A disease that is currently the cause of major concern for medical professionals and patients alike is diabetes. With a sizeable portion of the population worldwide being plagued by high blood sugar levels and diabetes, it is definitely an issue worth serious attention, requiring appropriate measures to control the problem.


Diabetes is a chronic condition in which the body is either unable to produce sufficient amounts of insulin or unable to utilize the insulin produced in the appropriate manner. This insulin is the hormone responsible for controlling the blood sugar levels in the body. With diabetes creating havoc with insulin production or levels of insulin, blood sugar levels increase significantly in the body, thus leading to damage of the nerves and blood vessels as well as the organs. This can be quite a debilitating condition that can in severe cases also turn fatal.


The line of treatment to control diabetes relies significantly on inculcating lifestyle changes that include exercising and making significant changes in one’s diet so as to avoid food that is high in sugar or rich in carbohydrates. In addition to diet and exercise, taking the required medication plays a big part in controlling diabetes. Medication is equally important to control the high sugar levels and also to produce the appropriate amounts of insulin in order to generate energy.


Insulin therapy is one line of treatment that can be required in certain cases while treating the disease.


Metformin is the other most commonly used drug treatment for diabetes.



One of the first drugs developed for diabetes treatment is metformin. This drug helps by improving the body tissues’ sensitivity towards insulin, thus aiding the body in using the insulin more productively. Metformin is an oral antidiabetic drug whose major role is to control the blood sugar levels of the body by making diabetic patients respond better to their own insulin. Metformin is often administered in combination with insulin or other diabetes drugs.

Apart from having negligible side effects, metformin has also been found to be effective in reducing the number of cases of cancer, according to several studies.

Additionally, results of a study conducted by NCBI suggest that metformin, as a monotherapy, reduces cardiovascular-related mortality and morbidity, and in combination with sulphonylurea, reduces the risk of cardiovascular disorder.



Victoza is a newer medicine on the market for the treatment of diabetes. This drug is an injectable that is often combined with another diabetes medication.

Victoza is a GLP-1 receptor agonist and works by helping to stimulate the secretion of the body’s insulin and also by suppressing the secretion of the blood sugar glucagon.

Victoza also aids in weight loss since it allows the stomach to empty slowly, thereby keeping hunger at bay for a longer period.

Victoza has been found to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disorders, namely stroke, heart attack, and death due to cardiovascular attack in diabetes patients. Because patients with diabetes are more likely to suffer from heart ailments, this drug can help change the scenario.

However, its side effects, especially on the pancreas, remain an open question until further studies can be made.