Introduction
A substance that helps a person with diabetes control their level of glucose (sugar) in the blood. Antidiabetic agents include insulin and the oral hypoglycemic agents.
Drugs used in diabetes treat diabetes mellitus by altering the glucose level in the blood. With the exceptions of insulin, exenatide, liraglutide and pramlintide, all are administered orally and are thus also called oral hypoglycemic agents or oral antihyperglycemic agents.
There are different classes of anti-diabetic drugs, and their selection depends on the nature of the diabetes, age and situation of the person, as well as other factors.
Diabetes mellitus type 1 is a disease caused by the lack of insulin. Insulin must be used in type 1, which must be injected.
Diabetes mellitus type 2 is a disease of insulin resistance by cells. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the most common type of diabetes
Treatments include :-
- agents that increase pancreas,
- agents that increase the sensitivity of target organs to insulin, and
- glucose is absorbed from the gastrointestinal
INSULIN
Insulin is usually given subcutaneously, either by injection or by an insulin pump.
Research of other routes of administration is underway. In acute-care settings, insulin may also be given intravenously.
Insulins are typically characterized by the rate at which they are metabolized by the body, yielding different peak times and durations of action.
Faster- acting insulin peak quickly and are subsequently metabolized, while longer-acting insulins tend to have extended peak times and remain active in the body for more significant period.
Examples of rapid acting insulin (peak time at ~1 hour) include:
- Insulin lispro (Humalog)
- Insulin aspart (Novolog)
- Insulin glulisine (Apidra)
Examples of short acting insulin (peak time between 2-4 hours) include:
- Regular insulin (Humulin R, Novolin R)
- Promnt insulin zinc (Semilente)
Types of antidiabetic drugs
These include:
- Sulfonylureas – glimepiride, glipizide, glyburide.
- Biguanides – metformin.
- Thiazolidinediones (Tzd) – pioglitazone, Actos generic.
- Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors – Acarbose.
- Meglitinides – nateglinide.
- Combination of sulfonylureas plus metformin – known by generic names of the two drugs.
Drugs in detail
- SULFONYLUREAS are used primarily for the treatment of diabetes mellitus type . Sulfonylureas are ineffective where there is absolute deficiency of insulin production such as in type 1 diabetes or post-pancreatectomy. Sulfonylureas can be used to treat some types of neonatal diabetes.
- Glimepiride is used along with diet and exercise, and sometimes with other medications, to treat type 2 diabetes (condition in which the body does not use insulin normally and, therefore, cannot control the amount of sugar in the blood).
- Glipizide, sold under the brand name GLUCOTROL among others, is an anti-diabetic medication of the sulfonylurea class used to treat type 2 diabetes. It is used together with a diabetic diet and exercise. It is not indicated for use by itself type 1 diabetes. It is taken by mouth.
- BIGUANIDE refers to a group of oral type 2 diabetes drugs the production of reducing the amount of sugar that work by preventing glucose in the liver, improving the body’s sensitivity towards insulin and absorbed by the intestines.
- Metformin is used with a proper diet and exercise program and possibly with other high blood sugar. It is used in patients medications to control with type 2 diabetes. Controlling high blood sugar helps prevent kidney damage, blindness, nerve problems, loss of limbs, and sexual function problems.
- THIAZOLIDINEDIONES, abbreviated as TZD, also known as glitazones after the prototypical drug ciglitazone, are a class of heterocyclic compounds consisting of a five-membered CNS ring.
- Pioglitazone, sold under the brand name ACTOS among others, is a medication used to treat type 2 diabetes. It may be used with metformin, a sulfonylurea, or insulin. Use is recommended together with exercise and diet. It is not recommended in type 1 diabetes. It is taken by mouth.
- ALPHA-GLUCOSIDASE INHIBITORS (AGIs; acarbose, miglitol, voglibose) are widely used in the treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes. AGIS delay the absorption of carbohydrates from the small intestine and thus have a lowering effect on postprandial blood glucose and insulin levels.
- Acarbose is an anti-diabetic drug used to treat diabetes mellitus type 2 and, in some countries, prediabetes.
- MEGLITINIDES make up a class of drugs used to treat diabetes type 2. They bind to an ATP- dependent K channel on the cell membrane of pancreatic beta cells in a similar manner to sulfonylureas but have a weaker binding affinity and faster dissociation from the SUR1 binding site.
- Nateglinide is a drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Nateglinide was developed by Ajinomoto. Nateglinide belongs to the meglitinide class of blood glucose-lowering drugs.
Combination therapy of metformin and sulfonylurea
Significantly increased the RR of the composite end point of cardiovascular hospitalization or mortality (fatal and nonfatal events) irrespective of the reference group (diet therapy, metformin monotherapy, or sulfonylurea monotherapy)
Some other drugs
- Exenatide, sold under the brand name Byetta and Bydureon among others, is a medication used to treat diabetes mellitus type 2. It is used together with diet, exercise, and potentially other antidiabetic medication. It is a less preferred treatment option after metformin and sulfonylureas. It is given by injection under the skin within an hour before the first and last meal of the day. A once- weekly injection version is also available.
- Liraglutide, sold under the brand name VICTOZA among others, is a medication used to treat diabetes mellitus type 2 and obesity. In diabetes it is a less preferred agent compared to metformin. Its effects on long-term health outcomes like heart disease and life expectancy are unclear. In obesity if after 12 weeks less than 5% of body weight is lost it is recommended the medication be stopped. It is given by injection under the skin.
How do antidiabetic drugs work?
Antidiabetic drug, any drug that works to lower abnormally high glucose (sugar) levels in the blood, which are characteristic of the endocrine system disorders known as diabetes mellitus. Diabetes is caused by the body’s inability to produce or respond to the pancreatic hormone insulin.
Which foods lower blood sugar?
- Whole wheat bread.
- Fruits.
- Sweet potatoes and yams.
- Oatmeal and oat bran.
- Nuts.
- Legumes.
- Garlic.
- Cold-water fish.
Does lemon water reduce blood sugar?
Lemon water may not directly impact your blood sugar levels and cause it to come down, but it can surely help prevent untimely spikes. The easy to make beverage is very low in carbohydrates and calories, and keeps you hydrated, which is very essential for diabetics to ensure.
What is the best herb for diabetes?
Plant-based therapies that have been shown in some studies to have anti-diabetic properties include:
- Aloe vera.
- Bilberry extract
- Bitter melon.
- Cinnamon.
- Fenugreek.
- Ginger.
- Okra.
Is Ginger good for diabetes?
Ginger can be an effective addition to your diabetes treatment if you use it in moderation. Eating up to 4 grams per day may help lower your blood sugar levels and regulate insulin production.
Is Honey Good For Diabetes?
Generally, there is no advantage to substituting honey for sugar in a diabetes eating plan. Both honey and sugar will affect your blood sugar level. Honey is sweeter than granulated sugar, so you might use a smaller amount of honey for sugar in some recipes.
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