Certain medications necessitate numerous daily dosages. For example, this notion applies if you have type 2 diabetes and use oral medicine. This is primarily because medication adherence, or taking prescriptions precisely as prescribed by a doctor, is critical for people with diabetes.
Catastrophic consequences due to insulin tampering can cause hypoglycemia (high blood sugar). That said, here’s what you should do if you miss your type 2 diabetes medication:
Oral Medication for Diabetes
If you have type 2 diabetes, your doctor will most likely prescribe insulin or another blood sugar-controlling medication. These medications work by lowering the amount of sugar released by your liver, slowing the rate of sugar absorption from food, increasing your body’s response to insulin, and supporting your pancreas in creating more insulin.
In addition, your doctor may discuss diet, exercise, and lifestyle changes. If following these procedures does not return to normal blood glucose levels, your doctor may prescribe another medicine.
Missing a Dosage
Skipping a pill should be no problem if your blood sugar levels are stabilized and you follow a balanced diet and lifestyle. However, neglecting to take your medication on time or failing to follow your doctor’s diet and lifestyle advice can result in hyperglycemia.
High glucose levels are defined as 180 mg/dL two hours after eating or 130 mg/dL before eating. If you experience fatigue, vision hazard, excessive thirst and urination, and aggravated non-healing wounds, you may be suffering hyperglycemia.
Failure to take oral diabetic medicines on time can have significant health repercussions, including hospitalization. This inevitably raises the overall cost of treatment. Side effects include nerve damage, vision issues, kidney problems, and heart problems. The longer they go untreated, the worse they get.
What to Do If You Forget to Take a Dose
If you forget to take an oral prescription, make sure to take it as soon as possible. If it has been more than a few hours since the last dose, take the following medication at its usual time.
Make sure to avoid double dosing, and then contact your doctor and ask about your specific medication and other concerns.
Seeking Medical Advice
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your medicine o develop new symptoms, contact your doctor.
If you forget to take your drugs because of a lack of memory or confusion caused by the numerous medications you’re taking, it’s also best to talk to your doctor about your options. This way, your doctor may prescribe a tablet that contains several drugs that can help reduce the number of pills you’re administered.
Reminding Yourself to Take Medicine
Keeping track of all your medications can be challenging, especially if you have type 2 diabetes or other health issues. Here are a few reminders to take your medicines as directed:
- Organize your prescriptions in pill trays by weekday.
- Set up reminders on your smartphones or devices.
- Use a wall chart, a refrigerator chart, or a smartphone app to keep track of your prescription.
- Take your medications at the same time you brush your teeth, have breakfast, or go to bed every day.
- Keep a medicine cabinet on the bathroom counter.
- Consider asking a friend or family member to help.
Conclusion
Diabetes meds are intended to be used daily, so it’s essential to make sure that you remember to take them. Missing a dosage of oral diabetic medicine would almost surely increase blood sugar, but the amount will depend on how much carbohydrate you consumed and how active you were that day. Dose missing can increase the risk of blindness, kidney disease, and other diseases. So, keep track of your medication intake to avoid further health problems!
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