once again find myself spending a significant amount of time both reading and commenting. But so what, it was still worthwhile!
Thank you Anjli
Which are the ayurvedic medicine available for type 1 diabetes and among these which medicine is the most effective.
There are not many Ayurvedic medicines that are good for Type 1 Diabetes. BGR 34 is the best bet, but it’s mainly for type 2.
You can check out BGR 34 from here: https://geni.us/bgr34