People with diabetes often take an array of medications to manage their condition. Some of these medications control insulin and glucose (blood sugar) levels, and others treat symptoms of diabetes-related conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, kidney disease and abnormal cholesterol.

Taking several medications at the same time is known as polypharmacy. In some cases, this practice can pose dangers to the patient if medications duplicate or interact with each other. Complications of polypharmacy also occur when:

• Dosages are either too high or too low
• Medications are incorrectly prescribed or filled
• Over-the-counter drugs or supplements interact with medication prescribed by a physician

Patients can take several steps to reduce the risk of developing symptoms or conditions related to polypharmacy. This is especially important for older individuals with diabetes, who often take more medications than younger patients and thus are at greater risk from complications of polypharmacy.