All Type 1 diabetics -- and many Type 2 diabetics -- have to take some form of insulin every day of their lives. There are now a variety of forms of insulin that your doctor may prescribe for your needs. You can find out more about the differences by visiting the Diabetes Drug Report description of the various forms of insulin.

While many Type 2 diabetics take insulin, others are able to control their condition with some combination of diet, exercise and oral medication.

All diabetes pills are members of one of six classes of drugs:

• Sulfonylureas;
• Meglitinides;
• Biguanides;
• Thiazolidinediones;
• Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors;
• Dipeptidyl peptidase IV inhibitors.

There also are two new types of injected drugs other than insulin -- known as incretin mimetics -- that are used for some Type 2 diabetics. You can found out more about the wide variety of type 2 diabetes drugs that your doctor may prescribe by visiting the Diabetes Drug Report.