Antidiabetic drug
Antidiabetic drug refers to a class of pharmaceutical drugs that are used to manage and treat diabetes mellitus. These drugs are designed to control blood glucose levels, either by increasing insulin sensitivity, increasing insulin production, or decreasing glucose production.
Types of Antidiabetic Drugs[edit | edit source]
There are several types of antidiabetic drugs, each with its own mechanism of action. These include:
- Insulin: This is a hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates the amount of glucose in the blood. Synthetic insulin is used to replace or supplement the body's natural insulin production in people with diabetes.
- Sulfonylureas: These drugs stimulate the pancreas to produce more insulin. Examples include glipizide, glyburide, and glimepiride.
- Biguanides: The most common biguanide is metformin. It works by decreasing the amount of glucose produced by the liver and increasing the body's sensitivity to insulin.
- Thiazolidinediones: These drugs increase the body's sensitivity to insulin. Examples include pioglitazone and rosiglitazone.
- DPP-4 inhibitors: These drugs block the action of an enzyme called DPP-4, which results in an increase in insulin production and a decrease in glucose production. Examples include sitagliptin, saxagliptin, and linagliptin.
- SGLT2 inhibitors: These drugs block the reabsorption of glucose in the kidneys, leading to a decrease in blood glucose levels. Examples include canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, and empagliflozin.
Side Effects[edit | edit source]
Like all medications, antidiabetic drugs can have side effects. These can range from mild, such as nausea and diarrhea, to severe, such as hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) and lactic acidosis. It's important for individuals taking these medications to be aware of the potential side effects and to discuss any concerns with their healthcare provider.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Antidiabetic drugs play a crucial role in the management of diabetes mellitus. They help to control blood glucose levels, which can prevent or delay the onset of complications associated with diabetes. However, they are not a cure for diabetes and should be used in conjunction with a healthy diet and regular exercise.
Navigation: Wellness - Encyclopedia - Health topics - Disease Index - Drugs - World Directory - Gray's Anatomy - Keto diet - Recipes
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD